While most students associate February with the snow and the semester beginning to pick up (academically, of course), I can’t get fashion week season off my mind. To me, fashion weeks are like a holy holiday celebrations that demand all their followers to carefully observe and take meticulous notes. After all, this particular season does determine this fall’s hottest trends.
Taking place this February 9 – February 16, New York Fashion Week (NYFW) kicks off the global fashion week season and will showcase a variety of brands that creatively shape and integrate their designs into our everyday wardrobes for the upcoming fall season. The most exciting designer to showcase her collection this year (at least in my opinion) is one of our own Illini. Gordana Rasic, who founded the line “GOCA Designs” as a student at the University of Illinois, has showed her collections in runway shows on campus in the past; however, this February will mark her first time being featured in NYFW. This amazing opportunity is much deserved for our fellow classmate and we wish her the best of luck at NYFW!
With all the hype about New York Fashion Week in the United States, we cannot cut any corners and forget the other major fashion weeks around the world. With no time to breathe between shows, London Fashion Week is the week right after NYFW from February 17 – February 22. These shows will feature the major and most influential British designers’ autumn and winter collections.
If you plan on being in London for London Fashion Week during this time, I would suggest you also set a couple days aside and visit Milan Fashion Week to see Italian fashion at its finest. Sharing some days with London Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week is February 22 – February 28. So many fashion weeks, so little time!
Last but not least, Paris Fashion Week (Mode à Paris) is at the very end of February and beginning of March. Following the week after Milan Fashion Week (February 28 – March 7), this week is my personal favorite for many reasons. To me, this week signifies sheer elegance as classic silhouettes and brands take center stage as though they are the center of the universe.
Although there are many other fashion weeks that follow New York, London, Milan and Paris, these four represent the fashion capitals of the world. Even if you can’t make it to any of these cities to experience the live atmosphere of fashion week, make sure you follow them online so you can get a sense of all the excitement. After all, these biannual runway shows mark what is in style for the next season, and who doesn’t want a leg up on the biggest trends the next time they go shopping, right?