Fashion cycles: ~ Couture ~ Ready To Wear ~ Pre/Resort/Cruise Collections ~
Couture
Begins in January and lasts for one week in Paris only. Whatever is shown during this period by any fashion house is made to wear pieces, ranging from £7,000 to £100,000 per item as they are hand made by 'Les Petite Moins' (Below is a Youtube video of the making of the Chanel Spring-Summer 2017 collection) This video makes an individual appreciate why the pieces cost so much along with why there is a four month period of production specifically for the clients.
Examples of couture pieces in 2017:
Ready To Wear
Begins in February and ends in March. It is seen as an old fashioned way of showcasing a line on the catwalk, however most of the pieces are showcased more in campaigns. This is because production of the line begins in September to December therefore they have to keep the 'hype' and interest with this seasons line during the time that the consumer can't have the product. One example of a recent campaign that was made to keep the attention of the public was the #GucciAndBeyond campaign (video below)
Examples of 2017 Ready to Wear collections:
Cruise Collection:
Begins in November and ends in May. It's production time is between July and November. This process is seen to convey the interpretations of the Ready To Wear collections. Most are placed in coastal settings; these are usually great architectural building that allows the audience to see all angles of the pieces.
(Video: Louis Vuitton 2017)
Examples of cruise collections 2017:
THE FASHION CAPITALS
There are four main fashion capitals of the world that all hold their own fashion week. Each of their own fashion weeks are solely theirs as they showcase different personalities of the area and culture where they are held.
New York Fashion Week is seen as showing of the purity and minimalism of fashion, mostly through active and sportswear. It is aimed at the working woman since New York is filled with female professionals. Another aspect of the fashion week is the Gala Gowns that is specifically aiming at those who want to attend the Met Ball Gala.
Some examples of the 'Old Guard' of NY Fashion week:
~ Calvin Klein ~ Donna Karen ~ Oscar De La Renta ~
The 'New Guard' examples are considered to be:
~ Off White ~ Victoria Beckham ~ Monse ~
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London Fashion Week is seen as the 'melting pot' of fashion as it is has a eccentric and rebellious spirit. It is known as the place where a lot of new gen designers come to fruition. On top of this it is known for it's traditional Heritage Tailoring.
Some examples of the 'Old Guard' of NY Fashion week:
~ John Galliano ~ Vivienne Westwood ~ Alexander McQueen ~
The 'New Guard' examples are considered to be:
~ Christopher Kane ~ Charles Jeffrey ~ Marques Almeida ~
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Milan FW is known for being complimentary to its climate in terms of fashion. It brings to the world a joyful and romantic style, whilst giving off colour with a sexy style.
Some examples of the 'Old Guard' of MFW Fashion week:
~ Versace ~ Dolce and Gabbana ~ Gucci ~
The 'New Guard' examples are considered to be:
~ Philosophy Di Lorenzo Serafini ~ Marco De Vincenzo ~ No. 21 ~
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BREAKING THE MOLD FOR THE BETTER?
Some fashion houses are leaving the normal fashion week homes for new fresh settings, in new fresh ways. Many have began showing off their new season during couture week, this is because Paris fashion week gets a lot of press because of the extravagant pieces that designers show to the world. Despite the fact that Paris does get this spotlight, a few have decided to not take their shows to the typical fashion weeks. Chanel have tried new countries and cities such as Cuba for their cruise collections.
Another innovation during fashion week is the resale of season one. This is to retain the 'hype' of the collection and to keep interest whilst they are absent during the production weeks of their newer collections. Also brands such as Burberry and Tommy Hilfiger have a 'Shop The Show' feature where the collection is available to wear straight after/sometimes during the show. One of my favourite recent shows of this kind is the Tommy Circus Rocks show; featured at LFW. I believe it suited LFW so well. The edgy, urban punk vibe was perfect and complimented the brand very well. Along with its star studded cast including, the Hadid Siblings and Lucky Blue Smith, who is TH newest model to grace his campaigns. Incorporating the latest trends of the 'band tshirt', beanies and layered polar necks- TH has fresh edge to the grung-esque vibe.
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