Every year New York City plays host to one of the most important events in fashion’s calendar: New York Fashion Week. Alongside the three other fashion weeks: Paris, London and Milan, collectively known as the ‘big four’, twice a year the industry’s top designers present their latest collections in a series of presentations and runway shows.
The first official New York Fashion Week began life as ‘Press Week’ in 1943 during World War 2. The American fashion media couldn’t get over to Paris, where the most prestigious of fashion weeks was held, so New York decided to draw attention away from French fashion and back onto new emerging American designers. It was so successful that from then on Press Week was known as Fashion Week and various shows, by various designers, were staged in numerous venues all across the Big Apple.
What to expect at a show
Like any other fashion show, designers showcasing at New York Fashion Week will show collections for the season ahead; so February’s show will display racks for Autumn 2023/winter 2024, and come September, we’ll be watching the spring/summer 2024 looks strut down the runway.
A runway fashion show is a way for a designer to display their artistic expression. They will want to make the biggest impact they can have on the fashion world and impart the theme of their collection for the upcoming season. What you see on the stage and what they have in their stores are two different things however – what you can buy is a watered down version of their artistry, a more wearable version of their imaginations.
The actual shows themselves typically never start on time, but went they do, expect to be wowed for 10-20 minutes, by approximately 30-40 looks or outfits. If the designer has a famous model walking for them, expect her to close the show, someone from Kendall Jenner to Cara Delevingne.
Who is showing their collections
In February there will be a mix of familiar faces and newbies, shows from Calvin Klein, Victoria Beckham and Ralph Lauren.
How to get tickets
Everyone who goes to a Fashion Week show – be it in “the tents” or some glorious, blown-out abandoned building downtown – must be invited. So unless you’re a fashion editor, retail store buyer, fashion blogger, industry influencer, friend or client of designers or are famous you’re likely to be left off the list.
There are ways you can be involved, if you are determined however:
- You can live-stream shows during New York Fashion Week, plus various international designers in the weeks following.
- Most buyers and press outlets contact the design houses directly, so give that a try.
- Bloggers can submit for accreditation to producers like IMG. IMG registration generally opens up a few weeks before the events.
- Have a look on this link for tickets to small shows that need filling https://fashionweekonline.com/new-york/tickets
- Volunteer opportunities. You might want to try the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America), IMG, or individual design houses for opportunities to volunteer for them and get access to the shows.
