Question: would you ever have thought that the first fashion shows took place in the 19th century? Granted, not on the catwalk, but on the promenades of horse racetracks. It was not until later that the leading fashion houses presented their collections by letting the models pace across a catwalk. An audience of well-to-do customers watched the latest collections while enjoying a drink. It wasn't until 1943 that the first, real Fashion Week took place in New York.