From vandyke collars and hoop skirts to velour tracksuits and bell-bottoms, people have used fashion as a means of fulfilling their basic physiological needs and creative impulses for eons. While “vogue” is debatable and fluid, fashion remains a form of individualism. So, in furtherance of inspiring self expression, fashion houses will hold two exhibitions yearly, once for the autumn/winter collections and once for the spring/summer. While shows like those organized as week-long, extraordinarily flamboyant affairs in exotic venues like Paris, London, Milan, and New York City are undeniably incredible, our very own Richmond Fashion Week (RVAFW) is by no means inferior in either talent or vision. Locals know Carytown, home to over 250 shops and unique dining experiences, to be a favorite too. But regardless of where you go in the region, one thing is certain: Richmond is the city for fashion. 

Fashion is dynamic, and Richmond has come a long way from the classics: forms and images from ancient Greece and Rome that had once captivated our city and still linger in the philosophy and ideals Richmond carries. During the 1790s, Richmond women opted to wear à l’antique, a kind of columnar silhouette of gossamer white cotton–quite the radical contrast when compared with the harsh, waist-cinched, hip-enhanced proportions most coveted before the decade. À l’antique mimicked a popular style of Greek garment, unashamed and revealing of the natural body, serving as a metaphor for liberty and a tribute to the Roman goddess Liberta. Body-conscious fashions imitating classical garments have since resurfaced in Richmond during periods of heightened interest in personal freedom.  

The 1950s Teenage Rebellion, the result of a post-war baby boom and growing demand for self-expression, inspired lasting effects in the fashion industry. Teen efforts in individuality’s name live on in the form of today's youth culture, and Richmond, where nothing can be considered too bohemian, is the perfect place to satisfy any fashion need. Halcyon Vintage, located at 117 N Robinson St, is a cornucopia of vintage apparel tracing to the Edwardian era, some of which has been featured in movies, television, local theater, and even on Broadway. Bygones Vintage, at 2916 W Cary Street, buys and sells curated merchandise from the 19th to 20th centuries and retro-inspired fashions, with ultra-chic window displays to showcase the store. Last but certainly not least, Saturn Return, at 2239 W Broad Street, is a Richmond go-to for pre-loved pieces if you’re into the goth, punk, and rock ‘n roll scene. You might have noticed these are all second-hand businesses, but who doesn’t love quality and sustainability? 

Don’t really know what staple your closet needs, or maybe you are in need of a creative epiphany? Give the RVAFW exhibitions a try. Richmond Fashion Week (RVAFW) was founded in 2008 when VCU and University of Richmond students formed a coalition dedicated to providing an impactful platform for Virginia’s many talented models, designers, stylists, cosmetologists, and photographers. Since then, RVAFW has helped local artists display work, generate revenue, and build reputation, all while disciplining itself into a city-wide celebration of the arts. Two years ago, co-founder and executive producer Jimmy Budd shared that RVAFW would no longer be hosting fall exhibitions and that, moving forward, the council would focus solely on its spring productions in anticipation of stronger collections. The split from the traditional model came as a small disappointment to the community, which had used the fall show as a creative outlet, but members of RVAFW also expressed understanding. It takes incredible dedication to put together a cohesive exhibition that fully embodies the creative genius vibrant in Richmond and across Virginia. Fortunately, it is about the time of year that fashion novices and seasoned veterans alike convene for their spring/summer showcases. According to its website (https://rvafw.squarespace.com/), RVAFW’s 17th annual exhibition is set to commence Monday, April 21st and conclude Sunday, April 27th, 2025.    

This year’s designer list remains undisclosed, but a look at featured artists between 2017 and 2024 can give us an idea of what we can expect this upcoming season. RVAFW’s very last fall/winter exhibition went out with a rightful bang! The runway theme was urban streetwear, which emerged from combined aspects of various cultural phenomena, including New York’s hip-hop and graffiti scene and California’s surf and skateboard culture. Designer Jessica Meiko of Meiko Designs, who unveiled Into the Matrix to RVAFW attendees during the Sunday grand finale, argues that the consensus that streetwear can only be casual, sporty, or grungy is too conservative. “Streetwear definitely is a broad term,” she says. “I feel like nowadays everything can be trendy, and I think a lot of people are just following their own styles now instead of following other people’s styles. So, I think streetwear will live on forever, but just in different ways with different people” (“RVA Fashion Week ends fall showcase, shifts focus to spring events,” https://richmondfreepress.com/). Meiko’s vision came to fruition with the debut of her collection Into the Matrix. Inspired by The Matrix and the transforming values of our contemporary society, Into the Matrix is bold, futuristic, and totally avant garde, taking staples we’re already familiar with–leathers, chunky shoes, embellishments, and ultra voguish shades–and making them something that embraces new silhouettes and pushes gender norms. 

Fashion reflects culture, and amendments to social conventions are consistently redefining à la mode, but like the forebears of this city once did, we should find liberty in our capacity for self-expression. So, whether you’re just waiting for RVAFW tickets to drop this season, taking inspiration from fellow designers and producing your own line of fashions, or updating your wardrobe, you can expect to find it all in our beloved Richmond.  

Information retrieved from RVA Fashion Week, RVA Magazine, Style Weekly, WRIC ABC 8News, Fashion in History, and Google Arts and Culture.