>> Despite the emergency meetings held during London Fashion Week to hash out the issue, it sounds like neither Milan or New York officials would budge on their February 2009 Fashion Week dates.

Since London was left with only four days in February between the time Fall 2009 New York Fashion Week ends and Milan Fashion Week begins, the British Fashion Council has decided that one day of London Fashion Week — Feb. 20 — will overlap with New York Fashion Week.  According to Hilary Riva, chief executive of the BFC, the decision was made because "the majority of designers showing at London Fashion Week" agreed with the measures being taken.

So much for the fashion cities working together . . .
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>> Thank goodness, in this time of economic woe, the four fashion capitals could find it within themselves to reach a "peace agreement."

London Fashion Week — which over the years had brought us Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, and Gareth Pugh — was in danger of being squeezed into three days.  But no more — after a "summit" today in London, New York will move its Fashion Week a week back like it wanted (to avoid the Labor Day holiday), and London Fashion Week will have five days rather than the six it currently has . . . starting in September 2009.  As for the more imminent February 2009 shows, those seem to be under less contention, so I guess we'll just have to wait and see how the "finer details of the deal" fall into place.

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