A Fashion Week is a fashion industry event, typically named after the host city or major commercial sponsor, lasting four to ten days. It is held so that fashion designers or "houses" are able showcase their "collections" for either Spring or Fall seasons. "Spring" fashion weeks are held in January through March and "Fall" fashion weeks are held between September and November, since they must be held a few months in advance of the season to allow the press and buyers a chance to preview fashion designs for the following season. This is also to allow time for retailers to arrange to purchase or incorporate the designers into their retail marketing. They are attended by buyers for major stores, the media, celebrities, and members of the entertainment industry. The highlight is usually the famous "runway show", where the top designers show and well-known models are featured. Men's and Children's fashion shows are often part of the week's activities, especially in the prominent cities.
In years past, fashion weeks were predominantly" for "the trade only", however, today they are entertainment and media events. They may incorporate live musicians, celebrity guests, lavish galas and charity events, and a few allow the public to purchase special passes to see the see the runway shows or attend expositions which display handbags, jewelery, shoes, hats and cosmetics. Many important fashion design schools participate in the shows, as well. Some fashion weeks can be genre-specific, such as a Pret-a-porter (ready-to-wear) fashion week, Couture (one-of-a-kind designer original) Fashion Week or a Bridal Fashion Week.
The most prominent and legendary Fashion Weeks are the following: London Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week, Los Angeles Mercedes Fashion Week, New York's Olympus Fashion Week, Tokyo Fashion Week.
There following Fashion Weeks are held
in cities where local style typically tends
to set international fashion trends or the
fashion industry is important to local commerce:
Auckland Fashion Week, Amsterdam Fashion
Week, Budapest Fashion Week, Chicago Fashion
Week, Cleveland Fashion Week, Dublin Fashion
Week, Hong Kong Fashion Week, India Fashion
Week, Miami Fashion Week, Oslo Fashion Week,
Singapore Fashion Week.
Fashion Weeks
Olympus Fashion Week, New York City
Mercedes Fashion Week, Los Angeles
Read Fashion Week News.
