The Big Four Fashion Weeks: New York, London, Milan and Paris

The four major Fashion Weeks are held semi-annually and internationally. Each one of the Fashion Weeks has a unique style, all their own.

In 1943, New York held the first Fashion Week, and has been the quintessential idea of fashion week ever since. Now known as the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, it does seem to be the most commercialized of the big fashion shows, in that the clothes are created ready-for-market. Its styles and designs are arguably a lot 'safer' than the other three locations.

In 1984, London jumped on the fashion train and recently has been making a splash with its high-end couture. London Fashion Week has not yet reached the commercial level of New York and is less likely to follow fashion trends. Rather, each London fashion house showcases its unique take on fashion-forward concepts, and their collections are still market ready. The heavy hitters in London like Richard Nicholl, Christopher Kane and Giles Deacon are all amazing designers who produce commercially viable collections that would stand out at any of the fashion shows around the world.

Milan's version of the week was established in 1958 and is part of the Big Four internationally. It is owned by a nonprofit association which disciplines, coordinates and promotes the development of Italian Fashion and is responsible for hosting the fashion events and shows of Milan called Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana. The original Italian Fashion Week was not held in Milan, instead it was held in Florence at the hands of Giovan Battista Giorgini. He held the first "fashion parade" in the living room of his house "Villa Torrigiani". Then the Italian week later moved to Rome, and then Milan where it is currently held in haute style today.

Paris is known as the fashion capital of the world, and holds the finale position in the fashion show tour. Paris Fashion Week brings each season's chaotic schedule of international fashion weeks to an end. High-end French designers include: Christian Dior, Coco Chanel, and Louis Vuitton along with many more stunningly talented designers. Typically, Paris has some of the most extravagant shows, especially with Paris Couture Week.

No matter which of the Big Four is your favorite, each week is sure to dazzle its audience with new haute couture designs year after year. In addition to haute couture trends, innovative fashion designs have also been making a big impact, especially in New York, the only location that allows a fashion school to feature its students' designs, which are often very fresh and inspirational. It is definitely important to keep up with the latest runway styles from all four weeks to stay on top of upcoming trends for the next season.

An Insight into Fashion Week

Fashion shows first made their appearance in the early 1900's, and now over 1000 years on, a prolonged event named 'Fashion Week' takes place across the world two times a year. The event is proven to be more dominant within the fashion capitals of the world: London, New York, Paris and Milan. This designated week is a crucial and stressful week for all clothing designers as it is their chance to showcase their latest seasonal collections to the press and to their public buyers.

The catwalk shows are a chance to show off their stunning new garments and hope for a huge reaction off the audience. Whilst some designs are future forward and over the top, they are unlikely to be worn by our modern-day public. This is where the high street comes in. High street stores often take a look at runway trends and create either carbon copies of a trend or tone them down to make them more buyer-friendly. They use the catwalk shows as inspiration and take into consideration what their customers would like to wear on a daily basis in a hope to make a big profit, although, many people prefer designer brand wear due to the high quality, intricate detailing and for the brand name alone. This means they do not mind paying extra money for something that is going to last a lifetime.

The audience is usually scattered with journalists, buyers and a whole bunch of 'A list' celebrities that gather and sit on the front row. Celebrities are the most common people to purchase and wear these designer creations as they can afford to buy numerous garments to wear to other press events. This helps to further promote the specific brands among the rest of the world thus deserving a seat at the front of the runway show for observation. Celebrities wearing these branded garments may attend a wide range of events that differentiate by audience, for example musicians, actors and socialites. Being among varied audiences will draw in a large amount of potential buyers as they get photographed by the press for a variety of magazines.

With fashion week still going strong and proving to be increasing popular worldwide, it seems the 4 fashion capitals will always be the homes of fashion as they bring in a whole host of leading designers and A list celebrities resulting in these shows being the biggest and best in the world.

Manish Arora Fall Winter 2012

Manish Arora Fall Winter 2012

English In Paris, Paris

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Rue Saint-Honoré, Paris

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Rue Saint-Honoré (by Place Vendôme), Paris

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Jardin des Tuileries, Paris

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Rue Saint-Honoré, Paris

Jardin du Palais Royal, Paris

Jardin du Palais Royal, Paris

Rue du Marché Saint-Honoré, Paris

Jardin des Tuileries, Paris

Belted Sweater, Paris

Place Vendôme, Paris

What's on the Fashion Calendar for April

April looms large on the museum calendar with the opening of two concurrent shows in Paris at the Musee Galliera de la Mode  -- Comme des Carcons: White Drama and Cristobal Balenciaga, Collector of Fashions.

Comme des Garcons: White Drama
Photograph copyright of Paolo Roversi

In Comme des Garcons: White Drama, designer Rei Kwakubo has choreographed an installation in which the drama of fashioning life's events - birth, marriage, death, and transcendence - is celebrated through the use of pure, ceremonial white of every hue. The exhibition includes: budding flowers, layered handkerchiefs, overcoats, a wedding gown like the silky cocoon of an insect, and other "fashion architecture" created by Rei Kawakubo.

Cape du soir haute couture 1963, Archives Cristobal Balenciaga
Photograph copyright of Schelteris & Abbenes

In Christobal Balenciaga, Collector of Fashions, items from the private archives of Balenciaga, including stays, boleros, capes, bustles dresses, mantillas, embroidery samples and other items, are presented alongside forty haute couture coats and dresses designed by Balenciaga from 1937 to 1968. The exhibition also includes photographs and sketches as well as books on art and costume history as evidence of the designer's passion for history.

Curated by Olivier Saillard, these two exhibitions promise to be visually and intellectually enchanting, and will open to the public on April 13, 2012. I was invited to the opening party, but will not get there until later in the spring.

Both shows are at Les Docks - Cite de la Mode et du Design.
34 quai Austerlitz
75013 Paris
Tel: 01 76 77 25 30

April 13 - October 7, 2012
Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm, except public holidays.

Bright Colours, Paris

Place du Marché Saint-Honoré, Paris

Jardin du Palais Royal, Paris

Blue Beanie, Paris