Something to Look for this Week!
September 3, 2013-
Just after the Labor Day weekend, the mood for some residents and travelers in New York City is likely to emit an apprehensive excitement that exist a few days prior to the start of the annual fall fashion week. With the season of summer normally having just recently departed and the coolness of early autumn permeating the air, a sense of something to come is felt by many. An air of slight gradeur or the anticipation for some increased liveliness in the week ahead maybe had by those who on Tuesday morning begin their routine of shuffling off to the start of a new week. It’s likely the case that people will enter the frenzied, morning streets amidst a sullen backdrop of hazy, grey clouds that serves to just barely illicit a coolness of temperature befitting the early days of fall. In accordance, these pedestrian and subway commuters have likely dressed the part. Visualize people embarking upon their day from the sanctuary of nicely adorned walk-up apartment buildings or high end luxury condos en route to the various activities that consume the first part of their week. Some people may be rushing to the office, students likely heading to a university class, the self employeed entrepreneur might arrive at a coffee shop to discuss upcoming agendas or any number of the other routines might play out within the lives of these urban dwellers.
Preseumably, these individuals. befitting to the arrival of fall, are outfitted with a recently revived seasonal wardrobe like a light sweater and woolen fabrics to withstand the intruding coolness. In addition, the women’s predicliction to wear a heavier style shoe or boots that accentuates style at the same time adding a more pronounced strut and illusion of purpose that might not have been as detectable in the previous month’s sultry summer heat.
This pondered feeling of nostalgia is part of what some experience as a precursor to the fact that the sensory elements of the city shall further come alive in the upcoming days as fashion week officially begins on the first Thursday of September. Excitement for the event that claims international attention on the heels of the city having hosted the US Open tennis tournament stands to garner some of this described sentiment. Those in the city who hold something directly at stake with the parade of events that are to transpire in the days ahead include many of those people associated with the fashion industry.
Preparation among the fashionista personnel who include designers, their army of workers, media staffers, the support people who have for weeks helped to fabricate studio installations and pavilions which hold the events have all been hard at work for several weeks. The expectation for these people is that everything will go off with out a hitch for the dozen’s of designer brands who take part in the week of activity. The involvement for each brand consists to varying degrees of massive promotional activities, attendance of pre and after parties, not to mention the most important event for each designer, their respective one to two hour fashion show.
The venue locations normally include several small to medium size studio spaces, outfitted with simple surroundings and a practical design that provides a compatible setting for an elevated runway with long stretched rows of seating. These rather simple locations will undoubtedly be rapidly redecorated by set technicians in the hours prior to each show so as to match the image and theme of which each company aims to deliver for their collection. A total of about forty five shows take place with a staggered scheduling of start times which run from Thursday to the following Wednesday and have a reputation for never starting on time.
The most avid of attendees are forced to prioritize which shows to go and see based on factors such as having an invitation, the desire for viewing a particular brand’s production and the logistical considerations of getting from one venue to another where often a cross town commute is required. Most of those who go to watch any of the dozens of shows though likely just attend one or a few for the fun and the who’s who element that’s to be had from immersing amongst the scene.
It’s no secret that fashion week stirs such a big commotion for the fact that the industry is fleeced with deep pocketed clientele, celebrities, sports stars and a breed of often pretentious characters who perpetuate it‘s existence. What is likely viewed by many outside observers as being not much more than avant garde, high society exuberance does in fact possess a tremendous importance for the hard working design companies which are eager to make their creative ideas known to the public for the spring retail season.
Some of the more astute fashion show attendees are likely to be mid to top level employees from leading designer brands, as well as major buyers from retail department stores, or any of the many other associated industry personnel including editors, bloggers, top-models, photographers and other participants.
Getting a front row seat is a coveted honor, reserved for those with either a need for a close look at the wears or someone with enough financial clout to position themselves alongside the company’s bigwigs, media critics and merchandisers who also get first dibs on premier seating. The second and third rows take a decreasing order of importance while often times anything past the fourth row will remain empty as the view from there is seen to be too second rate. The photographers hold their particular place of importance within the crowd with a designated press section precluding their high tech cameras and instruments from impeding the audience’s view or most importantly, the progress of the show.
Thus for the hour or so parade of models pacing the aisle in a repertoire of idiosyncratic style comprised of various clothing, in unique patterns and color schemes, the designers seek to captivate the crowd that may keep people talking for months. Once these prototype designs have been unveiled on the runway, it’s a process of gauging the popular reaction and making assessments so that full scale production can begin during the following months to match the estimated number of orders.
The big, standard bearer companies such as Calvin Klein, Versace, Armani, Ralph Lauren, Prada, Gucci and a short list of others are considered the most highly coveted shows to gain a ticket for. These shows are likely to have a more complex, lengthy showcase that will ideally garner a preponderance of attention from the media stalwart fashion writers and A-list bloggers. While many of the other smaller named companies will have shows consisting of a less formal but sometimes more provocative approach in hopes of fomenting a buzz among the crowds that may further promote these lesser known and emerging designers.
The first unofficial start to the hoopla includes the commencement parties that normally take place among many of the scattered retail stores in the city’s SOHO district. Companies often have rented a space that is outfitted with standing room, seats, a bar, d.j.’s and all the other accoutrements to make for a high class, gathering of some of the crazy artists, alternative individuals and others with a taste for stylistic extravagance. To careen off oversized crowds and prevent a horde of unaffiliated attention seekers from crashing the milieu of parties, bouncers keep watch over the entrances to check for rsvp‘s. This fashion block party sets an early tone of star studded glamour and hedonistic splurge which accompanies much of the week’s following activities.
While the behind the scene folks work hard to accomplish their objective of serving up the embodiment of their craft, many others simply immerse themselves in the pleasurable surroundings of parties and luxury. Wednesday night is likely to keep the crowds up until the early morning. However some of those people responsible for a more critical component of the upcoming events may only make brief appearances before retiring to rest for the full load of hectic activity in the days ahead.
The entirety of fall fashion week lasts until the following Thursday morning when one of the well known labels, usually Calvin Klein, performs a final oeveure to cap off the week before people prepare for another frantic start in Paris two days later The French version gets underway and shares a lot of similarities to New York but maintains something of it’s own uniqueness as well.
There’s always some wild occurrences that are sure to make headlines and this site shall keep an ear to the ground on some what’s happening there for those of whom are the least bit interested.
A Witty Insight into the Action (video)