New York Fashion Week
New York Fashion Week in its modern iteration was started by Fern Mallis and Stan Herman in 1993.
New York Fashion Week kicks off fashion month, and is followed by fashion weeks in London, Milan and Paris in February and September. Spring collections are historically shown in September, while fall collections are historically shown in February.
New York Fashion Week evolved from Press Week, which began in the '40s. Eleanor Lambert founded Press Week to showcase American fashion during World War II when editors couldn't travel to Europe. The event helped promote American fashion when many major European fashion houses were on hiatus during the war.
Press Week went on for decades. Then in 1993, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) took over the event, and then-president Stan Herman and executive director Fern Mallis consolidated the citywide events into what became known as New York Fashion Week. It was initially rebranded with the trademark "7th on Sixth."
Throughout the '90s and 2000s, New York Fashion Week was held at Bryant Park in pop-up tents. In 2011, New York Fashion Week left Bryant Park and migrated to Lincoln Center. In 2015, after New York Fashion Week's organizer WME/IMG's contract with Lincoln Center ended, the event was split between Skylight Moynihan and Skylight Clarkson. After Moynihan underwent construction for Penn Station to expand in 2017, Clarkson was the primary venue until 2018. From 2019 until the present, Spring Studios has been the main venue for New York Fashion Week, though a large percentage of designers choose to show off site.
Major American designers have made their runway debuts at New York Fashion Week, including Michael Kors, Christian Siriano, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Prabal Gurung and Anna Sui.
The event has seen some historic fashion moments, such as Ralph Lauren's 50th anniversary show in 2018, when he transformed Central Park's Bethesda Terrace into a runway, drawing everyone from Hillary Clinton to Oprah to watch. There was Marc Jacobs' show for Perry Ellis in 1993, which many saw as the birth of '90s grunge. The show ultimately got Jacobs fired, but the pieces were so popular he reissued them in 2019. In 2000, Alexander McQueen hopped Stateside for a collection he showed on the West Side of Manhattan, famously dropping his jeans at the end of the show to reveal American flag boxer shorts.
New York Fashion Week: Men’s
Carlos Campos Men’s RTW Spring 2017
The designer references the tobacco fields of Havana, Cuba for his spring collection.
Simon Miller Men’s RTW Spring 2017
It's clear that Chelsea Hansford and Daniel Corrigan, the team behind Simon Miller, are hyperfocused on their…
Michael Kors Men’s RTW Spring 2017
The designer's love affair with hybrids continued this season with a collection chock full of new takes on…
WWD Recommends
Garciavelez Men’s RTW Spring 2017
Carlos Garciavelez offered a very pattern-heavy lineup, developing his own graphic prints and exploring new…
Stampd Men’s RTW Spring 2017
For his second showing at New York Fashion Week: Men's, Chris Stamp expanded on his main proposition by…
Joseph Abboud Men’s RTW Spring 2017
Overall, the collection was classy and luxurious — and very men's wear.
Tim Coppens Men’s RTW Spring 2017
The designer blended Japanese and early Nineties references in his latest collection.
Chapter Men’s RTW Spring 2017
Designer Devin Carlson was inspired by 1996 with its boxy high-waisted pants and elongated bombers.
Oak Men’s RTW Spring 2017
Louis Terline and Jeff Madalena offered art-infused basics in their spring collection.
David Hart Men’s RTW Spring 2017
Tailored pieces were still a key part of the collection — a blazer covered in a palm print was a standout…
Wood House Men’s RTW Spring 2017
With this strong effort, Julian Woodhouse may need to trade his camo uniform for a sketch pad full time.
Plac Men’s RTW Spring 2017
For spring, Jae Wan Park mined David Hockney's paintings and personal style to create what he called a…
Private Policy Men’s RTW Spring 2017
Bondage details like harness ties sought to bring an element of social consciousness to the spring collection.
Rideau Men’s RTW Spring 2017
Dylan Granger offered a line influenced by the "beachy vibe of a Malibu sunset."
Artistix Men’s RTW Spring 2017
Leave it to Andy Hilfiger to inject some high-energy into the opening day of New York Fashion Week: Men's.