Over the past 75 years, fashion shows have evolved from intimate presentations to global spectacles. Vogue takes a look at the rich history of fashion’s illustrious front row. Dior’s 1950s “New Look” revolutionized femininity, while the ’60s embraced individual freedom and exclusivity. The ’70s introduced cultural influencers and turned shows into entertainment, paving the way for the extravagant glamour of the ’80s. By the ’90s, mainstream appeal dominated, and the 2000s saw celebrities strategically claim the front row. The rise of influencers in the 2010s, fueled by social media, democratized access to Fashion Week. Even as the pandemic briefly halted live shows, the industry adapted and returned. Today, the front row itself has become part of the spectacle with celebrities like Kylie Jenner wearing the same outfit we also see on the runway.
Director: Catherine Orchard
Editors: Evan Allan, Ryan Jeffrey
Producers: Rahel Gebreyes, Bety Dereje
Archival Researcher: Lilli Karkowski
Writer: Laia Garcia-Furtado
Associate Producer: Marisah Yazbek
Creative Production Coordinator: Anisa Kennar
Production Coordinators: Ava Kashar, Tanía Jones
Production Manager: Natasha Soto-Albors
Line Producer: Romeeka Powell
Senior Director, Production Management: Jessica Schier
Assistant Editors: Fynn Lithgow, Justin Symonds
Post Production Coordinator: Scout Alter
Art & Graphics Lead: Léa Kichler
Supervising Editor: Erica DeLeo
Post Production Supervisor: Alexa Deutsch
Associate Director, Post Production: Nicholas Ascanio
Director, Content Production: Rahel Gebreyes
Senior Director, Video: Romy van den Broeke
Senior Director, Programming: Linda Gittleson
VP, Video Programming: Thespena Guatieri
Footage Courtesy of Video Fashion
Image Courtesy of Steven Meisel
00:00 – Fashion!
00:39 – 1950s
01:22 – 1960s
01:50 – 1970s
02:20 – 1980s
02:57 – 1990s
03:31 – 2000s
04:26 – 2010s
05:10 – 2020s
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ABOUT VOGUE
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B E
October 17, 2022 at 4:56 pm
🖤🖤🖤🤎🤎🤎🤎🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
THE MODEL GENE
October 17, 2022 at 4:57 pm
A big thanks to Bethann Hardison, Edward Enninful, Steven Meisel, and the others who continue to use their influence to push against the wall of racism that Prada spearheaded for so long. Most of those same gatekeepers who refused to book black models are still working, but now are simply checking off the POC boxes in the castings, replacing the models the next season. Sessilee Lopez spoke about being too dark for clients, but now many only want to book the darkest skinned black models because they are “edgier” and they want a black background to contrast a brightly colored garment.
Mariya 0ver L!ve🔞
October 17, 2022 at 4:58 pm
Joan Smalls mentioned Jourdan Dunn and Chanel Iman being the only black models on the runway and I recall very well that time frame of fashion. I have loved them as models since then
Danaya Azure
October 17, 2022 at 4:59 pm
This is such an amazing series I’m about to follow and support all of these models right now!! Thank you Vogue and thank you #YouTube
Megan
October 17, 2022 at 5:02 pm
Im sorry but being afro Latina and being black is not the same thing. The irony of a video speaking of black representation and so many women in the video are mixed. That is not the same thing as being black. I get it but at the same time I don’t get it lol
Ambre
October 17, 2022 at 5:35 pm
Aren’t afro latinas black? There are black women in Brazil who could definitely pass as my cousins and I’m fully african. I guess its a spectrum
iroegbu chinenye
October 17, 2022 at 6:35 pm
Hmm you have to realize it’s one fight at a time. Have you ever fought for someone other than yourself??? Bet it would be hard….anyways there are many light skinned girls that are totally black
Dena Rendall
October 17, 2022 at 5:21 pm
The fact they were repeatedly told “we are not using black girls this season” is insane. Willingly, explicitly disclosing their discrimination.
Vanessa G
October 17, 2022 at 5:26 pm
I love this series so much, it’s amazing! so interesting and well put together, every woman in this video is so incredibly beautiful/ strong.
Abraham Nasiri
October 17, 2022 at 5:33 pm
I need some designers and most importantly anna wintour to sit on that chair and explain themselves cus there’s no way only casting agents were the problem. I was so deep into high fashion gossip during the late 00s and early 10s and we always heard about designers and fashion editors getting what they want, they were the sugarbabies of investors, metaphorically and literally sometimes, so how come you wanted more black models but conde nast said no because they didn’t sell like anna once said, look at franca she did a whole issue!
Bertín Vera
October 17, 2022 at 5:35 pm
Joan Smalls !!! So much love 💗 💗 💗 🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷
Tré Diaz
October 17, 2022 at 5:37 pm
The 90s were not great for Black models either.
Rita 22 y.o - check my vidéó
October 17, 2022 at 5:41 pm
This is such an amazing series I’m about to follow and support all of these models right now!! Thank you Vogue and thank you #YouTube
Loretta Gray
October 17, 2022 at 5:44 pm
This is amazing 🤩
Monish Raj
October 17, 2022 at 5:45 pm
ALL THIS IS JUST LEGENDARY!!
Kunta Skulu
October 17, 2022 at 5:54 pm
Argh, I remember the supermodel era. At school we’d pretend to be in fashion shows and just style our hair and uniforms differently. The Naomi Campbell walk was essential!
W K
October 17, 2022 at 6:01 pm
so good, thank you.
carmen coke
October 17, 2022 at 6:05 pm
i wish alek wek, jessica white and liya were in this. it was so good 👏
Baudrian
October 17, 2022 at 6:08 pm
stunning job!
iroegbu chinenye
October 17, 2022 at 6:31 pm
I totally get the disdain for influencer models. Because wheew…
LightUponLight
October 17, 2022 at 6:31 pm
Love this series… Wow! And I remember well this era and how it eventually changed. The rise of social media ….
LedomStyle
October 17, 2022 at 6:38 pm
Wow eye opening, heart breaking, yet so educating about what was going on during certain periods. As a model, it was hard for me to break into the industry because “ we already have a model that looks like you” kept being used. Now I understand. it makes since when everyone in this video kept talking about certain time periods when black models weren’t getting recognized as much. I’m just now getting my “ just due” but I have more work to do! I loved this segment, I can’t wait for more!
lucas mix
October 17, 2022 at 6:41 pm
I love to hear something from miuccia
reginaspanties
October 17, 2022 at 6:43 pm
oh my, thank you so much for this! im not a model, im not black, but we gotta start talking about how toxic fashion industry could be for non white people in RECENT history. so grateful for this.
and of course, all this amazing women, who went through so much, too much, and today they are standing here so proudly and beautifly.
Touch. Me. I Will Turn You
October 17, 2022 at 6:47 pm
Every episode of this series I hope it’s not the last! LOVING it.
MegaSickcat
October 17, 2022 at 6:55 pm
I absolutely loathed the skinny white girls just walking like zombies…there was no reason to watch them on the runway…They were boring.
SANDY MILLER
October 17, 2022 at 6:57 pm
Thank you Iman for this eye opening beautiful series of the intelligence and beauty of our Black Queens. Changing fashion and the world.