Fall 2008 fashion weeks explained

Major fall 2008 fashion weeks were held in New York City, London, Paris, and Milan during February and March 2008.__TOC__

New York Fashion Week

The Fall 2008 New York Fashion Week, officially called Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, was held between February 1 and February 8, 2008.

Participating designers

This list includes shows on the official schedule^[1] (note [a]) and those reviewed at style.com^[2] (note [b]).

3.1 Phillip Lim Abaeté Academy of Art University ADAM Akiko Ogawa Alexander Wang Alexandre Herchcovitch Angel Sanchez Anna Sui Anne Bowen Araks Badgley Mischka BCBG Max Azria Betsey Johnson Bill Blass Boy by Band of Outsiders Calvin Klein Carlos Miele Carmen Marc Valvo Carolina Herrera Chris Han Custo Barcelona

Cynthia Steffe Dennis Basso Diane von Fürstenberg Diesel DKNY Donna Karan Collection Duckie Brown Elie Tahari Erin Fetherston Herve Leger by Max Azria Iodice Jayson Brunsdon Jill Stuart Joanna Mastroianni Juan Carlos Obando Lacoste Lela Rose Malan Breton Mara Hoffman Matthew Williamson Max Azria Milly by Michelle Smith

Miss Sixty Monique Lhuillier Na Be by Victorya Hong Naeem Khan Nanette Lepore Nautica Nicole Miller Pamella Roland Perry Ellis Peter Som Ports 1961 Project Runway R. Scott French Rachel Roy Ralph Lauren Rebecca Taylor Reem Acra Richard Chai Rock & Republic Rubin Singer sass & bide Sean John

Tadashi Shoji Temperley London Terexov Tibi Tommy Hilfiger Tony Cohen Tracy Reese Tuleh Twinkle by Wenlan Venexiana Vera Wang Vera Wang Lavender Label Verrier Vivienne Tam Willow Y-3 Yeohlee Yigal Azrouel Z Zegna Zac Posen Zang Toi

London Fashion Week

Clothing line	Date	Notes	Link
	February 15
	February 11
	February 15
	February 10
	February 14
	February 12
	February 13
	February 14
	February 14
	February 12
	February 10
	February 12
	February 10
	February 13
	February 10
	February 15
	February 12
	February 12
	February 11
	February 11
	February 14
Fashion East	February 13
	February 13
	February 15
	February 13
	February 15
	February 13
	February 14
	February 10
	February 11
	February 10
	February 14
	February 13
	February 11
	February 15
	February 12
	February 11
	February 14
	February 15
	February 14
	February 12
	February 12
	February 10
	February 12
	February 13
	February 10
	February 10
	February 11
	February 15
	February 11
	February 13
	February 13
	February 13
	February 11
	February 12
	February 15
Vivienne Westwood Red Label	February 14

Source: official fashion week schedule.

Paris Fashion Week

Clothing line	Date	Notes	Link
	February 24
	February 29
	February 29
	February 29
	February 25
	February 27
	February 27
	February 26
	February 26
	February 24
	February 27
	February 24
	February 24
	February 23
	March 2
	March 2
	February 29
	March 1
	February 25
	February 27
	March 2
	February 26
	March 1
	February 27
	February 23
	February 24
	February 27
	March 1
	February 27
	February 29
	February 23
	February 25
	February 27
	March 1
	February 27
	February 23
	February 25
	February 26
	February 29
	February 26
	February 24
	March 1
	February 29
	February 29
	February 26
	February 27
	March 1
	March 2
	February 24
	March 1
	February 26
	March 2
	February 26
	February 25
	February 24
	February 26
	March 1
	February 24
	March 2
	March 2
	March 2
	March 1
	February 24
	February 27
	February 24
	February 25
	February 29
	March 2
	February 25
	February 29
	February 23
	February 26
	February 25
	March 2
	February 26
	February 25
	February 26
	February 25
	March 1
	February 25
	March 2

Source: Official fashion week schedule. Some dates to be confirmed.

