The Super Bowl of fashion

Oh, the weather outside may be frightful and frigid. But the fashion world is ready to get warm and fuzzy.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week officially begins Thursday (Feb. 7) and runs through Feb. 14. That means eight straight days of fashion, fashion and more fashion (nine if you count the multitude of events being held on Wednesday before the festivities officially begin).

Events in New York City can be found not just at the official New York Fashion Week tents at Lincoln Center, but in hotels, showrooms, event spaces like the Milk Studios and even the Piers along Manhattan’s west side.

In addition to the literally hundreds of events in New York City, New Jersey will be getting in the act thanks to Atlantic City Fashion Week, scheduled for Feb. 8, where events, including special sales and a fashion show, will take place at One Atlantic at the Pier Shops connected to Caesars Atlantic City.

In New York, the fashion world will descend in all of its high-gloss glory, from top designers and models to stylists, editors, and, most importantly, buyers for major chains and small boutiques.

Key labels and designers expected to show include Tracy Reese, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, Monique Lhuillier, Nicole Miller, Diane von Furstenberg, Donna Karan, BCBG Max Azria, Douglas Hannant, Tadashi Shoji, Tahari, Nautica, Rag & Bone, Helmut Lang, Billy Reid, Jill Stuart, Zac Posen, Carolina Herrera, Theory, Vera Wang, Badgley Mischka, Narciso Rodriguez and Naeem Khan.

Special fashion-related events also will be part of the festivities, including the Heart Truth Red Dress Collection, an annual show featuring celebrities dressed in red to raise awareness about the importance of women’s heart health.

The finale taping of the new season of “Project Runway” will take place during New York Fashion Week, although as observers have learned, there are so many red herrings thrown into the mix that it’s impossible to glean who the top finalists are, let alone the identity of the winner.

While the public can purchase tickets to Atlantic City Fashion Week, most New York Fashion Week events are closed to the public, although many designers are offering live streaming or delayed online videos of their New York Fashion Week shows.

But American Express is once again offering fashion fans a chance to experience New York Fashion Week in person. American Express Cardmembers will be able to watch the show of looks form the Herrera Spring collection after a reception with Herrera and Harper’s Bazaar editor Glenda Bailey.

As an added bonus, editors from Harper’s Bazaar will work with a team from CH Carolina Herrera to style the editors’ favorite looks which will then be available for sale on ShopBazaar.com.

Cardmembers also will be able to purchase tickets to see collections from the American Skybox at the Lincoln Center tents as well as attend collections being shown as part of the MADE at Milk Studios schedule of fashion shows.