Fashion week is a fashion industry event. Lasting approximately a week, it allows fashion designers, fashion houses, or brands, a fabulous stage upon which to showcase their latest collections. In these runway shows, buyers get to see the latest trends, thereby allowing fashion industry forecasters to let the public know what will be hot, and not. The most prominent fashion weeks are held in New York, London, Milan, and Paris -- the fashion capitals of the world. And now in Brazil, the Sao Paulo Fashion Week, the largest held in Latin America, is being considered the fifth most important. Fashion week would also not be complete without fashion’s idol makers, some of whom are Vogue editors Carine Roitfeld, [France] Anna Wintour, [America] and American editor-at-large Andre Leon Talley. With his larger than life personality, he has used his influence to catapult many a young designer into stardom.

Fashion weeks are semiannual events, where in January through March, designers showcase that year's autumn and winter collections. In September through November, the next year's spring and summer collections are showcased. You may ask why fashion week is held several months in advance of upcoming seasons. It is done so that buyers and the press can preview the designs for fall in the spring ... and so on. It is also done because retailers need to make purchase arrangements and incorporate designers into their lineups. Then in turn, they need to market the acquired items to the buying public -- you and I, the ethnic beauties of the world.

The 2010 New York Fashion Week kicked off on a somber note, due to the tragic news that exceptional British designer, Alexander McQueen, is deceased. Once a chief designer at the renowned Givenchy house, often he put together some of the most dramatic and elaborate fashion shows. Notorious for his 10-inch heels, the designer had multi-ethnic fans the world over. Due to unveil his new collection in Paris in March, he will be greatly missed.

Also, the white tents, the different stages, and the white chairs will be missed. After 18 years of being held in New York's eight acre Bryant Park, it appears this will be Fashion Week's last there. Gone will be the mystique at this particular venue. Having worked in Manhattan, I have been fortunate enough to have watched preparations for the event. During those times the excitement was palpable, as scores of people expertly put together what appeared to be a dazzling and humongous fashion puzzle. The glamour, the festivities, the shows, the designers, and the models will all now move to New York's Lincoln Center ... thus undoubtedly beginning a new era in fashion.

To attend, one must be invited, and each year sponsors like Maybelline, and magazines like Allure and Essence are prominent. This year Supermodel Naomi Campbell's Hope for Haiti Catwalk show, where a model twice tripped was much talked about. However, what is commendable is that money raised by Naomi's charity gala should benefit mothers and babies in earthquake devastated Haiti. Seen also were fashion designers Badgley Mischka, Carlos Miele, Anna Sui, DKNY, and Maria Cornejo. Ms. Cornejo happens to be one of the designers who swiftly rose to prominence after first lady Michelle Obama wore pieces from her line. Also present was America's Next Top Model's Miss Jay.

Most noticeable this year was hair! The side ponytail was highly visible. At DKNY, famed hairstylist Eugene Souleiman created an elegant off-center ponytail by settling it over a shoulder. Sashaying down designer Luca Orlandi's catwalk, models also rocked chic up-do's. With their hair swept high, theirs was a bun on the side. Then there was the designer Lacoste, showcasing -- in addition to the fashions -- a gleeful side ponytail, how cute! Other models sauntered down the catwalk wearing the usual profusion of hot hair, huge wildly teased curls, bobs, super straight locks, and everything in between. And what a treat! Designers opted to live stream their shows so that ethnic beauties everywhere may enjoy them from their computers! And for the totally fashion conscious, designer Narciso Rodriguez has launched an affordably priced limited-edition collection offered at the designer's eBay store.

Ethnic Beauties, although fashion week with its lights, celebrities, and paparrazi inevitably ends, true beauty never does. Therefore, stay true to yourself, and keep it glam, because for you, fashion week will go on, and on!