Los Angeles Fashion Week

Fall '08 collections are shown from March 7 - March 14

Designs featured

Reiss JMARY Jesse Kamm Le Sang des Betes by Trang Chau Erin Fetherston Jack Rabbit Collection John Varvatos Maxine Dillon Yotom Solomon Wren Zachariah Bryant

Future Fashion LA LI CARI designed by Jazmin Whitley Sue Wong Jared Gold ENDOVANERA UNIF The Battalion Mike Vensel Elizabeth Mason Couture Gregory Parkinson

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios^[3]

Alexis La Montagna Ashley Paige Bow & Arrow by Alan Del Rosario Elmer Ave. Falguni Shane Peacock Farah Angsana IMASU by Kelly Nishimoto Jenny Han Joseph Domingo Julia Clancey Lauren Conrad Collection

Maggie Barry for Xubáz Monarchy Collection Nicholai Octavio Carlin Orthodox Pussycat Dolls by Robin Antin Samora SUH-TAHN Veronika Jeanvie Whitley Kros

THE GREEN INITIATIVE Humanitarian Fashion Show

• Lilikoi Clothing by Barbara Boswell
• Vintage China by Deacon Yu and Andrew Wong
• Lady Muse by Mathilde
• Andira Rain Tees by Beth Doane
• M the Movement by Michael "M" Hererra
• Rene Geneva Design by Rene Geneva

Source: fashionweekla.com calendar^[4]

LA Fashion Week 2008 controversy

In 2008, there were numerous celebrity fashion designers showcasing their designs at LA's Fashion Week. Many people believed that, because of this new surge of "celebs-as-trendsetters", some fashion regulars and legitimate designers did not attend the 2008 fashion event. Instead, attendees turned their attention to the designs of "The Hills" star Lauren Conrad, who debuted her collection during the week, Nicky Hilton, and The Pussycat Dolls.

Sue Wong was one of the designers that openly voiced her opinion about celebrity designers.^[5] Wong calls the emerging trend "absolutely bogus". Wong is usually a regular at the Mercedes-Benz LA Fashion Week, but decided not to show in 2008, claiming she wanted to concentrate on doing something "different"."Sure, every celebrity and his brother wants to be a fashion designer", said Wong, who has been designing since 1968. "It's not like anybody can pick it up and do it. It's a science. You need to know fit and construction." Wong has also claimed that the celebrities are just capitalizing on their "15 minutes of fame". Normally, up-and-coming designers would not get the kind of exposures celebrities get for their clothing lines.

Lauren Conrad has tried to defend herself against the criticisms and pressures put on her before her fashion launch. Conrad, who has trained at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, said the additional pressure thrust upon her Fashion Week debut made her nervous while working on the line. She described it as "California chic", basing this season on a recent trip to Paris reflected in simple, clean pieces accessorized with berets, netting, leather gloves, bows and lace."I will probably never have the respect I want in the fashion industry, but I can work hard every day to try and prove myself", Conrad said. "Can I really be criticized for taking advantage on an opportunity that allows me to have what I've always wanted?"

Wong still voiced her skepticism. "Let's see whether she can survive and thrive. It takes so much dedication", she said. "You gotta really pay your dues to be a serious artist." A review by Jenny Peters of Fashion Wire Daily criticized her debut line, writing, "There was absolutely nothing new or innovative in her collection."^[6]

See also

Spring 2008 New York Fashion Week

Notes and References

1. Web site: Official schedule. https://web.archive.org/web/20080204021815/http://www.mbfashionweek.com/newyork/fall2008/schedule/index.html . dead . 2008-02-04 .
2. Web site: Fall 2008 Ready-to-Wear Fashion Shows . Style.com . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080731004551/http://www.style.com/fashionshows/collections/F2008RTW/runwayshows/index.html . 31 July 2008.
3. Web site: Random Designer Redirect . 2008-03-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080318184957/http://www.mbfashionweek.com/losangeles/fall2008/designers/ . 2008-03-18 . dead .
4. http://www.fashionweekla.com/calendar.html fashionweekla.com
5. http://omg.yahoo.com/l-a-fashion-week-celebrity-by-design/news/7274 omg! news on Yahoo!
6. http://www.fashionwiredaily.com/first_word/fashion/article.weml?id=1866 Lauren Conrad's First Foray into Fashion