New York Fashion Week officially commenced this morning with shows by Nicholas K and DKNY. And, over the next several days, more than 100 designers and brands will debut their Fall/Winter 2014 collections on runways and showrooms across New York. Just ten hours in, several pieces coming off the runways (like BCBG’s colorblocked dresses and fur muffs) have already made my jaw drop, but the main thing that left my mouth gaping today? Learning how much Fashion Week actually costs.

Now, I’m not talking ticket prices – invitations aren’t bought, they’re earned by social status and job ranking – but the actual cost of showing a collection at NYFW. First, there’s the venue, which ranges from $15,000 – 60,000. Then, there’s the cost of a stylist, who can earn up to $8,000 per day. Factor in production and PR costs, hair and makeup artist fees, the models, and, with social media playing a huge role in fashion these days, the price of livestreaming your runway. The grand total? Typically over $200,000 – and that’s for lesser-known designers. Mind blown? Yeah, me too.

Read more on the cost of NYFW at Fashionista.com.

By Keriann Coffey, Associate Editor

What do you think about NYFW’s financial figures? Tweet us at @ruelala to share.

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