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WATCH: Fashion Week Instagram Video Diary

By  Janet Upadhye and Serena Solomon | September 6, 2013 7:34am | Updated on September 6, 2013 12:08pm

 Textile designer Elesha Casimir, 25, who attended the Art Institute of New York City runway show, wore all black to keep her day simple.
Textile designer Elesha Casimir, 25, who attended the Art Institute of New York City runway show, wore all black to keep her day simple.
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DNAinfo/Serena Solomon

LINCOLN CENTER — The bold and the beautiful descended upon Lincoln Center for the first day of New York Fashion Week.

Designer Nicholas K kicked off the week with a 9 a.m. show, while the highly anticipated BCBG Spring 2014 collection attracted hundreds eager to catch a glimpse.

Meanwhile, fashionistas flaunted this season's latest styles outside the Fashion Week tents. 

A textile designer, Elesha Casimir, 25, who attended the Art Institute of New York City runway show, wore all black to keep her day simple.

"It's not about how much you have, it's about how you wear it," she said, while standing in a pair of black Dr. Martens and holding a money bag-style purse from American Apparel. 

Upwards of 400 volunteers worked the shows, many of them aspiring to be models themselves. DNAinfo New York talked to some wannabe models who were fresh-faced, ready to network and hoping to "be discovered."

"This is the place to be seen after all," said Dominique Stroman, 23, showing off the look she hopes will land her a modeling gig.


Young trend-setter Roberto Johnson, 18, wore what he called a "New York City mix" of Topman, thrift store finds, Urban Outfitters and Bruce Glen accessories.

Although show attendees call them "the tents" as a leftover from the event's more primitive days at Bryant Park, Fashion Week's home at Lincoln Center is far from camping.

The huge temporary structure opens to a foyer with plasma TV's beaming runway shows, live D.J.'s spinning songs and lounges all around.

This Fashion Week generated plenty of useful and free goodies such as a portable bag hook so you never have to put your designer handbag on a sticky bar floor ever again.

Also on offer an emergency kit sewing kit, hairspray, fashion magazines and plenty of snacks such as iced coffee and low-calorie frozen yogurt.

But it was Joan Rivers' appearance that really got the crowds riled. The popular comedian hosted her television show "Fashion Police" from inside the tents and then stepped outside to judge the street style of Fashion Week attendees.