Fashion show facts for kids
A fashion show is a special event where a fashion designer shows off their newest clothing and accessories. These shows are a big part of fashion week, an industry event that happens in cities all over the world. During a fashion show, the designer presents their collection for an upcoming season, like spring/summer or fall/winter.
The most famous fashion weeks are known as the "Big 4," and they take place in New York City, London, Milan, and Paris. Berlin also hosts a very important fashion week.
At a typical show, models walk down a long, flat stage called a catwalk or runway. They wear the clothes created by the designer. Special lighting and effects are used to make the clothes look their best. The order of the outfits is carefully planned to tell a story or express an idea. The audience watches to see the designer's vision and admire the new styles.
Sometimes, fashion shows are set up like art exhibits, where models stand still instead of walking. Many modern designers also turn their shows into big productions with cool sets, live music, or even technology like holograms.
Contents
History of Fashion Shows
How It All Began
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It's not perfectly clear when the very first fashion show happened. However, a designer named Charles Frederick Worth was one of the first to show his clothes on real people instead of mannequins in the 1800s. By the late 19th century, "fashion parades" were common in the fancy couture shops of Paris.
In the early 1900s, American stores brought this idea to the United States. The first American fashion show was probably held in 1903 at a New York City store. By 1910, big department stores like Wanamaker's were hosting their own shows. These events showed off gowns from Paris or the store's own copies. They were a way to attract shoppers and show off the store's good taste.
By the 1920s, fashion shows were popular all across the United States. They were often like plays, with stories and themes like "Parisian" or "Chinese." These shows were huge events that could attract thousands of people.
In the 1970s and 1980s, American designers began to host their own private shows away from department stores. But in the early 1990s, after some accidents happened in unsafe locations, the fashion world decided to make things safer. In 1993, New York Fashion Week began holding its shows in one central, safe place: Bryant Park.
Fashion Shows in the 21st Century
Today, designers use technology to make their shows even more exciting. Some use digital videos as backdrops. For example, in 2014, designer Ralph Lauren used a screen made of water to project his new collection in Central Park.
Technology also means more people can watch. In 2010, London Fashion Week was the first to livestream its shows online. Now, watching fashion shows live on the internet is very common. Some designers have even made creative videos instead of traditional shows. Tom Ford worked with singer Lady Gaga to create a music video for his 2016 collection.
Fashion shows are now filmed for TV channels and documentaries. The sets for major brands have become huge and expensive, creating amazing experiences for the audience.
What Happens at a Fashion Show?
A fashion show is built around a runway, or catwalk. This can be a simple walkway between rows of chairs or a huge, complex stage. Most shows are held indoors to protect them from the weather, but sometimes they are held outside.
For Paris Fashion Week in 2016, the brand Chanel turned its show space into an airport terminal. The guests sat in airport chairs while models walked past ticket counters.
The Role of Models
Runway modeling became a profession as fashion shows grew more popular. At first, fashion designers used their own "in-house" models. These models worked only for one designer, who could make sure the clothes fit them perfectly for the show.
As the demand for models grew, modeling agencies were created. These agencies represent many different models and help them find work with various designers.
The Catwalk
The term catwalk refers to the stage that models walk on to show off clothing and accessories. The catwalk is where designers introduce their new styles to the world. In the fashion world, the phrase "what's on the catwalk" means whatever is new and popular in fashion. In the United States, the catwalk is often called a runway.
Fashion Show Lingo
- Exclusive: When a model is hired as an "exclusive," it means they will only walk for one specific designer during that fashion week. This can be a huge boost for a model's career.
- Haute couture: This is a French term for "high fashion." It refers to one-of-a-kind, custom-fitted clothing made by top designers. Fashion shows were originally created to display these types of garments.
- Look book: A collection of photos of models wearing a designer's new collection. Look books are sent to fashion editors, buyers, and important customers.
- Sketches: Before live models were common, designers would draw their ideas in sketches to show them to clients.
Gallery
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An example of a large, detailed stage set for the Chanel Haute Couture show in 2011.
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Models on the runway at São Paulo Fashion Week in 2017.
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Haute couture fashion models walking the catwalk at the Carolina Herrera show during New York Fashion Week in 2014.
See also
- Fashion
- Fashion design
- Fashion trend
- Fashion week
- Haute couture
- List of fashion events
- List of individual dresses
