New York Fashion Week: expected highlights

The first of the world's four biggest fashion weeks launches February 9 (officially starting February 11), and rumors on potential collaborations and parties are flying thick and fast. Here is what we know so far.

Designers and celebrities have been announcing their after-parties and collaborations at the last minute and even at this point, as is always the case in fashion, many events have only been heard through the grapevine, but if insider sources are correctly informed, Marc Jacobs will be hosting "something major" while Peter Jensen's event featuring The Cardigans singer Nina Persson will attract the crowds despite its disadvantageous slot on the evening of Valentine's Day.

Naomi Campbell's fundraiser event to benefit Haiti's earthquake victims, on the other hand, is officially confirmed, with the public being able to purchase tickets, ranging from $100 to $150, via ticketmaster.com. The supermodel's celebrity friends are expected to model various creations that will go on sale at net-a-porter.com afterwards. All proceeds will go to Fashion for Relief.

Fashion opening its doors to 'mere mortals' is a big trend currently, and Campbell welcoming the general public at her event is not the only proof of this: Marc Jacobs gave away tickets for his show, and other events promise to be far from 'ivory-tower fashion,' too, with reality TV favorites, the Kardashian sisters, launching their range for US label bebe, which is expected by many to attract the presence of fellow reality personalities from MTV's Jersey Shore, and Carmen Electra hosting a party for designer Rebecca Taylor at the Bryant Park Hotel.

Speaking of hotels, The Standard is still on top of the game when it comes to playing host for fashion week events (Sundance's Full Frontal Fashion party takes place here on February 9) but is getting some serious competition from the Hudson hotel, according to style.com.

Other party highlights include Olivier Theyskens's book launch for The other side of the picture, Rodarte's installation at the Cooper-Hewitt Museum, and Calvin Klein's fashion week closing party at the West Village building.

As for new shows, the aforementioned Jensen will shake up the schedule together with Graeme Armour (also formerly London-based), Jeremy Scott, who is returning from London, and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who will be hosting the first presentation for their The Row label. New red carpet favorite Prabal Gurung is also preparing his first-ever NYFW show.

As every season, there will be a broad range of special product ranges launching during the fashion week. Highlights the web knows of so far are a denim line by Opening Ceremony and Levi's, a branded digital camera by Jason Wu, and Love magazine's third issue. Also during the event, Narciso Rodriguez will launch his collection for eBay, which will retail for prices between $65 and $350 on ebay.com/narcisorodriguezforebay, February 15.

And finally, flamboyant celebrity stylist Robert Verdi will premiere his own reality show on the Logo network February 10.