Mary Kate McCormick/The Mirror
Everyone is seated and the lights are dimmed. The music begins and the audience shifts in their seats, eyes focused on the runway. The first model bursts through the curtains and New York Fashion Week begins.
Every September since 1943, New York City has hosted a weeklong exhibition of next season’s fashion trends according to the most popular and influential designers. This year, the event is taking place September 8th through 15th.
Sponsored by Mercedes-Benz, this weeklong celebration of changing trends is important to designers, retail stores, fashion publication, and the general public. Fashion Week dictates what is “in” and determines the new spring trends in clothing, jewelry, make up and overall style.
The majority of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week this year is taking place in Lincoln Center, although other venues throughout Manhattan will host smaller shows and presentations.
How to Get Tickets to a Fashion Show
Attending a show begins with an invitation, which can be very hard to come by.
Designers invite celebrities, editors and employees at fashion magazines, the press and a select few not involved in the fashion business who will help to promote their fashion line.
However, there is always a way to score an invitation to a show if you have the right connections.
In my case, I was a lucky intern who filled in when the office had extra tickets.
The audience
Although the clothing in a fashion show is the most important part of the presentation, the atmosphere, music and level of attendance also impact the experience of attending a fashion show.
The energy before, during and following a fashion show is a big part of what makes Fashion Week so exciting.
The most important guests are seated in the front row, with everyone else in the rows behind them and a standing section around the perimeter of the venue.
Once everyone is seated, the lights are turned down and music fills the room. Everyone stares at the beginning of the runway and the audience is silent as the first model emerges.
As the show continues, everyone from professional photographers to people with cell phone cameras are snapping photos and clapping enthusiastically as the beautiful pieces in the collection are presented.
The shows are extremely fast paced and usually last for 20 minutes or less. The energy of the room is dictated by the upbeat music, the speed of the models on the runway and the applause from the crowd.
Afterwards, reporters and photographers swarm the runway and publicity for next season’s trends begin.
Impact of Fashion Week
As college students, our budgets are tight, so we’re probably not wearing stylish new pieces from straight off the runway to parties on the weekends. However, the trends by top designers are mimicked by all other clothing retailers and you will find clothes like those presented during Fashion Week in every store from Barney’s to Forever 21.
Keeping up with fashion trends is a fun way to spice up your wardrobe and expand your everyday style.
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