by Eric McKeever

Created on: August 05, 2010   Last Updated: August 08, 2010

New York, Milan, Paris and London are the epicenters of fashion and twice each year showcase the Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter collections of the world's top designers during their cities Fashion Week.  Over the course of several days, each city plays host to the fashion glitterati who sit, see and savor each season's top design trends. But how did Fashion Week go from the salons of Paris to the large-scale events in each city?

1940s

Picture it: France. 1943.  The Nazi occupation of Paris forced the Paris fashion shows to be cancelled, but plucky fashion editor Eleanor Lambert saw an opportunity to take the focus off of the “incident” in Paris and place a spotlight on America and its fashion designers. The Fashion Elite, unable to see the Parisian shows were hungry for their fashion fix so Lambert fed them “Press Week” (later to become New York Fashion Week.)  The event was a success and big time fashion magazines began focusing on American fashion. 

By 1944, Ruth Finley creates the Fashion Calendar that lists National and International Fashion Events.  The Calendar is still in existence and also lists promotions, books signings and new store openings.  It is a valuable resource for industry insiders who want to know the who, what, when, where and why of fashion shows around the world.  In 1947 France, Christian Dior shows his first collection and its elegance and extravagance cause a worldwide stir.

1950s

Claire McCardell displays a collection that launch the “American Look” in 1953 according to Becky Barnicoat who penned the guardian.co.uk article “The History of New York Fashion Week.”  McCardell creates a softer look that is less structured and formal.  1958 sees the arrival of Fashion Week in Italy.  Florence is the capital of Italian fashion under the guidance of Giovan Battista Giorgini.  Following the example of the French “fashion parade,” he invites a group of American buyers to his home.  The event is a sensation and repeated the following year. French designers like Balenciaga, Givenchy and Balmain keep Haute Couture at the forefront of world fashion during the 50s.  French fashion also saw the return of Coco Chanel whose 1954 collection secured her place as one of the most influential designers in the world.

1960s

During the 1960s, New York Fashion Week takes a decidedly political point of view showing fashions inspired

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