Fashion is intriguing. From what fuels specific designs to the runway models that sport the beautiful garments, fashion is always in the limelight. Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter fashion collections debut in over-the-top catwalk shows during fashion week, an event held twice yearly. Fashion week sees collections from the world’s top designers and sets the tone for the coming season’s clothing lines.
Designers are continually working to come up with ideas that are unique to the culture and time period. In the U.S., New York is known as the country’s fashion capital. Designers work around the clock on premiere pieces to be introduced in New York’s February and September shows.
The Spring/Summer styles are shown at the September show while Fall/Winter pieces come out in February. This “eason-ahead” practice has been used for years as it allows the fashion industry to prep for the latest trends. Fashion as seen in the catwalk shows is often more dynamic than the pieces that will be worn by the average woman on a daily basis. Collections for street wear are modeled after the debut fashions, taking what is doable and dropping the elements (such as a completely sheer top) that may be unrealistic for the culture in which we live.
Clothes that do not meet wearability standards are often pieces that can be classified as haute couture. Haute couture is clothing made specifically to an individual’s personal standards and measurements. Catwalk shows featuring haute couture are unique, flashy and often exclusive to designers, buyers and media. Ready to wear shows that occur during fashion week also used to be exclusive, but now offer the opportunity for public attendance.
Whether haute couture or off the rack, the fashion industry stays busy catering to the people. Changes on designs and even textiles continue to improve with time. Local catwalk shows can help you clue in to upcoming design techniques.