Every February and September we New Yorkers are actually excited to go to work. We anticipate opening our inbox and we stalk the mail room dude. It’s not because we’re looking for Christmas, birthday, or Valentine’s Day cards (or, God forbid, work-related documents!). Rather we’re praying for Fashion Week invites. It’s during these two months that New York becomes the Fashion mecca and allows us to be a part of it.

Receiving an invite to the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is like a tangible piece of magic—a golden ticket to happiness. You might think that’s a bit over the top but consider this: Fashion Week is the one time when you can see art strutting before you, when you make an extra effort to look good, when you’re among other fashion lovers just like you, and when you get free goodies to your heart’s desire.

This Fall 2011 season we’re excited to see so many shows—we’ve already RSVP’d to too many and sadly, we probably won’t have time to do it all. But there are some that we’d never miss and by that we mean we wouldn’t pass up the chance to support Latino designers who always make a splash with their particular brand of style. And if they’re not making news with the clothes, they’re definitely causing a scene with their famous front row seaters and their flamboyant shows that, at times, can seem like Broadway productions.

Here’s your complete 101 to Latino fashion designers showing this season. Take notes!

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CARLOS MIELE

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The first show we saw from the Brazilian designer Carlos Miele a couple of seasons back, we’d say we were less than impressed with his runway show. Why you ask? His show included a guitarist playing while the models walked around him. Needless to say, it was showy. But from his list of clientele (that includes Kat DeLuna, Olivia Palermo, and Kristin Cavallari) we’d say showy is just what they’re aiming for.

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CAROLINA HERRERA

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Our first encounter with the Venezuelan legend was years ago when we were visiting New York for the first time while in college, and the first person we see walking down Fifth Avenue was the goddess herself, looking divine as ever. Her timeless and sophisticated style has been making fashion waves for what seems like forever, and yet her runway shows continue to represent what fashion is all about: innovation and elegance.

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CUSTO BARCELONA

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Attending a Custo Barcelona fashion show is like going on a jet-setting trip to every Ibiza-like destination, partying it up to electro music while wearing a mishmash of colorful garments (or swimsuits). The Spanish label made up of brothers Custo and David Dalmau was created in 1981 after the two had a life-changing motorcycle trip across America. And it seems they haven’t stopped revving up their engines since.

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CHRISTIAN COTA

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Mexican-born designer Christian Cota is beyond ambitious. The young designer, known for his exquisite feminine drapery, was a finalist last summer for the distinguished CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, and perhaps what got him there was a little stunt he pulled a couple of years back when he performed a lap dance for the fashion director at Bergdorf Goodman. We’d kill to see his moves.

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JUAN CARLOS OBANDO

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The clothes by Colombian-born designer Juan Carlos Obando simply stand out. They have a signature look that pops: bold colors, translucent flowy materials partnered with shiny metallics––without a doubt you’d be the center of attention at any soiree. It’s probably why this up-and-coming designer has won the approval of Vogue elite. And by elite, we mean Anna Wintour herself.

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MARIA CORNEJO

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What we love about Maria Cornejo’s line, Zero+Maria Cornejo, is that it revolves around her central roots––her family of course. Her runway front VIP row consists of her husband and kids, and her shows are anything but pretentious (they’re usually at a loft in Chelsea). Even during Fashion’s Night Out, while promoting her line at Barneys, the Chilean-born designer was sipping champagne hanging out with the rest of the commoners. Her laid back demeanor is probably why her brand (worn by the likes of Cameron Diaz, Michelle Obama, Tilda Swinton, and Sofia Coppola) has been so successful since she first opened shop in NoLita back in 1988.

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NARCISO RODRIGUEZ

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When Michelle Obama walked out on stage as first lady for the first time in Chicago, she made it perfectly clear that by wearing a Narciso Rodriguez dress, there would be a fashionista at the helm in the White House. While the Cuban designer, from New Jersey, has been a fixture in the fashion world since the late ‘90s, dressing up celebrities like friends Salma Hayek and Jessica Alba for award shows, it wasn’t until that moment that Rodriguez would go down in history. Now we’re just wondering if Thalia will show up to his runway show again this season.

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PAOLA HERNANDEZ

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Paola Hernandez from Mexico might not be showing at the Tents, but this talent, who first debuted her collection in 2005, is definitely a force to be reckoned with. Hernandez, who studied at the famed Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London, has stated that her “creative process starts with a question on how to understand human evolution.” And her Fall 2011 collection is fittingly titled “A Look Within.”

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OSCAR DE LA RENTA

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When we hear the iconic name Oscar de la Renta, we surely envision extravagant gowns. Like over-the-top glamour. The designer, who is half Dominican and half Puerto Rican, has been designing since the early ‘60s for labels like Elizabeth Arden and Balenciaga, and has dressed celebrities from Beyonce to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. And each year his shows bring nothing but the best.

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VICTOR DE SOUZA

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Designer Victor de Souza, from Buenos Aires, made his debut at Paris Fashion Week in 2002, and after working for various labels he started his own collection in 2002. His inspiration from the start has been his family, mainly his grandmother who wore Christian Dior, Balenciaga, and Chanel. His clothing line has always been extremely contemporary, with strong tailoring, rich in color and texture. His clients include Jessica Biel, Jennifer Lopez, and Lady Gaga.