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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Niki R Rae
August 16, 2023 at 9:05 am
None of these models have distinct signature walks like they did in the 90s/early 2000s. I wouldn’t remember any of them after 20 seconds. Nothing but a clothes hanger these days
JLD Reactions
August 16, 2023 at 9:13 am
Fashion designers don’t want signature walks nowadays though. They have to walk the way the client wants.
mariya terekhova
August 16, 2023 at 12:33 pm
@JLD Reactions The client does not care about the gaits of the models. As well as faces. They just want to advertise their clothes. The modern modeling business is very boring.
tigritsa74
August 16, 2023 at 12:52 pm
Exactly!
JLD Reactions
August 16, 2023 at 3:39 pm
@mariya terekhova No, that’s not true at all. Casting directors and fashion designers literally tell the models the vibe they are going for and the walk they want. Also, they definitely care about your face, otherwise, they wouldn’t want to see your portfolio. They cast you by your look, portfolio, walk, and social media status. Overall it’s about fitting their brand.
southern Hood chick
August 16, 2023 at 9:07 am
I wish I looked like a Beautiful model.
The Artsy Zoologist
August 16, 2023 at 9:16 am
Candice though, her natural proportions especially that waist to hip ratio, her walks are almost hypnotic. HF runway walks are elegant, but I personally feel her walks on the VSFS runway are when she is at her fiercest…like a lioness unleashed.
Regina Richards
August 16, 2023 at 9:30 am
Oh I wish they would include the title of the music they use in these videos! I know I’ve heard this beat and track somewhere else before. Does anybody know what it may be?
akash singh
August 16, 2023 at 9:41 am
Sorry my parent already taught me 18 years ago how to walk…
fromthegreatzimbabwe
August 16, 2023 at 11:56 am
lol.
kora delta
August 16, 2023 at 11:08 am
link to the full video?
Jyotsna Tiwari
August 16, 2023 at 11:23 am
Who is the second last model in black robe sort of
Maykee Cortez
August 16, 2023 at 12:01 pm
Boring walks, walk on the runway like robot? No thanks
Alexandre
August 16, 2023 at 1:42 pm
Blame the designers and castings directors
Catherine
August 16, 2023 at 12:16 pm
Nice
tigritsa74
August 16, 2023 at 12:58 pm
Why one doesn’t have a tooth? Or is it considered to be beautiful today? 👎 These ones will definitely never be supermodels. No facilities, no unique looks, nothing to look at. Model is a real profession. One has to have fantastic genetics for it and artistic presentation. Everybody today of all shapes and sizes think they can be the one. This is insane! Not everyone can be a physicist or a neurologist. Same in real modeling .
Samantha Davis
August 16, 2023 at 12:59 pm
I’m sure these models are absolutely lovely but they all look very uncomfortable on the runway. It’s not even their fault; a majority of designers aren’t designing clothes, they’re designing clickbait tweets.