September is one of the most important months in the year for everyone in the fashion industry. With summer behind them, designers, models, buyers and PR professionals kick the industry into high gear with the start of fashion weeks all over the globe. Fashion insiders spend hours each day watching runway shows, attending exclusive parties and talking shop, but they aren’t the only ones who get to partake in the fun. If you’re a lover of fashion, there’s plenty to do at fashion week, whether or not you were invited to view the Dolce and Gabbana Spring/Summer 2014 runway show. The “big four” — New York, London, Milan, and Paris — have enough going on during fashion week that it’s possible for any fashionista to feel swept up in the hype, and even newer, smaller fashion weeks, like Berlin, offer plenty to get excited about, too.
Here’s some useful information for your own fashion week vacation, and if you’re looking for more to see and do, you can pick up travel guides to all of these fashionable destinations from DK Eyewitness Travel. All five cities appear in the re-launch of their classic brand, available this fall.
New York Fashion Week
New York Fashion Week holds the distinction of being the first official fashion week event, originally begun in 1943 to steer press away from Paris fashion houses, which dominated the media. New York City is known for its eclectic mix of high fashion and edgy sportswear, which is on full display not only on the catwalks but also on the sidewalks. New Yorkers view fashion week as an opportunity to really express themselves, so expect to see amazing street fashion. If you’re looking to add a little NYC flair to your own wardrobe you’ll find that boutiques and pop-up shops offer one-of-a-kind sales during fashion week. Although the main events are by invitation only (and if you have to ask, you aren’t invited), there are many smaller events accessible to those not blessed with a Golden Ticket, for instance Small Boutique Fashion Week which features independent designers showcasing handmade and custom made clothing.
London Fashion Week
In the tradition of the Mod, Punk, and New Wave movements, London Fashion Week is all about over the top design and trends. Somerset House, one of the city’s most breathtaking historic sites, is fashion week HQ, and its huge courtyard is where Fashion Weekend, a four day extravaganza of pop-up shops, runway shows, hair and makeup tutorials and more takes place. Keeping with the trendsetting theme there’s also an interactive digital playground featuring live streaming of the shows with public commentary pulled from social media, and an “Instabooth”, where stylish locals and visitors can snap shots of themselves wearing their fashion week best.
Milan Fashion Week
Mat’s Eye
Like London, Milan Fashion Week takes full advantage of the city’s historic buildings and piazzas. The fashion shows — featuring the sleek, pared down looks that have become synonymous with Italian fashion — take place all over the city not just in studios and on catwalks, but also outside at historic landmarks like the Piazza Duomo, the city’s main square and the courtyard of Castello Sforzesco, a 15th-century castle. Many of the outdoor events are free to the public. Those not lucky enough to score an invitation to any of the main events can check out Vogue’s Fashion Night Out, a city wide extravaganza where participating stores throw parties featuring free drinks, thumping music, and the chance to see more stylish celebrities than you can shake a clutch at.
Paris Fashion Week
As if the other fashion weeks weren’t exclusive enough, most of the main Paris runway shows during Fashion Week are held in the Carrousel du Louvre, a giant underground mall underneath the Louvre. It’s notable for its giant glass upside-down pyramid skylight called La Pyramide Inversée. While you might not have as much luck hanging around outside the shows to catch a glimpse of the looks that Paris is known for, that doesn’t mean the entire city isn’t a fashion lover’s playground. There are simply too many designers, models, and fashion minded celebs attending to stay underground and you’re bound to see them spilling out of hotels and restaurants all over town.
Berlin Fashion Week
Kicking off in 2007, Berlin Fashion Week is the new kid on the block but is quickly establishing itself as one of the top fashion events in the world. Berlin prides itself on being a green city and their fashion week has fully embraced sustainable fashion. That means tons of showrooms and galleries around the city put on shows featuring eco-friendly designs and some, like Showfloor Berlin, are open to the public. There are also eco-fashion trade shows open to the public as well, where you can shop for the latest looks and take fashion sustainability workshops.
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*For more information on our five favorite fashion cities, there’s no better tool than a DK Eyewitness Travel Guide:
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