Last week, the streets of New York were bustling with designers, photographers, models, and socialites participating in the semi-annual New York Fashion Week. September 4th marked the beginning of the 71st Fashion Week and showcased eclectic designs ranging from previous classics and revolutionary, eccentric creations for Spring 2015.

The first fashion week took place in New York City during World War II when travel to Paris was impossible for those of the fashion industry. Formerly known as “Press Week” when created by American publicist Eleanor Lambert, this first show was what revolutionized American fashion and gained the interest of the world-renowned French fashion magazine, Vogue. Instead of only including the latest European fashion, Vogue began to include American styles and continues to cover trends of the U.S. and style icons of today.

In 1943, hemlines were much shorter and neck lines were much higher, but the buzz that Fashion Week creates is just the same. Classic American designers like Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren remained true to their traditional roots. Ralph Lauren, the iconic New Yorker turned ‘Fashion Icon’s’ show was set in Central Park and was a combination of 4-D images with holographic water fixtures and included a redefined safari look combined with glamourous beadwork and jeweled accessories. Competitor Calvin Klein kept styles simple and conservative with an emphasis on the use of leather and navy. Don’t count out the foreign contingent in New York Fashion Week. There was a strong presence from the fashion house,  Moschino with the ever eclectic and ‘crazy’, head designer Jeremy Scott, who counts as his muse Miley Cyrus. She recently created head dresses for his runway show and for his Fall 2014 collection he used iconic food packaging, such as McDonald’s french fries as his inspiration. He created ball gowns out of enlarged food wrapper packaging  and is truly cutting edge. For this coming Spring he has channelled the iconic Barbie look in both clothing, makeup, and accessories. In contrast to the ‘out there’, yet highly creative looks produced by Jeremy Scott there is the smooth, modern take on fashion created by designer Prabul Gurang. He graduated from the Parson’s School of Design and worked for Cynthia Rowley before coming onto the fashion scene in his own right in 2009. He created his own fashion line in keeping with his muse, Sarah Jessica Parker. His  work is ultra modern and sleek, yet feminine. The work of Prabul Gurang sets a modern precedent for designers across the globe.

The most prominent trend is seen in the creations from the fashion houses of Chanel, Anya Hindmarch, and Moschino; three completely different fashion labels. They have taken classic images like Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes and the Golden Arches of McDonald’s and modified them for use in their designs. From gowns to hand bags these designers are setting the precedent for modern fashion design around the world.