New York Fashion Week fall 2009 preview

Fashion Week: Fall 2009 preview

Even though the weakening dollar was buzzed about at last season’s Fashion Week, this time around it’s all that anyone can talk about. But how will the economic downturn shape the clothes being showcased on runways February 13-20? Will designers play it safe with the same old styles or feel inspired to push the creative envelope? We’re hoping for the latter.

“Things like punk emerged out of a really bad economic climate, and that's a really strong fashion look,” said Valerie Steele, director of the museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology. We took a peak at some of the designers’ fall sketches and inspirations to see if Steele’s prediction will ring true.

— Julie Gordon and Jessie Pascoe