The Venues
Some recent venues where Couture Fashion Week runway shows have been held include the St. Regis Hotel, the Westin Hotel, the Waldorf Astoria and the Desmond Tutu Center (NYC), as well as at the Trump Tower and the Colony in Palm Beach. All of these locations offer especially elegant settings that serve as an appropriate backdrop for the beautiful clothes. Further, some fashion shows are more intimate affairs held in smaller rooms within these locations, while others are more opulent events held in formal ballrooms.
The Designers
Internationally-acclaimed designers who have held runway shows as part of these events in the past include Ann Spoyer, Prince Williams 3rd, Soucha Couture, Sushma Patel, Andres Aquino and Sushma Patel, among many others. While all of these designers have their own unique styles and lines, they all share a love of fine fabrics, detailing and handwork that allow the customers who wear their creations to shine.
What To Expect
If the vision of a beautiful dress made from the finest fabric in the most current design and cut makes your heart race with excitement, then you will love seeing the runway shows first-hand. You can expect to be wowed when the models walk past wearing the latest creations.
In addition to the runway shows (which generally last about 20 or 30 minutes), guests are entertained by a wide range of highly-respected performers, such as acrobats, musicians, singers and dancers.
The Clothes
Keep in mind that many of the outfits will be extreme, with sheer bodices, feather detailing, detachable overskirts and other unusual detailing that set them apart as true works of art. Many of the designers also incorporate ethnic influences into their pieces, making them politically and socially relevant. You will find that many of the couture pieces also incorporate more of a timeless appeal than some of the ready-to-wear items sold today.
How To Attend
If you are a fashion buyer or stylist for a high-end boutique, exclusive department store, luxury clothing catalogue or website, you can apply online for an invitation to attend the events that make up Couture Fashion Week. Or, if you are a fashionista or celebrity who wears couture clothing, you may even receive a personal invitation either from one of the designers directly.
In addition, journalists, editors and photographers who work for U.S. and international print and online publications, television and blogs that cover high-end fashion and luxury items can apply online for accreditation to attend.
If you are accepted as an industry or media guest to attend one or more of the shows, or are invited to come as a special guest, there usually will be no charge to attend.
However, for the rest of the world who wants to see the couture clothes, tickets in a variety of price points are available for sale.
