Quote Originally Posted by Spartan Tartan View Post
A very interesting thread and I enjoy how it has evolved...although, the closures to the left and right (male/female)--I am not as convinced that it was "intentional" or that it was done specifically to throw tradition to the wind. The mens' shirts are still buttoned according to tradition, are they not? Perhaps, the designer is truly just "going over the top".

Until I read some of the posts from Ali and others, I really have never understood fashion shows. Honestly, I barely understand it anyway. I can't imagine why you would not just show the clothing that you hope to sell...but that's just my lack of fashion understanding.

If the intent is to gain media attention or generate a buzz...then mission success, if you ask me.

I don't blame you at all. It took me quite a long time to appreciate fashion shows for what they are and not focus on what they aren't, and I'm a woman who has always loved fashion, design, and clothing construction.

It's such a fascinating industry though, to fully understand it, you'd need to take a history lesson. If you understood the fashion industry as it was half a century or more ago, what it is today will make much more sense. Fashion shows were in their infancy a place to showcase what the customer could buy. These garments were hand made and custom fitted to the customer. This comprised the majority of couturiers' business. But, as time progressed, and as industry began to pick up the slack, we were introduced to mass produced clothing. Now, instead of having a closet with a handful of extremely well made clothes that fit you like a glove, are classic in style, and high quality meant to last a lifetime, we have the option of purchasing "disposable clothing" if you will. It's fast, cheap, and short lived both in style and wear, and meant to fit a standard size that really doesn't represent the majority of people. Of course we still have fashion shows, and you can actually purchase the clothing featured. This is called Haute Couture, and there are about ten people on the entire planet that are wealthy enough to afford it. It is still handmade and custom fitted.

Now, what do fashion shows have to do with you, you ask? If you buy your clothes at Gap for example, the designer/s for Gap will have attended these fashion shows and take the same ideas and implement them into their own designs. Purchasers for department stores will also attend fashion shows to get an idea of what is "in style" for a particular season so that they can sell as much as they can to us. Even designers for home sewing pattern companies will take ideas from these fashion shows. So in essence, the designers who are fortunate enough to show their collections are the clothing gods who determine what it is that you and I will be wearing from season to season.

You really should watch the Devil Wears Prada, you'll get to see how some of this kinda works, and you'll get to see Ann Hathaway bat her beautiful and enormous brown eyes.