1. New York Fashion Week
New York
After staging a traditional event, with women’s fall and winter runway shows, in early February 2020, NYFW organizers were faced with uncertainty in September of that same year due to the pandemic. Producers ended up paring down the usual robust schedule that typically includes 150-plus in-person shows and presentations to a handful of live events, with some designers like Jason Wu showing outside, and an amped-up digital hub. The most recent fashion week, which took place in September, showed signs of pre-pandemic times, with 90-plus shows at venues that spanned NYC boroughs including the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the Empire State Building, taking place over the course of five days. Next: Feb. 10-13, 2022
See more: NYFW 2021: How Brands Went Beyond the Runway to Engage Consumers
After staging a traditional event, with women’s fall and winter runway shows, in early February 2020, NYFW organizers were faced with uncertainty in September of that same year due to the pandemic. Producers ended up paring down the usual robust schedule that typically includes 150-plus in-person shows and presentations to a handful of live events, with some designers like Jason Wu showing outside, and an amped-up digital hub. The most recent fashion week, which took place in September, showed signs of pre-pandemic times, with 90-plus shows at venues that spanned NYC boroughs including the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the Empire State Building, taking place over the course of five days. Next: Feb. 10-13, 2022
See more: NYFW 2021: How Brands Went Beyond the Runway to Engage Consumers
Photo: Getty Images
2. Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala
New York
With an exclusive guest list featuring famous names in Hollywood, fashion, music and art, the Met Gala is one of the most coveted tickets of the year. It celebrates the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute's spring exhibit opening and serves as a fundraiser for the institution. In 2020, the event was postponed and later canceled due to the pandemic. And although the event famously happens on the first Monday in May, in 2020, the gala was moved to Sept. 13. Hosted by actor Timothée Chalamet, American poet Amanda Gorman and singer Billie Eilish, this year’s event featured the theme In America: A Lexicon of Fashion, and raised a record-breaking $16.75 million. Next: May 2, 2022
With an exclusive guest list featuring famous names in Hollywood, fashion, music and art, the Met Gala is one of the most coveted tickets of the year. It celebrates the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute's spring exhibit opening and serves as a fundraiser for the institution. In 2020, the event was postponed and later canceled due to the pandemic. And although the event famously happens on the first Monday in May, in 2020, the gala was moved to Sept. 13. Hosted by actor Timothée Chalamet, American poet Amanda Gorman and singer Billie Eilish, this year’s event featured the theme In America: A Lexicon of Fashion, and raised a record-breaking $16.75 million. Next: May 2, 2022
Photo: metmuseum/Instagram
3. Council of Fashion Designers of America Fashion Awards
New York
After the 2020 CFDA Fashion Awards were held online through the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s Runway360 platform, the show is set to return to an in-person format this year. Hosted by Emily Blunt, the ceremony will be held at The Pool + The Grill in the landmark Seagram Building this month. The CFDA Fashion Icon Award will go to Zendaya, making the actress the youngest recipient of the award in its history. Next: Nov. 10, 2021
After the 2020 CFDA Fashion Awards were held online through the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s Runway360 platform, the show is set to return to an in-person format this year. Hosted by Emily Blunt, the ceremony will be held at The Pool + The Grill in the landmark Seagram Building this month. The CFDA Fashion Icon Award will go to Zendaya, making the actress the youngest recipient of the award in its history. Next: Nov. 10, 2021
Screenshot: Courtesy of Council of Fashion Designers of America
4. Fashion Art Toronto
Toronto
Fashion Art Toronto, the city’s largest annual multi-arts fashion festival, draws thousands of guests every spring for its fashion presentations, performances, art installations, photography and film. In 2020, organizers pivoted from the original plans and instead hosted a virtual runway series that showcased the work of five designers at five locations around Toronto, which was streamed live on the Fashion Art Toronto Instagram account. In June 2021, the second virtual iteration of the event was held using a similar format, featuring 30 Toronto artists and designers showcasing their work at venues including Ontario Place, Toronto Botanical Gardens and Ripley’s Aquarium. Next: Spring 2022
Fashion Art Toronto, the city’s largest annual multi-arts fashion festival, draws thousands of guests every spring for its fashion presentations, performances, art installations, photography and film. In 2020, organizers pivoted from the original plans and instead hosted a virtual runway series that showcased the work of five designers at five locations around Toronto, which was streamed live on the Fashion Art Toronto Instagram account. In June 2021, the second virtual iteration of the event was held using a similar format, featuring 30 Toronto artists and designers showcasing their work at venues including Ontario Place, Toronto Botanical Gardens and Ripley’s Aquarium. Next: Spring 2022
Photo: Courtesy of Fashion Art Toronto
5. Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards
Toronto
After the 2020 red-carpet gala, which honors Canadian talent making waves in the global fashion industry, was postponed due to the pandemic, the event returned in May 2021 with a virtual format. Hosted by Canadian actor Amanda Brugel, the award show celebrated the emerging talent and impactful designers who were initially announced in 2020. Model and CoverGirl spokesperson Maye Musk was the Outstanding Achievement Award honoree, and the awards for Womenswear Designer of the Year and Menswear Designer of the Year went to Greta Constantine and 3. Paradis, respectively. Next: Spring 2022
After the 2020 red-carpet gala, which honors Canadian talent making waves in the global fashion industry, was postponed due to the pandemic, the event returned in May 2021 with a virtual format. Hosted by Canadian actor Amanda Brugel, the award show celebrated the emerging talent and impactful designers who were initially announced in 2020. Model and CoverGirl spokesperson Maye Musk was the Outstanding Achievement Award honoree, and the awards for Womenswear Designer of the Year and Menswear Designer of the Year went to Greta Constantine and 3. Paradis, respectively. Next: Spring 2022
Photo: Courtesy of Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards
