There were many crosscurrents as Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week kicked off on Sept. 8 at New York’s Lincoln Center.

The event is always about building buzz in the press about designers’ latest collections, but one piece of news was also buzzing in the tents. British fashion designer John Galliano, who was fired six months ago as the creative director of the fashion house Dior, was found guilty and given a suspended fine for making anti-Semitic remarks by a French court.

The first day’s events also were cut short as designers prepared to celebrate Fashion’s Night Out. In its third year, the event - which was conceived by Vogue’s Anna Wintour - celebrates fashion and shopping, and has grown enormous, with events planned not only in the high fashion boutiques and department stores of New York, but in suburban shopping malls across the U.S.

After a large turnout for Fashion’s Night Out events, designers headed back to the tents to present their spring 2012 collections through Sept. 15.

By Christina Cheddar-Berk & Jessica Naziri
Updated 14 Sept 2011

TV personality Kim Kardashian attends the Vera Wang spring 2012 fashion show at the Stage at Lincoln Center during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City.

Designer Rachel Zoe mingles with the crowd at the Rachel Zoe spring 2012 presentation during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on Sept. 12, 2011, in New York City

Designer Rachel Zoe makes some last minute adjustments to clothing a model is wearing at the Rachel Zoe spring 2012 presentation during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on Sept. 12, 2011, in New York City.

The unusual juxtaposition of Vogue Editor Anna Wintour sitting next to rapper Nicki Minaj caused quite a stir at the Carolina Herrera spring/summer 2012 fashion show at the Theater at Lincoln Center during Mercedes-Benz Fashion week.

A model walks the runway at the Carolina Herrera spring 2012 fashion show at the  Theater at Lincoln Center during Mercedes-Benz Fasion Week in New York City.

Looks for spring/summer 2012 are more covered up. Take the swimsuits in the Marc by Marc Jacobs fashion show—not one bikini in sight.

Jacobs showed three one-pieces. This one, in scarlet, was very representative of the bold colors used in the rest of his collection.

The highlight of Betsey Johnson’s fashion show comes at the end when the 69-year-old designer does her signature cartwheel. For her spring/summer 2012 show, she added a split, which drew huge applause from the crowd.

Designer Betsey Johnson’s spring/summer 2012 collection incorporated a lot of lingerie-inspired looks, with a number of corsets and flirty tulip skirts, in the mix.

Designer Betsey Johnson’s spring/summer 2012 amped up the sex appeal during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. The show, which was held at the Theater at Lincoln Center, was inspired by Brigitte Bardot, burlesque dancers of the ‘40s and hip hop and R&B recording artist Nicki Minaj.

Johnson’s own daughter Lulu Johnson helped kick off the collection.

A model displays one of Vera Wang’s creations during her spring 2012 show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York.

A model walks the runway at Nicholas K’s spring/summer 2012 show. The collection, created by designer siblings Nicholas and Christopher Kunz, included cropped capes, asymmetric hemlines, and metallic jackets.

A model pauses to give designer Christopher Kunz’s dog a pat backstage at the Nicholas K spring/summer 2012 fashion show at The Studio at Lincoln Center on Sept. 8, 2011.

A model heads to the runway during Nicholas K’s spring/summer 2012 show at Fashion Week. The collection featured layers of clothing, and some said it had an “urban gypsy vibe.”

A model poses at the Porter Grey spring/summer 2012 show at The Box in Lincoln Center during Fashion Week.

The New York sisters behind the label, Kristen and Alexandra O’Neill, said they took inspiration from the garden parties their grandparents used to throw in Oyster Bay Cove during the 1950s and '60s.

Backstage, a model’s hair is pulled into shape. Hair and makeup at the BCBC Max Azria spring/summer 2012 fashion show during Fashion Week strove for a minimal look, with hair slicked back and makeup that was fresh-faced and barely there.

Designers Max Azria and his wife and co-designer Lubov Azria, unveiled their collection on Sept. 8 at New York Fashion Week at Lincoln Center.

A model walks the runway during the BCBG Max Azria spring/summer 2012 show.

