Fall 2008 fashion weeks

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

New York Fashion Week

Further information: List of Fall 2008 New York Fashion Week fashion shows

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(note [a]^{^} ) and those reviewed at style.com(note [b]^{^} ).

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

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

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

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

London Fashion Week

Clothing line	Date	Notes	Link
Allegra Hicks	February 15
Amanda Wakeley	February 11
Aminaka Wilmont	February 15
Ann-Sofie Back	February 10
Antoni & Alison	February 14
Aquascutum	February 12
Armand Basi	February 13
Ashish	February 14
Asprey	February 14
Basso & Brooke	February 12
Ben de Lisi	February 10
Betty Jackson	February 12
Biba	February 10
Bora Aksu	February 13
Caroline Charles	February 10
Central Saint Martins	February 15
Christopher Kane	February 12
Duro Olowu	February 12
Eley Kishimoto	February 11
Emma Cook	February 11
Erdem	February 14
Fashion East	February 13
Gareth Pugh	February 13
Gavin Douglas	February 15
Giles	February 13
Graeme Black	February 15
House of Holland	February 13
Issa	February 14
Jaeger London	February 10
Jasper Conran	February 11
Jean-Pierre Braganza	February 10
Jenny Packham	February 14
Jens Laugesen	February 13
John Rocha	February 11
Julien MacDonald	February 15
Krystof Strozyna	February 12
Louise Goldin	February 11
Luella	February 14
MAN	February 15
Margaret Howell	February 14
Marios Schwab	February 12
MeadhamKirchoff	February 12
Modernist	February 10
Nathan Jenden	February 12
Nicole Farhi	February 13
Osman Yousefzada	February 10
Paul Costelloe	February 10
Paul Smith	February 11
Peter Jensen	February 15
PPQ	February 11
Richard Nicoll	February 13
Rodnik	February 13
Roksanda Ilincic	February 13
Sinha-Stanic	February 11
Todd Lynn	February 12
Unconditional	February 15
Vivienne Westwood Red Label	February 14

Source: official fashion week schedule.

Paris Fashion Week

Clothing line	Date	Notes	Link
AF Vandevorst	February 24
Agnès B.	February 29
Alena Akhmadullina	February 29
Alexander McQueen	February 29
Atsuro Tayama	February 25
Akris	February 27
Andrew Gn	February 27
Ann Demeulemeester	February 26
Balenciaga	February 26
Balmain	February 24
Bernhard Willhelm	February 27
Bless	February 24
Bruno Pieters	February 24
Burfitt	February 23
Chado Ralph Rucci	March 2
Chapurin	March 2
Chanel	February 29
Chloé	March 1
Christian Dior	February 25
Christian Lacroix	February 27
Collette Dinnigan	March 2
Comme des Garçons	February 26
Commuun	March 1
Costume National	February 27
Devastee	February 23
Dresscamp	February 24
Dries van Noten	February 27
Elie Saab	March 1
Emanuel Ungaro	February 27
Es Orchestres	February 29
Fatima Lopes	February 23
Gaspard Yurkievich	February 25
Givenchy	February 27
Hermès	March 1
Hussein Chalayan	February 27
Impasse de la Defense	February 23
Isabel Marant	February 25
Issey Miyake	February 26
Jean-Charles de Castelbajac	February 29
Jean Paul Gaultier	February 26
Jefen	February 24
John Galliano	March 1
Jose Castro	February 29
Junko Shimada	February 29
Junya Watanabe	February 26
Karl Lagerfeld	February 27
Kenzo	March 1
Lanvin	March 2
Lie Sang Bong	February 24
Limi Feu	March 1
Loewe	February 26
Louis Vuitton	March 2
Lutz	February 26
Maison Martin Margiela	February 25
Manish Arora	February 24
Marithe and François Girbaud	February 26
Martin Grant	March 1
Michel Klein	February 24
Miu Miu	March 2
Moon Young Hee	March 2
Nina Ricci	March 2
Paul & Joe	March 1
Rajesh Pratap Singh	February 24
Requiem	February 27
Rick Owens	February 24
Robert Normand	February 25
Rue du Mail by Martine Sitbon	February 29
Sakina M'sa	March 2
Sharon Wauchob	February 25
Sonia Rykiel	February 29
Stella Cadente	February 23
Tsumori Chisato	February 26
Undercover	February 25
Vanessa Bruno	March 2
Veronique Branquinho	February 26
Veronique Leroy	February 25
Viktor & Rolf	February 26
Vivienne Westwood	February 25
Wunderkind	March 1
Yohji Yamamoto	February 25
Yuki Torii	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 Battallion Mike Vensel Elizabeth Mason Couture Gregory Parkinson

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios

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

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. 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."