NYC's First Ever Men's Fashion Week Kicks Off In West Village
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A Fashion Week event for men -- a first for New York City -- kicked off Monday in the West Village.
CBS2's Scott Rapoport was at the event which he said is decidedly different than the women's event we have been accustomed to.
For the first time ever, a seemingly endless supply of sultry staring, hollow cheeked, chiseled jawed, genetically gifted men graced the stage as they modeled men's fashion at the event.
One model said his instructions involve standing and looking pretty.
The men are then presented before an ever appreciative and occasionally awed audience.
Spectator Haley Wilbur said the show was pretty intense.
"New York Fashion Week: Mens" will feature 40 shows over the next four days. Some will be static presentations and others will be runway shows. The styles and trends are colorful, casual, comfortable and versatile.
"The idea of clothing that you can go to the gym, continue your day. And at night be able to go to dinner," said designer Carlos Garcia-Velez.
Fashionistas say a men's fashion week in New York is an idea whose time has come and that in the last five years, sales of menswear have grown by double digits yearly.
"The menswear industry is over $60 billion dollars a year," said menswear expert Tom Julian.
Menswear experts like Julian say there are several reasons for the explosion in sales.
"The internet and social media," Julian said. "Millennials and their passion for fashion."
In the days ahead, designers like Michael Kors, Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein will show their collections during Men's Fashion Week.