The Azrias said they drew their influence for the collection from tribal prints, mixing bold colors with neutrals. This piece shows some of the lime tones that were incorporated into the collection.

BCBG Max Azria’s spring/summer collection, which was shown at Fashion Week, featured a number of high, thick-heeled sandals and metallic clutches.

Max and Lubov Azria are interviewed backstage about their spring/summer collection, which they showed at Fashion Week at Lincoln Center. The designers showed a variety of dresses ranging from A-line sundresses with bold prints, to dresses with asymmetrical handkerchief hems and long fan-like pleats created in light, airy fabrics.

A model walks the runway at Richard Chai’s Love label’s spring/summer 2012 show at New York Fashion Week at Lincoln Center. 

Chai's Love label offers both men’s and women’s collection, and this year’s spring/summer collection had an androgynous vibe, with colors, patterns and even some silhouettes shared by both the male and female models.

Richard Chai played with the texture of the clothes, and several models wore extreme color on their lips and eyelids. Here a model dress in an iris print, wears a tone on her lips that matches her clothing.

The Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade (pictured here) and the New York Knicks’ A'mare Stoudemire were in the front row at Richard Chai’s spring/summer 2012 show during Fashion Week at Lincoln Center.

Created in collaboration with Heutchy, Richard Chai’s spring/summer 2012 show at Fashion Week featured lace-up shoes with neon soles.

Model Erin Wasson attends Richard Chai’s spring/summer 2012 show at Fashion Week at Lincoln Center.

A model walks the runway during Supima’s design competition at New York Fashion Week at Lincoln Center.

The annual show was created to give runway exposure to emerging talent.

Model Coco Rocha, celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe, and vice president, marketing and promotions for Supima, with Buxton Midyette in the front row during Supima’s spring/summer 2012 show at New York Fashion Week at Lincoln Center.

Fashion shows at Lincoln Center ended early during the first day of Fashion Week so that designers could prep for the third annual Fashion’s Night Out.

Deals, giveaways and entertainment were a big part the evening’s events. These young fashionistas left Macy's with free roses in hand.

Tatum Lau purchased a T-shirt at designer Diane von Furstenberg's store in New York's Meatpacking District. Lau said she made the purchase in honor of Fashion's Night Out.

Model Alexa Chung hosted a special DJ set at Stella McCartney's shop in the New York's Meatpacking District. Vogue's fashion director, Tonne Goodman, was on hand to offer shoppers and celebrities fashion styling tips.

Missoni, an Italian fashion house known for its zigzag patterns, created a pop-up store in Midtown Manhattan to promote Missoni x Target, a 400-piece collection created for discount retailer Target.

A limited number of items were on sale from the collection ahead of the products' launch later this month. Hundreds of fans lined up, hoping to make a purchase.

Target had been building buzz for the brand with a Tumblr-based marketing campaign, "written" by a 25-foot-tall mannequin named Marina.

Marina, who has been popping up all over New York this Fashion Week, has been updating followers about her whereabouts on Twitter.

"I'm surprised how many people wanted to try stuff on... and I'm also interested to see the final sales," said Sara Cohen, a manager at Frye's flagship store on Spring Street in Manhattan.

Although Frye only opened the store at the beginning of August, "upper management is ready to fast track it. It's doing so well," Cohen said.

An old taxi cab covered with the logo of Bond No. 9, a perfume brand, fights its way through the crowds gathered along the cobblestone streets of Manhattan's Meatpacking District.

Apple's iPhone and iPad have been touted as being as much fashion accessories as they are gadgets. So perhaps it's no surprise that the store hosted its own Fashion's Night Out event.

Shoppers at its 14th Street store were encouraged to create costumes out of paper and strike a pose at the store. Free photos of their ensembles were snapped by photographer and filmmaker Bill Hayward.

Apple was just one of several retailers that hopped on the coattails of Fashion’s Night Out. Stationary chain Papyrus, for example, celebrated the evening with couture gowns made solely out of stationary, wrapping paper, cards, ribbons, and trims from its store.

There also were free samples of everything from cupcakes to chips to cocktails.