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.

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.

Paris fashion week basics:

Official name: Semaine des Créateurs du Mode

Haute couture is from Monday, January the 26th to Thursday, January the 29th, 2009 (Spring-Summer 2009) and from Monday, July the 6th to Thursday, July the 9th, 2009 (Fall-Winter 2009-2010)

Men's fashion is from Thursday, January the 22nd to Sunday, January the 25th, 2009 and from Thursday, June 25th to Sunday, June 28th, 2009

Ready to wear is from Thursday, March the 5th to Thursday, March the 12th, 2009 and from Thursday, October the 1st to Thursday, October the 8th, 2009

Paris Fashion Week 2010 Schedule

Men's Fashion Fall-Winter 2010-2011
from Thursday, January 21st to Sunday, January 24th, 2010

Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2010
from Monday, January 25th to Thursday, January 28th, 2010

Ready to Wear Fall-Winter 2010-2011
from Wednesday, March 3rd to Thursday, March 11th, 2010

Men's Fashion Spring-Summer 2011
from Thursday, June 24th to Sunday, June 27th, 2010

Haute Couture Fall-Winter 2010-2011
from Monday, July 5th to Thursday, July 8th, 2010

Ready to Wear Spring-Summer 2011
from Wednesday, September 29th to Thursday, October 7th, 2010

For more information: http://www.modeaparis.com/

About the Author... Jessica Arriola Marati

also see -> Couture Designers Online | New York Fashion Week

also see in Pop Culture -> Fashion | Project Runway

Victoria's Secret | Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue