Fashion Shows and Fashion Weeks: Trends and Insights
Fashion Shows: Unveiling Seasonal Trends
A fashion show is an event organized by a fashion designer to showcase their upcoming line of clothing during Fashion Weeks. These shows debut every season, particularly the Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter seasons, establishing the latest fashion trends. Two of the most influential fashion weeks are Paris Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week, both of which are semiannual events.
In a typical fashion show, models walk the catwalk wearing the clothing created by the designer. Occasionally, fashion shows take the form of installations, where the models are static, standing, or sitting in a constructed environment. The order in which each model walks out, wearing a specific outfit, is usually planned according to the statement that the designer wants to convey about their collection. The audience’s role is to understand the designer’s message through the presentation and visually deconstruct each outfit, appreciating the detail and craftsmanship of every single piece. Many contemporary designers produce their shows as theatrical productions with elaborate sets and added elements, such as live music or technological components like holograms.
Fashion Week: Setting the Style Agenda
What is Fashion Week?
A fashion week is a fashion industry event that allows fashion designers, brands, or “houses” to display their latest collections in runway shows. This enables buyers and the media to preview the latest trends. Most importantly, these events inform the industry about what’s “in” and what’s “out” for the season. The most prominent fashion weeks are held in the four fashion capitals of the world: New York City, London, Milan, and Paris. Other important fashion weeks are held in Australia, Bangalore, Jakarta, Berlin, Barcelona, Seoul, Tokyo, São Paulo, Los Angeles, Manila, Lodz, Hong Kong, Buenos Aires, Singapore, Toronto, and Madrid.
When are Fashion Weeks Held?
In the major fashion capitals, fashion weeks are semiannual events. From January through April, designers showcase their Fall/Winter collections, and from September through November, they present their Spring/Summer collections. Fashion weeks take place several months in advance of the season to allow the press and buyers to preview designs for the following season. This also allows time for retailers to arrange purchases or incorporate the designers into their retail marketing. The latest innovations in dress designs are showcased by renowned fashion designers during these fashion weeks, and all these latest collections are covered in magazines such as Designerz Central and Vogue.
Womenswear haute couture shows typically happen in Paris. However, for the first time, it was shown in Singapore during its haute couture Women’s Fashion Week in October 2011.
Inter-Seasonal Collections
Over the past few years, more and more designers have introduced inter-seasonal collections between the traditional Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer seasons. These collections are usually more commercial than the main season collections and reduce the wait time for new season clothes. The inter-seasonal collections are Resort/Cruise (before Spring/Summer) and Pre-Fall (before Fall/Winter). There is no fixed schedule for these shows in any of the major fashion capitals, but they typically occur three months after the main season shows. Some designers, like Karl Lagerfeld, have shown their Resort and Pre-Fall collections for Chanel in cities such as Moscow, Los Angeles, and Monte Carlo instead of Paris.
Genre-Specific Fashion Weeks
Some fashion weeks can be genre-specific, such as Miami Fashion Week (swimwear), Rio Summer (swimwear), Prêt-a-Porter (ready-to-wear) Fashion Week, Couture (one-of-a-kind designer original) Fashion Week, and Bridal Fashion Week.
Spring 2013 Fashion Week Trends
According to prominent designers, some fashion trends for the next season include:
Cuts That Marked 2013 Trends
- Bright skirts: Ranging from casual to formal, bright skirts can be worn with cropped tops in a flirty way.
- Leggings: Galaxy and Milky Way-inspired designs are particularly popular.
- Diamonds: Diamonds are a significant element in stylish summer 2013 trends.
- Long skirts: Long skirts continue to be fashionable.
- Fedora hats: Fedora hats have taken a top place in 2012 fashion trends.
- Peplums: Peplums are making a comeback.
Colors That Marked 2013 Trends
- Purple, pink, and bright tones
- Tribal colors
- Vintage gold
Grey, silver, and neon are considered out of style. Purple is often combined with bright combinations of tribal colors. Tribal patterns add glamour, an eclectic touch, and energy to wardrobes. Bright tones, including a variety of primary colors, are very much in vogue.
Print Choices That Marked 2013 Trends
Mix-and-match print combinations are back. There are no specific rules for mixing and matching prints, but wearing just one print is not recommended. Tribal prints and motifs are trendy, alongside digital galaxy patterns and graphic prints. Metallic tones are not recommended for the upcoming year. Many designers also use animal prints, appliqué floral, and black-and-white prints.
Shoes That Marked 2013 Trends
Open-toe shoes are in for 2013, featuring various shapes, colors, and elements in their designs. Flat footwear, particularly ballerina-like styles, is a trendsetter.