fashion week
/ˈfæʃən wiːk/
CommonA series of industry runway shows where designers present upcoming collections to buyers, press, and the public.
Casually used as shorthand for high fashion, drama, or an over-the-top moment. 'This is giving fashion week' means something looks elevated or theatrical.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | her airport outfit is giving fashion week and she's just going to ohio | The person is dressed more completely than the occasion calls for. | tiktok, 2024 |
| 02 | paris fashion week did not disappoint. chaos from start to finish. | The Paris show season had memorable or wild moments. | x, 2024 |
| 03 | i watch fashion week recaps every season even though i can't afford anything on the runway | Following the shows as entertainment despite not being the target customer. | instagram, 2023 |
| 04 | street style at fashion week is lowkey better than the actual shows | What attendees wear outside the shows is more interesting than the runway. | tiktok, 2024 |
Use it when
- Referring to the actual runway show season in NYC, London, Milan, or Paris.
- Something looks high fashion, theatrical, or editorial.
- Talking about the drama, outfits, or moments from the shows.
Do not use it when
- You mean any fashion event. Fashion week is specifically the big four runway schedule.
Variations and related forms
Origin and context
Originated in New York in 1943, when publicist Eleanor Lambert organized Press Week to showcase American designers during wartime when Paris shows were inaccessible. Grew into the modern four-city calendar over subsequent decades.
- First seen
- 1943
- Confidence
- high
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/fashion-weekUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0