But when Fashion Week kicked off yesterday, designers will be presenting autumn/winter 2016-2017 collections that will go on sale within just months. With Instagram and other social networks on the rise, patience is no longer to be expected from the fashion-conscious masses. Several brands have recently indicated that they will present collections tailored to the current season, which will be available for purchase immediately. Designer Rebecca Minkoff, whose spring-summer 2016 show is on Sunday, is among them.
"Everything you see on the runway will be available between right away and 60 days from now," she explained in a YouTube video. "So there is not going to be image fatigue, you're not going to be sick of the jacket you saw on everyone's Instagram feed and all the websites." Designer Tom Ford has said he will take the same approach as Minkoff in September, but is sitting out the February fashion round. Luxury brand Burberry has also announced that, beginning in September, it will put its collections on sale immediately, following two shows that will feature non-seasonal creations.
The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), which helps set the Fashion Week calendar, has been contemplating a new model to update its current system, which it has called ineffective. In December, it hired a consulting firm to study the matter, with findings due out any week now.
Celebrity spectacle
Fashion Week's traditional format has already begun crumbling under the weight of celebrities who are turning the affair into a spectacle. Among the other celebrities to make an appearance is singer Rihanna, who will present her collection for Puma.
The lack of general access to Fashion Week was already brought to the fore in September, when Givenchy allowed 800 members of the public to watch its show, chosen by random drawing. A total of 147 designers are on Fashion Week's official roster this February, with a total of 97 catwalk shows and 50 presentations. Still more designers will present their creations independently.
Tadashi Shoji, Zimmermann, Jason Wu, Cushnie et Ochs and Sophie Theallet are on the program for Friday. A weekend bursting with shows includes Lacoste, Herve Leger, Alexander Wang, Altuzarra, Victoria Beckham, Public School, Diane Von Furstenberg, Prabal Gurung and Opening Ceremony.-AFP