Along with London, Paris, and Milan, New York Fashion Week rounds out the "Big 4"—four major fashion weeks in the world.
Eleanor Lambert, then-press director of the New York Dress Institute, created New York Fashion Week in 1943. Initially, it was known as "Press Week," which, during World War II, aimed to draw the attention away from French fashion. The idea was to introduce American designers to fashion journalists, as they often neglected U.S. fashion innovations. This was a success, as magazines like Vogue began to feature American fashion.
The Council of Fashion Designers of America gave the event its current name in 1993. Nowadays the event is held annually in February and September, offering a series of events. During this week-long show, buyers, press, and the general public can look through international fashion collections.
Admission to NYFW is usually in the form of accreditation, and specific events can be visited by invitation only. Well, it is one of fashion's most desired invites.
