Fashion is the general style or custom of clothing worn at any given
time. The word "fashion" comes from the years when people described a
woman who was well dressed as a "fashion plate".
Whether or not it
had a name, fashion has always been important to women. Now it seems to
be almost as important to men. Beau Brummell is probably the most well
known and talked about male fashion plate in history. His colorful
clothing and accessories were copied by men all over Europe.
Couturiers
with famous names such as Worth, Dior, Balenciaga, Chanel had famous
fashion houses in Paris. These were the haute couture designers that
every other fashion designer since has aspired to become. In spite of
Prêt a Porter (French for ready made or off the rack) the world still
looks to Paris first when fashion is concerned. Today, although fashion
designers and models come from all over the world, fashion week in Paris
is still the most exciting event of the year.
Fashion changes
nearly instantly. Each season welcomes in a different style, color, hem
length, and designer. Today the person who follows fashion like a slave
is called a fashionista. Some fashionistas look ridiculous in the new
styles but they wear them anyway.
The media is very important to
fashion and can rightly take credit for the spread of each new style and
trend over the world map. Fashion blogs are the newest manner of
communicating the newest fashion. Prior to blogs there were fashion web
sites, columns in newspapers and magazines, fashion magazines. One of
the most famous fashion magazines is Vogue. It was founded in 1892 and
it is the longest lasting fashion magazine in the world with versions
being published in England, France, Italy, Germany and other countries.
Vogue's influence grew after W.W. II. Ready to wear designers and
perfume companies were their largest advertisers. In the 50', 60's 70's
television was featured on television shows such as Today and other
morning shows.
A few years ago, Project Runway became one of the
most watched reality shows on television. Each season a new designer is
launched with his/her own fashion line. The show is sponsored by a well
known department store, hair care company, and make-up company. The
judges are a model, a fashion magazine editor, a famous designer and a
weekly guest. This program watches a group of people who want to become
fashion designers go through each stage of the competition. At the end,
the three remaining designers compete with a line they put together in a
month or two. This is presented at Mercedes Benz fashion week in Bryant
Park, N.Y. The winner gets a large check to work at producing his/her
own line which will be carried at the major department store.
Fashion
Week is a big industry event. There is one held in each of the large
fashion capitals. This week the biggest fashion houses and designers
display their newest designs and styles. There is a fashion week in
Paris, Milan, London, and New York. These weeks occur twice a year for
autumn/winter fashions and spring/summer fashions. They are held many
months in advance so that the buyers and the magazine editors can see
the designs prior to ordering them for their venue. The first week of
women's wear is New York followed by London, Milan and Paris. The men's
wear lines are shown in between in Milan.
