Fashion shows
A fashion show is an event where a fashion house presents its new collection to the public, including buyers, influencers, and celebrities, to generate sales and publicity. At each show, the fashion house’s designer showcases their vision for the upcoming season’s style and trends. Models typically wear the clothes to give the audience an impression of comfort and proportions.
Formal Fashion Show
This is the most conventional type of fashion show, often also called a fashion parade. Models walk individually or in pairs down the catwalk, similar to a street parade. A show can last anywhere from 10 to 60 minutes.
Typically, besides wearing the fashion house’s clothing, models undergo hair and makeup styling to enhance the designer’s vision for the look. Additionally, surrounding elements can be tailored to create the desired atmosphere for the show. These include choreography, sound and music, lighting, set design, performances, and acting. These artistic choices can elevate the show from a simple presentation to a spectacular experience. Each of these enhancements comes with a cost, which is why some fashion shows are sponsored externally. This outside funding allows the fashion house to make the show more extravagant while giving sponsors exposure.
A fashion house may also choose to organise a Charity Fashion Show. These events not only showcase clothing but also highlight humanitarian causes and underprivileged communities. The show helps raise funds for various social issues, and often a percentage of the fashion house’s revenue is donated to the cause.
Informal Fashion Show
In this type of show, clothing is presented under more modest conditions and is typically less exclusive than the formal fashion show variant. This could take place in a retail store, the fashion house’s atelier, on a street, or another public setting. Models walk among customers and the audience, interacting with them, creating a more intimate experience and atmosphere. The clothing shown is usually aimed at a broader audience. Customers can often purchase the items immediately, rather than waiting six months, as is the case with a formal fashion show.
An example of an informal fashion show is what’s called a Trunk Show. The name comes from the fact that the clothing is transported in trunks to different retail stores. Here, the designer personally presents their collection and takes orders. Models may be present but are not essential for a trunk show. This type of show often provides access to exclusive and lesser-known brands. The designer’s trunk show typically lasts from one day to a few weeks in each store.