History of Fashion Week to the Great Extent
The first fashion week was held in New York in 1943, with the main purpose to distract from the French fashion during World War II. Workers in the fashion industry during this time were unable to travel so many designers in the United States decided to host their own show in the U.S. Fashion week was then born, Eleanor Lambert organized the first fashion week and it was call "Press Week". Press Week can thank Vogue magazine for making the week a great success. During this week Vogue began to feature more American more than the usual French work that they usually showed. As Vogue did this they cause a great fashion wave all over the United State, people realized that they could find great fashions in the United States sooner than if they had to wait for the fashions to come to the United States.
Until 1994 different designer shows were held at different locations, but a set accident at a Michael Kors show made the fashion week counsel change the location of fashion week and it was moved to Bryan Park. Fashion week remained at Bryant Park until 2010 when it was then relocated to Lincoln Center.
Eleanor Lambert was not the first to hold a fashion show in America, in 1903 in New York City a shop call Ehrich Brothers was thought to have put on the country's very first fashion show to get middle class women to shop at their store. By 1910 many department stores were following this trend to draw in more customers. Stores got the ideas for fashion shows based on fashion parades in Paris. These shows were a great way to promote stores and to get designers names out into the world for them to become who they are today.
By the 1920s fashion parades and shows were happening all over the country by retailers, large department stores and small mom and pop shops were jumping at the chance to hold a show. Many shows were held in the stores restaurant during brunch or tea time, when women were most likely to be at the stores having a snack after a long morning of shopping.
Steps to Become a Fashion Designer
A fashion designer is a person who designs clothes, by closely following latest fashion trends. At fashion shows and fashion weeks, fashion designers exhibit their creations in front of the world. For most people, fashion designing ends there. But, actually fashion designing is much more than that. Fashion designers are not just the ones whose garments appear on fashion shows. In fact, every piece of cloth that we wear, is the work of a fashion designer.
Fashion is an ever changing entity, where nothing remains permanent. So, it is necessary to constantly research about the ongoing trends. Along with the current fashions, one must also be aware of the old fashion styles, so that one can adapt and create new ones. To be a good fashion designer, it is necessary to be creative, so that one can design clothes that are new and innovative. One has to find a balance between new trends and one's innovative ideas. One should constantly read fashion related articles and magazines, to be up-to-date about the latest fashion trends.
One of the very important things required to become a fashion designer is to know the technical aspects of designing. For this, it is important to join a course in fashion designing. One can enroll oneself into a college that offers two or four-year diploma or degree courses in fashion designing. To get admission into a fashion designing course, you will need to send some of your sketches, along with your application. You would be selected on the basis of whether you have the creativity and the ability to become a fashion designer. The course will help you in developing your skills by giving you knowledge about colors, textures, fabrics, how to use drapes, detailing, etc. Some courses would also teach you to sew and to use computer programs like CAD (Computer-aided design) which would help you in designing on the computer.
In most colleges, students are asked to design clothes for fashion shows conducted by the institution. This is a good way to gain practical experience, as each student is expected to work individually on their outfits, which would judged by their professors and also experts in the field. Working part-time under a fashion designer, while studying, is also beneficial for career development, as it enables the student to earn some money, while gaining experience.
Fashion Shows of the World
The world's major fashion capital's may seem like a long way from our own high street purchases but have a lot more impact on what we wear, than you might realise. Designer's collections are shown in September and February. In the September shows', clothing that is modelled is a preview of what will be available for the following Spring / Summer, and clothing that is shown in February previews the Autumn / Winter collections of that year. These collections are then documented by the fashion press, buyers and stylists, and from here worn first by the rich and famous.
After being shown in magazines and newspapers the styles are adopted by the High Street, so usually one year after it is shown, an item will become popular with the general public.
There are four major fashion capitals of the world, as well as many smaller shows, the four major shows are:
Paris - Paris is considered the fashion capital of the world, the crème de la crème of Haute Couture (made to measure) and Prêt a Porter (Ready to Wear). Every designer covets to bring their art and ideas to Paris and the pinnacle is to show in the Haute Couture shows. Paris is home to an array of high end labels from old and established Chanel and Dior to more contemporary Chloe and Celine.
Milan - Milan fashion week is all about classic Italian glamour chic. Designers who show here tend to be influenced by classical cuts and styles, but with the added Italian sex appeal (and ubiquitous Italian tan). Think Dolce Gabbana, Giorgio Armani and Versace.
New York - New York tends to show typically American ready to wear fashions. Never at the cutting edge of design or most flamboyant collections, but always simply chic New York tends to show clean, cut natural collections that are easy to wear. New York designers tend to be graduates of the much revered Parson's School of Art and Design such as Zac Posen and Marc Jacobs.
London - London is known for both being ultra cool and forward thinking some years; or bland and boring other years. Enfant Terrible of fashion John Galliano (inventor of the 1980's New Romantic style, and current Head Designer at Givenchy / Dior) first showed at London, as did the late, great Alexander Mc Queen who trained as a tailor before studying fashion design. Both Galliano and Mc Queen studied design at Central Saint Martin's College, London, whose graduates show their first collections during London Fashion Week, much to the anticipation of the fashion press.