We're gearing up for New York Fashion Week over here, which kicks off, officially, this Friday. Of course, that means there are about a million shows starting tomorrow, because New York is bursting at the seams with designers. So, pardon us while we dig out those wireless sticks and charging devices. We're not the sort to plan outfits on these occasions, it's more a matter of sticking with basics and focusing on the equipment and planning required to cover the shows. After all, if a model falls on the catwalk and no one video taped it, did it happen? In the meantime, we thought it helpful to give you the rundown of our coverage this season. If you're as serious about your fashion as we are you'll likely want to plan your viewing strategies in advance, and this will make it that much easier. Video: We've three cameras floating about this season which means videos of tent shows and a slew of offsite shows. The latest you'll see them on our video page is the morning after the show has taken place. Sometimes you'll find them up late that evening. Videos reveal so much more than runway photos (i.e. the way the garment moves) and so, despite it nearly breaking our backs, we're pushing for more videos than ever before. This, you won't find anywhere else. Network: We'll be posting our usual Coutorture Community Must Reads in both the morning and evening and, in addition to that, we'll round up posts in the network that deal specifically with New York Fashion Week so that you can hear the impressions and musings from hundreds of bloggers talking about the shows. Think of it as a filter for the best of the best when it comes to fashion in the blogosphere. Written Content: We'll all be plugged in and running around and, more or less, sparing you our analysis of the fashions coming down the catwalk. What we will give you are quick postings about the energies backstage, about the fabrics, the colors, the straight facts of what's happening on and off site. We'll keep it short, simple, and to the point. Photos: Creative: For each day of fashion week we'll be bringing with us one of four talented photographers. They are: Justin William Lin, Shannon Sinclair, Jonathan Melamed, and Robert Malmberg. These fine guys and gals will accompany us backstage, front of house, and in those mad dashes from one show to another. They will capture, each from their own vantage point, the moments and happenings that you won't find on Getty. Which, well, brings us to that... Photos: Runway: We'll be uploading the shows just as soon as the images as released to us. Without getting into the particulars, just know that a lot of catwalk images are going to be moving through this site. If you've forgotten to refresh the page, or stopped to eat lunch (it's all about sustenance), check our photo page and you'll see a thumbnail for every show that's come through the front door. After that...London. But let's start with this behemoth, shall we? Bookmark us and stay tuned, it's going to be one crazy week.

To celebrate the kick off of New York Fashion Week we've produced five teaser videos for the Spring 09 season. Last week, amid the inevitable chaos of designers and their pr offices, we snuck in and said hello to some of our favorite New York designers. That is Jerry Tam of Form, Ashleigh Verrier, Steinunn Sigurd of Steinunn, Chris Han, and Brandy Lunsford of Harlan Bel. In the teasers you'll discover a glimpse of the inspiration behind their collections and what each designer does to prepare for Fashion Week. When the time comes, we'll be posting their respective Spring 09 fashion shows (or presentations) and a little backstage action to boot.

Romanticizing an urban past of dissident teenagers, reclusive geniuses, and musical anarchy is a popular past time for derivative designers. Too often the fruits of their less than creative labour is nothing but a weak diffusion of some by gone era that is in all likelihood not nearly was spellbinding as history as recreated it. Patrik Rzepski is not on of these designers. He is somehow able to draw on the best parts of old East Village culture, youthful frustration, rebellion, and even violence and transform it into a new vision of powerful dressing without ever once dooming himself to pointless historicist rehashing.

While his Fall 2008 collection was somehow rough around the edges, Patrik's Spring 2009 collection hits all the right notes for us. It maturely and coherently presented an edited vision of urban dressing for a kind of warm cosmopolitan spring that says we do not leave for our vacation homes, nay, we live for all times in the life of the city. The rich tough urbanism we saw felt youthful even while many of the pieces were clearly meant for a kind of woman that never ages past her hippest years even as she touches 90.

The palette of blacks, beieges and whites is an ideal subdued color story for city living, particular one that touches on clothing as a valuable totem of mainstream rejection. His use of hinting meshes, suggestive see-through jersies, and other sheers made some of his darker pallete more seasonally appropriate. Buyers too can find much to love in his separates, particularly the jackets thrown daringly over his barely there dresses.

We loved the inclusion of his zippered tights in creams and nudes. There is something so daring about covering up in the warmer months, especially when its tinged with just a hint of naughty sexy zippered rebellion. Please click here to enjoy a slideshow of his collection.

>> THE MODELIZER —The nature of Chanel Iman and producer Ryan Leslie's relationship may be nebulous — friends? more than friends? — but they are definitely still hanging out and attending events together. The twosome showed up last night to celebrate a Valentino exhibition, setting tongues wagging once again. [Bossip]

>> IN PRODUCTION —A gallery of Jonathan Saunders's designs for Target has hit the web and is yours for the browsing. The collection doesn't hit stores until October, unless you live in New York: Target is opening four pop-up shops around Manhattan starting Sept. 12 hawking the designs of Sigerson Morrison, Jonathan Saunders, and Anya Hindmarch a full month before anywhere in the rest of the country. [Nylon, NY Times]

>> INSIDER WIRE —A two million dollar Vanity Fair contract doesn't cover Annie Leibovitz, according to court documents. The photographer is reportedly $715,000 in debt due to unpaid taxes, an aborted book project, and outstanding equipment rental fees. No amount of money is ever enough, eh? [Page Six]

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>> The much-missed Phoebe Philo is finally back in a big way — this time, she's taking the reins at Celine. Her new appointment has been rumored for some time now, but now it's officially official.

Phoebe is widely credited for putting Chloe into the big leagues, and the hopes are the same for her at Celine — "full creative renewal of the product." She starts her new post in October and will present her first Celine collection next March for Fall 2009, but her runway debut won't be until the Spring 2010 season.

Before settling on Celine, Phoebe is said to have put out feelers about launching a signature fashion house, but potential backers were reluctant, especially due to hefty salary and other demands, and no deal was made. Hopefully Celine turns out to be the right placement for her, in these revolving door times.
*image: source

Phoebe Philo has just been named the Creative Director of Celine. Chloé fans are given permission to jump up and down. This apparently signifies that Bernard Arnault cares about all the brands in his stable at LVMH. Pantone has released its Spring 2009 Colors. It involves fancy names and numbers. Sephora is adding a little bit of the social media to its website with product reviews. We also hope that Thom Brown becomes a brand juggernaut of epic proportions. Fashion Week is getting more and more expensive for designers. Consumers are also buying less. This is a poor combination. But even if the above suggests that ostentation is not in expensive designer phones are bigger than ever! This only reminds us we had our Black Berry stolen and must face 24 hours before the new one arrives. PANIC. But apparently we are all partying and living it up at Fashion Week. To which we say REALLY? Don't you have to work?