Desi Lydic

No, you won't feel a thing, because you can't. Even though during the campaign, you made it seem like you would.

No, you won't feel a thing, because you can't. Even though during the campaign, you made it seem like you would.

Yeah, just like Trump's going to kill the EPA. Oh, fashion burn. Yeah, no, it really burns. It's like a chemical burn.

Yeah, just like Trump's going to kill the EPA. Oh, fashion burn. Yeah, no, it really burns. It's like a chemical burn.

It's New York Fashion Week, the semi-annual event when designers show their collections to the world so fast fashion brands can decide which styles to rip off. But unlike wet subway seats, Fashion Week hasn't always been a New York institution. It's had a long walk down the runway to get where it is today.

It's New York Fashion Week, the semi-annual event when designers show their collections to the world so fast fashion brands can decide which styles to rip off. But unlike wet subway seats, Fashion Week hasn't always been a New York institution. It's had a long walk down the runway to get where it is today.

It all started in France in the 1600s, which might not surprise you, but back then, Paris was very much not known for fashion. The French were about as stylish as a croc wearing a fanny pack. At that time, Madrid was actually the fashion capital of the world. And thanks to their tiny tapas, they could actually fit into all the sample sizes.

It all started in France in the 1600s, which might not surprise you, but back then, Paris was very much not known for fashion. The French were about as stylish as a croc wearing a fanny pack. At that time, Madrid was actually the fashion capital of the world. And thanks to their tiny tapas, they could actually fit into all the sample sizes.

But everything changed for France when Louis XIV was, you know, kingified. Louis turned France into a major power, and he wanted the threads to show it. For him, fashion was essential to the monarchy's prestige. I mean, no one wants to be executed by a guy wearing cargo shorts.

But everything changed for France when Louis XIV was, you know, kingified. Louis turned France into a major power, and he wanted the threads to show it. For him, fashion was essential to the monarchy's prestige. I mean, no one wants to be executed by a guy wearing cargo shorts.

Louis' obsession built up France's fashion and textile industry and soon turned Paris into the world center of fashion, which by default made it the world center of cocaine and bitchy gossip as well. It was under Louis that France established the idea of showing fall designs in the spring and spring designs in the fall. So you can thank him for that trendy coat you're wearing in August.

Louis' obsession built up France's fashion and textile industry and soon turned Paris into the world center of fashion, which by default made it the world center of cocaine and bitchy gossip as well. It was under Louis that France established the idea of showing fall designs in the spring and spring designs in the fall. So you can thank him for that trendy coat you're wearing in August.

Who knew faux fur was so hot? France continued to dominate the fashion industry for centuries, until World War II, when Paris was under German occupation. This grinded their fashion influence to a halt, because A, no one could come to Paris to shop, and B, Coco Chanel was too busy banging Nazis to make any clothes. I know, terrible, right?

Who knew faux fur was so hot? France continued to dominate the fashion industry for centuries, until World War II, when Paris was under German occupation. This grinded their fashion influence to a halt, because A, no one could come to Paris to shop, and B, Coco Chanel was too busy banging Nazis to make any clothes. I know, terrible, right?

But no matter how many times I remind them of this, the boutique still won't give me a discount on a classic flat bag. But Paris' defeat turned out to be a win for the American fashion industry. The U.S. seized on the opportunity to fill that gap quicker than a Forever 21 dress falls apart in the laundry. In 1943, America held the first Fashion Week, or as it was known then, Press Week.

But no matter how many times I remind them of this, the boutique still won't give me a discount on a classic flat bag. But Paris' defeat turned out to be a win for the American fashion industry. The U.S. seized on the opportunity to fill that gap quicker than a Forever 21 dress falls apart in the laundry. In 1943, America held the first Fashion Week, or as it was known then, Press Week.

Started by a publicist, Eleanor Lambert, it launched the careers of designers like Hattie Carnegie, Norman Aurel, and Claire McArdle, whose claim to fame was inventing sportswear. And by sportswear, I mean any casual clothing. Not the athleisure that you wear even though your main exercise is getting a caramel frap at the Starbucks drive-thru. Three. Four. Five. Oh. Woo! Staying fit is tough.

Started by a publicist, Eleanor Lambert, it launched the careers of designers like Hattie Carnegie, Norman Aurel, and Claire McArdle, whose claim to fame was inventing sportswear. And by sportswear, I mean any casual clothing. Not the athleisure that you wear even though your main exercise is getting a caramel frap at the Starbucks drive-thru. Three. Four. Five. Oh. Woo! Staying fit is tough.

Before press week, magazines like Vogue and Harper's Bazaar were really all about European designers. They treated American designers the way they treated the Kardashians in 2010. They ignored them. But once press week started, they treated American fashion like, well, the Kardashians now. She said she'd eat poop to look good. Should I eat poop?

Before press week, magazines like Vogue and Harper's Bazaar were really all about European designers. They treated American designers the way they treated the Kardashians in 2010. They ignored them. But once press week started, they treated American fashion like, well, the Kardashians now. She said she'd eat poop to look good. Should I eat poop?