If your memory stretches way back to 1991, Russian Fashion Week still may be a startling concept. But as these photos from Moscow show, Russians have mastered the basics of international fashion marketing and showmanship. And, boy, can they throw a party! At left, a model strikes a flamboyant pose backstage at the LO Fashion Show on Oct. 22, 2006.

Julia Kardash lolls in a bath filed with Evian water and rose petals at an event before the Alexander Gapchuk Fashion Show in Moscow on Oct. 21, 2006.

A dancer performs at a party held during Russian Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2007 on Oct. 20, 2006.

A model walks the catwalk during the Evgenia Soloviova Fashion Show in Moscow on Oct. 21, 2006.

Models dressed for the catwalk line up backstage before American fashion company Baby Phat's show in Moscow on Oct. 23, 2006.

A model walks the catwalk during the Laundry by Shelli Segal Fashion Show during Russian Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2007 on Oct. 23, 2006. Laundry is based in Los Angeles.

A model pauses on the runway during the Laundry by Shelli Segal Fashion Show in Moscow on Oct. 23, 2006.

A line of models walks the catwalk during the Laundry by Shelli Segal Fashion Show in Moscow on Oct. 23, 2006.

Is that a cigarette inside a public building? Well, they're at the cutting edge in many other ways. Marina Smirnova, left, and Lyudmila Taborskaya of Artefact attend the Alexander Shumsky Reception during Russian Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2007 on Oct. 22, 2006.

Models preen backstage during the LO Fashion Show in Moscow on Oct. 22, 2006.

Russia Fashion Week came complete with its own rock stars. Looking like they would be at home in Seattle, A-mega singers Maxim Volkov, left, and Oleg Dobrynin attend the Inshade Fashion Show in Moscow on Oct. 20, 2006.

Designer Max Chernitsov attends the Inshade Fashion Show in Moscow on Oct. 20, 2006.

A model faces photographers on the catwalk during the Mainaim Fashion Show in Moscow on Oct. 20, 2006.

Partygoers dance at the Russian Fashion Party during Russian Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2007 on Oct. 20, 2006.

A model walks down the catwalk during the Frankie Morello Fashion Show in Moscow on Oct. 22, 2006.

They should have hired an octopus to model this outfit. A human totters down the catwalk during the Egor Zaitsev Fashion Show in Moscow on Oct. 24, 2006.

Oh, man, somebody stop him before he designs again! Two models swoop past each other on the catwalk during the Egor Zaitsev Fashion Show in Moscow on Oct. 24, 2006.

Just one more picture from this guy's show; it's too funny to resist. A model walks the catwalk during the Egor Zaitsev Fashion Show in Moscow on Oct. 24, 2006.