Photo Courtesy of Burberry

Ladies and gents, get ready for some serious jaw-dropping Fashion Week enlightenment! Contrary to popular belief, the famous four-weeks of back to back shows didn’t start in the beautiful city of Paris.

No, it actually started in the concrete jungle that is New-York, where fashion and city lights seem to gloriously blend. But first thing’s first, let’s get one thing perfectly clear: it may be called “Fashion Week”, but it’s actually a whole month of shows and presentations, from New York to London, Milan and Paris.

The madness that is billed as one of the most awaited anticipation of the year could be traced back to 1943, during World War II, a time where the fashion pack desperately needed a place to harness runway shows and presentations. Ultimately, enthusiasts and the media found glory right in the heart of New York, as designer’s decided to showcase next season’s collections in a series of shows also known as the “Press Week”. Yes, you owe it all to the New York Dress Institute.

Although the term “fashion show” originally originated in France, the concept was further developed in New York, bringing forth a slew of seasonal fashion shows, twice a year, to present the ready-to-wear lines of the season ahead. And as other cities caught on, the world was once again introduced to the Paris Fashion Week in 1945, Milan Fashion Week in 1975 and London Fashion Week in 1984. And so the world as we know it was gloriously bathed in the beauty and wonder of fashion!

 

Cindy Menassa