The models descended on the city, along with photographers, stylists, makeup artists, celebrities, editors and of course, fashion groupies during New York fashion week. During the week, more than 300 designers presented their fall 2012 collections to journalists, buyers and the occasional celebrity at Lincoln Center, Milk Studios and other venues. In this post, we take a look behind the scenes, get a glimpse of the runway and end it with a bit of whimsy. -- Paula Nelson (EDITOR'S NOTE: There will not be a Big Picture post on Monday, February 20 due to the President's Day holiday.)(42 photos total)

Makeup is applied backstage before the Rebecca Taylor Fall/Winter 2012 show during New York Fashion Week, Feb. 10, 2012. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters)

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A model winces as an earring is placed backstage before the Rebecca Taylor Fall/Winter 2012 show, Feb. 10, 2012. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters) #

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Hair and makeup are done before the Concept Korea Fall/Winter 2012 presentation, Feb. 10, 2012. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters) #

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Models are prepped backstage before the Jason Wu Fall/Winter 2012 collection, Feb. 10, 2012. (Allison Joyce/Reuters) #

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Models sit under hair dryers backstage before the Peter Som Fall 2012 collection is presented, Feb. 10, 2012. (Richard Drew/Associated Press) #

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A model, her image reflected in a mirror, reads her iPad backstage before the Peter Som Fall/Winter 2012 collection show, Feb. 10, 2012. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters) #

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A model is prepared backstage before the Richard Chai Fall/Winter 2012 collection show, Feb. 9, 2012. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters) #

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Final touches are applied backstage before the Chadwick Bell Fall/Winter 2012 collection show, Feb. 9, 2012. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters) #

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Models are prepared before the Diesel Black Gold New York Fall/Winter 2012 collection show, Feb. 14, 2012. (Allison Joyce/Reuters) #

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A model waits backstage at the A Detacher Fall 2012 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Pier 59 Studios, Feb. 12, 2012. (Chelsea Lauren/Getty Images) #

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Dye is rinsed out of a model's hair over a garbage bin backstage before the Custo Barcelona Fall/Winter 2012 collection show, Feb. 12, 2012. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters) #

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A model removes makeup while having her hair done before a presentation of the Vera Wang Fall/Winter 2012 collection, Feb. 14, 2012. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters) #

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Many hands prepare a model backstage before a presentation of the Naeem Khan Fall/Winter 2012 collection, Feb. 14, 2012. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters) #

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A model's hair is styled before a showing of the Dennis Basso Fall/Winter 2012 collection, Feb. 14, 2012. (Adam Hunger/Reuters) #

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A model eats, making certain not to mess her makeup, while her hair is done before a showing of the Pamella Roland Fall/Winter 2012 collection, Feb. 14, 2012. (Adam Hunger/Reuters) #

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Backstage at The Blonds Fall 2012 fashion show, February 15, 2012. (Craig Barritt/Getty Images) #

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Backstage at the Designer's Premier Fall 2012 fashion show at Helen Mills Event Space, Feb. 12, 2012. (Robin Marchant/Getty Images) #

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Fashion show attendees at Lincoln Center during the Fall 2012 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, Feb. 10, 2012. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Vogue magazine editor Anna Wintour at the Jason Wu Fall/Winter 2012 collection presentation, Feb.10, 2012. (Allison Joyce/Reuters) #

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Models during the Concept Korea presentation at Lincoln Center, Feb. 10, 2012. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Tom Pecheux, from MAC Cosmetics, talks with fashion writers backstage before the Peter Som Fall 2012 collection, Feb. 10, 2012. (Richard Drew/Associated Press) #

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Rick Genest attends the General Idea Fall 2012 fashion show during fashion week at The Studio at Lincoln Center, Feb. 10, 2012 in New York City. (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) #

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A model at the Oumlil fall 2012 presentation, Feb. 12, 2012. (Amy Sussman/Getty Images) #

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The first model takes the runway as spectators take photos with their phones during the General Idea Fall/Winter 2012 collection show, Feb. 10, 2012. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters) #

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The Jenny Packham Fall 2012 fashion show at The Studio at Lincoln Center, Feb. 13, 2012. (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) #

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The Jenny Packham Fall 2012 fashion show, Feb. 13, 2012. (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) #

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The Y-3 Fall/Winter 2012 collection, Feb. 12, 2012. (Allison Joyce/Reuters) #

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Creations at the Marc Jacobs Fall/Winter 2012 collection show, Feb. 13, 2012. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters) #

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Models prepare backstage at the Indashio Fall 2012 fashion show at Zahzo, Feb. 14, 2012. (Joe Corrigan/Getty Images) #

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The 4 Corners of a Circle Fall 2012 fashion show at the Audi Forum, Feb.14, 2012. (Joe Kohen/Getty Images) #

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Michael Kors Fall/Winter 2012 collection, Feb. 15, 2012. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters) #

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Dennis Basso Fall/Winter 2012 collection show, Feb. 14, 2012. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters) #

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Dennis Basso Fall/Winter 2012 collection, Feb. 14, 2012. (Adam Hunger/Reuters) #

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Pamella Roland Fall/Winter 2012 collection show, Feb. 14, 2012. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters) #

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Dennis Basso Fall/Winter 2012 collection, Feb. 14, 2012. (Adam Hunger/Reuters) #

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The Jad Ghandour Fall 2012 fashion show at Cipriani, 42nd Street, Feb. 14, 2012. (Riccardo S. Savi/Getty Images) #

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Lil Debbie poses in a series of three photographs outside of Lincoln Center, the site of the Fall/Winter 2012 New York City fashion week, February 9, 2012. Stylists, bloggers, former models and budding fashionistas aimed to make a splash off the runway as they descended upon New York, flaunting their own original looks. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters) #

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Desmond Zhengs poses outside of Lincoln Center, Feb. 13, 2012. Zhengs is a journalist from Malaysia and has attended New York's Fashion Week for four years. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters) #

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Sharmeen Azmudeh poses outside of Lincoln Center, Feb. 13, 2012. Azmudeh is a makeup artist from Queens and has attended New York's Fashion Week "too many times to count." (Carlo Allegri/Reuters) #

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Dr. Michael Richardson outside of Lincoln Center, Feb. 13, 2012. Richardson is a physician from Chicago, making his first trip to New York's Fashion Week. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters) #

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Amanda Gabriele outside of Lincoln Center, Feb. 13, 2012. Gabriele is a journalist from Ohio and has attended New York's Fashion Week five times. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters) #

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Miss Universe, Lelia Lopes, outside of Lincoln Center, Feb. 13, 2012. Lopes is a Miss Universe from Angola and will attend 10 shows at fashion week. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters) #