We are officially 10 days away from the start of New York Fashion Week (Feb 11-18) and the competition to snatch invites to the most anticipated shows is fierce! Soon models, fashion editors, and retailers alike will dress in their fashion show best and brave the cold temperatures of February.

With the final farewell to Bryant Park this season (due to the official venue changing location to Lincoln Center come fall), there have been some odd additions to the lineup as if a grand gesture to include everyone in one last hurrah. This includes a complete collection from QVC, the home shopping network giant, and Spanx, famous for its body slimming undergarments. Entertaining? Yes. High fashion? No.

Since New York’s Fashion Week Generates $774+ million in economic activity, thus supporting the city’s fashion industry and its 175,000+ jobs, they will be getting 17,000 more square feet (25 percent increase in space) from the Mayor Bloomberg’s relocation to Damrosch Park at Lincoln Center. This is still being met with mixed reviews since there has grown such an attachment to Bryant Park over 16 years.

Designers who were not fit into the official schedule at the tents, will show at MAC Cosmetics & Milk Studios, that we saw shine last season as a smaller venue to reckon with. The sleek, minimalistic space set a tone that said it took its labels seriously, and as a result, quickly became popular with the fashion week crowds. According to WWD, 32 presentations will happen at this location this year, an increase over last fall. With the addition of Montauk’s Surf Lodge pop-up restaurant, it is sure to become a true fashion gem of a destination.

Until the big venue move in September, we leave you with a few words on the matter from Vogue’s Anna Wintour: “Bryant Park became the beacon of what New York fashion stands for – an industry that’s fearless, tireless, and always moving forward.” Visit Milk Studios or the Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week website for schedule details.

For more of Carrie Mitchell’s style insights, visit StyleGroove.com. Image Courtesy of  NYC Fashion Information