What Fashion Week Looked Like the Year You Were Born

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We’ve all grown accustomed to Fashion Week’s visuals thanks to Instagram. Fashion shows were different before smartphones. We look back at Fashion Week’s evolution in six decades. From the first New York Fashion Week, held in 1943, to smaller shows held in designer’s offices, to the golden age when supermodels were in their prime in the ’80s or ’90s. Here’s how the runway looked before social media.

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1943

At the first New York Fashion Week, a model wears a Jo Copeland evening gown.

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1944

Spooner and Co. Ltd. has a runway show that showcases the best of their peace-time fashions for service girls.

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1945

As a room of fashion buyers watches, models take to the runway in a mix evening and tailored daywear.

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1946

As a group fashion editors and buyers observe, a woman models a mink jacket.

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1947

At the Pierre Balmain runway show, Sydney, Australia, a model walks the runway wearing a two-piece skirt and matching gloves.

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1948

A model walks the Christian Dior catwalk while wearing a black evening gown.

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1949

Backstage, a model shows off a floral hairpiece.

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1950

After his Paris couture runway show, Christian Dior poses alongside a group of models.

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1951

A Balmain runway show features a model carrying a poodle along the runway to match her tailored blouse, trousers and trousers.

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1952

At the Third Italian High Fashion Show, in Florence, Italy, models walk the runway in ball gowns and full length gloves.

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1953

A crowd of fashion buyers and editors pack into a Seventh Avenue showroom to see a fashion show by Samuel Winston.

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1954

A model walks down the runway in a one-piece swimsuit that has pockets.

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1955

Christian Dior flew in 172 gowns, eight models, three dressers, and three flyers from Paris to Scotland to attend a 1955 fashion show at Gleneagles. This event raised funds for Friends of France charity.

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1956

It was a tightly packed crowd of buyers and editors who flocked to Maison Christian Dior in Paris, to view the designer’s 1956 collection.

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1957

Coco Chanel gives one design a final look before presenting the piece in Paris during a 1957 show.

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1958

A trio of models are seen wearing swimsuits during a Paris runway show.

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1959

W.F.’s runway show teaches a model how to make an entrance. Vienna fashion show by Adlmueller.

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1960

Chanel model in a matching cap and signature tweed suit for Paris Fashion Week.

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1961

A model poses for the catwalk in a suit and animal print newsboy hat from France.

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1962

Mary Quant’s London show saw a model walk the runway. The mini skirt was the first to be invented by the designer. Youthquake became popular in the 1960s.

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1963

Pierre Cardin decided to present his collection of models at the 50th Paris Car Show.

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1964

At the Paris show of Yves Saint Laurent, two models wore evening gowns by Yves Saint Laurent.

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1965

A model is seen wearing a mini stop sign dress and boots during the mod era in fashion at a Parisian hotel runway show.

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1966

A British model shows off the latest fashions from London to a crowd in New York City.

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1967

Twiggy hosts a runway show in support of her brand name, a fashion brand that features colorful Sixties designs.

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1968

Pierre Cardin presents a runway show that celebrates the era of space, with a futuristic theme.

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1969

A parade of models walks down the street in London.

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1970

Twiggy leads a group of models wearing matching outfits to a runway show.

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1971

Model Kalio in a sheer dress walks the Zandra Rhodes show wearing bare-legged dresses.

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1972

Anjelica Hudson strikes a pose at a Seventies show’s catwalk.

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Source: elle