New York is officially the world's most fashionable city after taking top spot in the 2014 Top Global Fashion Capital contest. It took the title from London, which won the accolade in 2011 and 2012, but finished third this year, behind Paris. Los Angeles was voted the fourth trendiest metropolis, while Barcelona closely followed in fifth place. Italy's highest-placed city was Rome, in sixth place. Milan, long establishedas a centre of style and the winner in 2009, finished in twelfth place. Bekka Payack, a New York-based fashion director, told reporters: "New York City has, indeed, earned its Top Global Fashion Capital ranking through its disciplined, methodical yet creative approach to its fashion industry."
New York being crowned as the place to be seen coincides with the city's upcoming Fashion Week. The fashion world will descend on the city for a week of glitz and glamour. Top supermodels will set the catwalks alight and parade the latest fashions from leading designers. Ms Payack spoke of how newly-emerging cities around the world are making a name for themselves in haute couture. She said: "This year's rankings also demonstrate the creative energy that is emerging worldwide in terms of fashion as a jobs, income and wealth generator, not to mention the prestige associated with exporting your fashion sense to the world." Cities like Shanghai, St. Petersburg and New Delhi all fared well in the contest.