VOA慢速英语2020--巴黎时装周开幕

Fashion Week has opened in Paris with clothing designers presenting their latest creations¹ for autumn and winter. But this time, all the shows across the French capital are internet-only performances. The worldwide COVID-19 health crisis² forced organizers to cancel in-person events.

Some shows will be shown online "live," as they take place. Others will be recordings³.

The French Fashion Federation⁴ operates Paris Fashion Week. Federation officials decided⁵ last spring that because of social distancing guidelines⁶, Paris Fashion Week would cancel in-person shows for one season. The trade group plans to return to normal in September, barring a second wave of COVID-19.

French fashion designer Chanel presented a "live" show online Tuesday. The company has used this method once before. Last month, it showed part of a new fashion collection on the web live.

The Italian company Valentino, however, is doing things differently. It is to offer an online preview Wednesday of what the company says will be a live performance this month in Rome. It says that the later event will "bring together the human and the digital touch, creating a dialogue where neither of them will take the lead."

Valentino did not provide more details.

The change in presentation saves time and will give lesser-known companies a chance to take part in Paris Fashion Week.

"This season will definitely⁷ have changed the fashion industry moving forward, especially for smaller brands, said Jessica Michault, Editor-at-Large for fashion magazine ODDA.

Many fashion critics say online presentations might work in some cases but not for top quality products. Reporter Long Nguyen is among them.

"Paris is where designers show ideas, and ideas can't come through unless the shows are presented to breathing witnesses," he said, adding, "It's like physically⁸ going to Tibet or viewing it online — it's not the same experience."

Paris Fashion Week organizers have said that next season, in September's women's ready-to-wear clothing, there will be a return to "normal," in-person shows. But there are expected to be changes to permit social distancing. Fashion companies may have to seek bigger spaces or reduce attendance⁹ numbers.

"Nothing beats being at a fashion show, sitting on the front row and seeing the clothes up close, but something's going to have to give," ODDA's Michault said.

Menswear shows are set to begin on July 14 in Milan, Italy. Organizers there also plan a mostly internet event. However, two big design companies, Dolce&Gabbana and Etro, plan to delay their presentations for a month and hold live shows.

The coronavirus epidemic¹⁰ was confirmed in Italy during Milan's shows in February. Designer Giorgio Armani decided to hold his show online February 23. Many critics protested¹¹ at the time that the online show is not good enough.

However, the virus looks like it might lead to even more changes in the field of high-fashion.

Saint¹² Laurent and Gucci are rethinking the seasonal¹³ production of the fashion industry. They have announced they will stop following the four-shows-a-year business model.

Last week, Parisian design group Mugler seemed to agree with that idea. It said it would present two shows a year instead of four to show all its new creations.

I'm Caty Weaver¹⁴.

Words in This Story

fashion –n. the business of creating and selling clothes in new styles

preview –n. to see, hear, or show something (such as a movie) before it is available to the public

digital –adj. using or characterized¹⁵ by computer technology

dialogue –n. a conversation between two or more people

brand –n. a category of products that are all made by a particular company and all have a particular name

row –n. a series of persons or things set up in a line

epidemic –n. an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people

1 creations   

创造( creation的名词复数 )； 创造物； （尤指所述由上帝）创造天地； 宇宙

参考例句：

• This artist's creations are worth collecting. 这个艺术家的作品值得收藏。
• The intellectual creations of individual nations become common property. 各民族的精神产品成了公共的财产。 来自英汉非文学 - 共产党宣言

2 crisis   

n.危机，危急关头，决定性时刻，关键阶段

参考例句：

• He had proved that he could be relied on in a crisis.他已表明，在紧要关头他是可以信赖的。
• The topic today centers about the crisis in the Middle East.今天课题的中心是中东危机。

3 recordings   

n.记录( recording的名词复数 )；录音；录像；唱片

参考例句：

• a boxed set of original recordings 一套盒装原声录音带
• old jazz recordings reissued on CD 以激光唱片重新发行的老爵士乐

4 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 guidelines   

n.指导方针，准则

参考例句：

• The government has drawn up guidelines on the treatment of the mentally ill. 政府制订了对待精神病人的指导方针。
• Planners seem a little uncomfortable with the current government guidelines. 规划师似乎不太接受现行的政府指道方针。

7 definitely   

adv.一定地，肯定地；明确地，确切地

参考例句：

• The team will definitely lose if he doesn't play.如果他不参加比赛，这个队肯定会输。
• I shall definitely be home before six o'clock.6点以前，我一定回家。

8 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

9 attendance   

n.出席，出席人数，护理，照料

参考例句：

• The attendance of this class never dropped off.这个班的出席人数从未下降。
• The young man danced attendance on his rich aunt.这个年轻人小心侍候他有钱的姑妈。

10 epidemic   

n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的

参考例句：

• That kind of epidemic disease has long been stamped out.那种传染病早已绝迹。
• The authorities tried to localise the epidemic.当局试图把流行病限制在局部范围。

11 protested   

v.声明( protest的过去式和过去分词 )；坚决地表示；申辩

参考例句：

• He protested he was being cheated of his rightful share. 他提出抗议说他被人骗取了他依法应得的份额。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Amy protested she was being cheated of her rightful share. 艾米提出抗议，说有人骗取了她依法应得的份额。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 saint   

n.圣徒；基督教徒；vt.成为圣徒，把...视为圣徒

参考例句：

• He was made a saint.他被封为圣人。
• The saint had a lowly heart.圣人有谦诚之心。

13 seasonal   

adj.季节的，季节性的

参考例句：

• The town relies on the seasonal tourist industry for jobs.这个城镇依靠季节性旅游业提供就业机会。
• The hors d'oeuvre is seasonal vegetables.餐前小吃是应时蔬菜。

14 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。

15 characterized   

adj.[医]具有特征的v.是…的特征( characterize的过去式和过去分词 )；以…为特征；描述（人或物）的特性；使…具有特点（或最引人注目的特征）

参考例句：

• Mozart's music is characterized by its naivety and clarity. 莫扎特的音乐特色是纯朴兴清澈。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The world situation is characterized by turbulence and intranquility. 世界局势动荡不安。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》