If you’re into fashion, September is upon us so be prepared to be swept up into a whirlwind of style activity! The industry is gearing up for the 2nd instalment of 2014’s four major fashion weeks (five now if you count Berlin). It goes like this – New York, London, Paris then Milan. Fashion weeks have been happening for over fifty years, and are the highlight of the fashion calendar. The trends for autumn/winter are set in the spring and in the autumn we see the looks for spring/summer. September sees the Ready to Wear collections - each Fashion Week has its own distinct flavour, with designers from the country where it's held tending to dominate the catwalks.
We start in New York, from September 4th to 11th. The first “Mercedes-Benz NYFW” (or Press Week as it was called then) was held in 1943, a clever ploy to take attention away from the French shows (the French were the trendsetters and other countries copied the Parisian designs the moment they were printed). It’s held at the Lincoln Centre, a huge performing arts building in central Manhattan. (in The Theatre, The Salon and The Pavillion). The week-long schedule includes BCBG Max Azria, Herve Leger, DKNY, Carolina Herrera, Tory Burch, MM6 Maison Martin Margiela, Anna Sui and Ralph Lauren.
Somerset House is the venue for LFW SS 2015, with its beautiful designer showrooms and crazy energy. Seen as the most flamboyant and creative of the Fashion Weeks, London Fashion Week takes over the town between 12th and 16th September. It’s a big supporter of new designers and gives a number of awards to raise the profile of new talent. Friday sees the likes of Eudon Choi, Mark Fast and hot new brand Shrimps, with Markus Lupfer, J.W Anderson and House of Holland as the main draws on the Saturday. Sunday is the busiest day for top designers, with Preen, Margaret Howell, Paul Smith, Vivienne Westwood Red Label and Mary Katrantzou all out in force. Monday rivals Sunday with the more big guns – Roksanda, Erdem, Burberry Prorsum, Christopher Kane, Peter Pilotto, Giles and Tom Ford (and breathe). We wind down on Tuesday with Anya Hindmarch, Simone Rocha, Fashion East (new designers) and Meadham Kirchhoff. Events include the LFW designers Party on 14th September and Harrods Show Heaven Launch Party on 16th September.
The party doesn’t stop and everyone heads to Milano ready to start on 17th September until 22nd September (one day between each ending – wow). Wednesday sees Gucci, Alberta Ferretti and No21 showing, with more big labels coming out on Thursday – Emporio Armani, Fendi, Prada and Moschino to name but a few. On Friday Sportmax, Missoni, Iceberg and Versace and Saturday sees Bottega Veneta, Roberto Cavalli, Jil Sander and Pucci.
Held in the Carousel de Louvre (the home of the upside down pyramid), you know you’ve made it when you get into Paris Fashion Week. Like the fashion equivalent of Fort Knox, online applications don’t exist (unlike London or New York) and folk will use all manner of tactics to even sit on a step inside. Organised by the Federation Francaise de la Couture, PFW is the final Fashion Week to take place, from 23rd September to 1st October. Last season designers such as Dries Van Noten, Comme des Garçons, Christian Dior, Lanvin, Isabel Marant, Sonia Rykiel, Jean Paul Gaultier and Balenciaga graced us with their presence. Expect the major French labels and plenty of classic Parisian magic.
Fashion Week facts
- It can cost up to $750,000 to put on a catwalk show
- London Fashion Week is attended by over 5,000 press and buyers, and has estimated orders of between £40 million and £100 million
- New York Fashion Week has been organised by the same woman since 1945 (Ruth Finley)
- There are approximately 40 fashion weeks around the world each year, but the Big Four still reign supreme.
- Most shows last around 15 minutes
- Each week has a general style - New York sets the sportswear trends, London is avant-garde, Milan boasts the most jaw-dropping looks and Paris is very high fashion (even when it's Ready to Wear)
- LFW will see approximately 70 designers doing catwalk shows or presentations over the five day schedule
- Expect around 75,000 images to be added to Instagram with the hashtag LFW - fashion overload!
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