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.

Despite their placement on the fashion calender, Lyell will not being showing this Spring 09. We discovered this yesterday when we requested a pre-fashion week video interview. A representative for Lyell told us that the brand will be showing in February but that the Spring show has been canceled. After news that Mayle (located just down the street from Lyell in Nolita) would be closing down, we couldn't help but feel nervous that the entire contemporary market was shattering before our very eyes. Brands bounce back, we know, and come fall perhaps everything will be just fine. After all, Lyell just got a nice little shoutout in Vogue's September shopping guide (alongside Balenciaga, Balmain, and Topshop) and their new store renovations have enlivened the recently delivered fall collection. A little secret to those who haven't visited the Lyell store; they're one of a handful of boutiques who keep like-new Ferragamo riding boots in stock. For that, among other things, we will stand behind the brand. Ferragamo's will do that to a girl.

We've been trying to imagine the Spring 09 trends the way a seven year old shakes their presents under the christmas tree. Transparency is one we've been thinking about. Transparency, the break-out trend for Spring 08, has pushed on strongly enough. We predict the numbers will be high come Spring 09. The trend-forecasting seminars always tell you that the trends for next season are the same as they were two seasons previous. No miraculous discoveries--just summaries of what, because of various websites, we've seen plenty of already. So our thoughts on transparency aren't unsupported. Just in case a little evidence is needed, however, here's some of what we've seen since Spring 08.

Fall is a season that calls for heavier layers and so transparency is necessarily peripheral because of its impracticality. We did, however, see plenty of it crop up on evening frocks and on blouses that could be easily layered. Ashleigh Verrier used it on feminine frocks that were made season-appropriate by way of fur stoles and thick hosiery. On the darker side of things Alexander Wang used it on shell tanks and leggings in many of his Fall looks and Preen (shown left) used transparency despite every other aspect of the collection being wintery perfection.

Then came Resort and with warmer weather; more freer usage of the textile. Christian Dior used generous portions of transparency for his cruise ship-worthy evening gowns. Chanel, on the other hand, stuck to mini-frocks that were prefect for the Miami-staged runway show. Calvin Klein (shown right), our favorite by far, showed a few examples of transparency in the colorless, structured collection.

Finally menswear came along and gave us the duds that will sit on the other side of the boutique and closet and dresser drawer to ours, come Spring 09. Transparency--check. We saw it unabashed and blazing from Givenchy, we saw it in lace from Yohji Yamamoto, and from Costume National (shown left) masquerading as a normal work shirt--complete with blazer and tie.

We think it's time to stop shaking the present now. We're pretty sure we know what we're getting when it's time to open the gifts. You never know though, like when you're a kid, there's always one that surprises you...

Just after a conversation on the slowness of July/August comes a Spring 09 show to our mailbox. Well hello there, St. John. No, you are not as content-friendly as Givenchy nor Yves Saint Laurent but you're fashion, new fashion, and at a time when Fall deliveries are trickling in at a snails pace and Spring shows are weeks away. Why, thank you St. John and how clever, we must say.

St. John is a global luxury brand started from the ground-up, back in the sixties. They are based in California and known for their impeccable quality and chic, albeit conservative, clothing. Shown left is a shot from their Fall 08 ad campaign which has absolutely nothing to do with their Spring 09 show except that we liked both and didn't want to split it into two posts (teehee). The Fall 08 shot shows just how clean and sharp is the St. John aesthetic and just how beautiful is Central Park in the Fall. As for Spring 09, the company focused on the knitwear that gained them notoriety in the first place with subtle nods in other places, to sportswear.