MAIN Shopping Clothing & Fashion Paris Fashion Week

When Fashion Week comes to town, Paris looks even more stylish than usual, bringing hoards of designers, models, buyers, journalists, celebrities and socialite groupies with it.

On paper, it is an industry event intended for designers to showcase their collections. But in reality, Paris Fashion Week is so much more.

In addition to the runway events and trade shows, it is also an excuse for exhibitions, grand openings, promotional events and lavish celebrity-studded parties. And Paris, as one of the epicenters of the fashion world, knows how to do this week right.

2011 - 2012 Paris Fashion Week schedule

Making red hot news at this year's 2012 Spring/Summer Collection show is the debut of the Kanye West women's wear collection - with the star rapper scheduling a debut on a Ready to Wear runway in October.

September 23-26, 2011 - Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2012 collections

September 27 - October 5, 2011 - Paris Fashion Week Ready to Wear Spring/Summer 2012 collections.

January 18-22, 2012 - Paris Fashion Week Men's Fashion Fall/Winter 2012/2013 collections

January 23-26, 2012 - Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2012/2013 collections

February 28-March 7, 2012 - Paris Fashion Week Ready-to-Wear Fall/Winter 2012/2013 Collections

The shows – about a hundred in total – span the city. The top fashion houses – Chanel, Christian Dior, Givenchy – exhibit their latest collections in style at locations like the Grand Palais and the Espace Eiffel, while smaller designers chose unique venues like hot club Le Showcase or the Weber Metaux parking garage in the third arrondissement for their shows.

Paris's strong cultural diversity is usually evident throughout the week. The shows regularly feature designers from around the world – Elie Saab from Lebanon; Sophia Kokosalaki from Greece; Alena Akhmadullina from Russia; Collette Dinnigan from Australia; Talbot Runhof and Wunderkind from Germany; and Tsumori Chisato, Issey Miyake and Iwaya for Dress 33 from Japan.

Ethnic accents are everywhere, from the braided Grecian belts on Cher Michel Klein dresses to the brightly painted African textiles from Impasse de la Defense.

Official balls and glittering parties are also an important part of the PR festivities, not to mention the hundreds of exclusive after-parties held each night. Although styles may change from year to year, when it comes to fashion - and Paris Fashion Week in particular - Paris is always en mode.


For more information see the official site at http://www.modeaparis.com/ with complete Paris Fashion Week schedule information.

About the Author... Jessica Arriola Marati

More about Paris Fashion Week around the Web:

Paris Fashion Week - The unofficial, though very extensive collection of photos, videos and updates on what's happening at this year's show.

Fashion Hot Topics - Paris Fashion Week - The UK's Telegraph online reports and coverage, including information and photo slideshows.

Paris fashion week - More UK coverage from The Guardian with reports on trends from the front row with photos, video.

also see -> Couture Designers Online New York Fashion Week

also see in Pop Culture -> Fashion Project Runway

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