By Jessica Foreman
Reporter

Lights, camera, catwalk! It is that time of year again. Anticipated by fashion designers, models, fashionistas and all involved within the fashion industry worldwide look forward to one thing: New York City’s semi-annual fashion week.

Today through Sept. 15 at the Lincoln Center in New York City, this year’s scheduled shows include BCBG Max Azria, Lacoste, Tommy Hilfiger, Betsey Johnson, Vera Wang, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein.

“Fashion week determines what is going to be considered potentially fashionable for the upcoming season,” said Fort Worth junior Shalyn Nasi, a fashion design major. “It allows new designers to be heard.”

New York Fashion Magazine’s blog, The Cut, showcased an exclusive preview of what will be revealed on the runway throughout the week. 56 designers sent in one snapshot along with a word that captures what their collection will look like. “Retro-glamour,” “Asian influences” and “humorous prints” were a few descriptions of the apparel to come.

The “Mercedes-Benz Presents” designer for this season’s spring/summer 2012 collections was awarded to San Francisco native, Derek Lam, the designer and brand distinguished by clothes that are “both luxurious and wearable, with a feminine but unfussy beauty about them,” according to the official Derek Lam website. When asked by Vogue Magazine to describe his line in 2010, Lam replied, “Sensual, relaxed luxury.”

The “Mercedes-Benz Presents” program has featured designers over the past eight years including Carolina Herrera, Monique Lhuillier and Narciso Rodriguez, whose designs boast quality materials, distinctive style and innovative design. Lam’s collection will be shown on Sunday at the Lincoln Center.

This season’s fashion week will include more labels with live-streaming during their shows than ever before, from Marc Jacobs to Jason Wu, giving those unable to attend the opportunity to watch more than 50 spring collections unveiled on the runway.