The top European shows are over for another season. Fashion journalists who have visited the shows in Milan, London, Barcelona and Paris can put their feet up with a sigh of relief, and buyers can take a well-earned holiday. For the designers however, there is no time to open the champagne to congratulate themselves before everything starts all over again. In only four months they must have a new collection of clothes ready for the March shows next year.

From now until March, designers will be working together with their creative teams to put together a show that will hopefully capture the imagination of the fashion journalists and impress the buyers. If the show isn’t a success and no-one wants to buy, the designer could find him or herself looking for another job. ‘The show makes everyone nervous’, says top Russian model Lucy Lastik ‘From the make up and wardrobe people to the designers and the models. We all get jumpy and bad-tempered because there’s so much at stake’.

Designer Ben Simone describes the nightmare of working on a show. "It’s often complete madness before a show, and it’s at these times I wonder why I'm doing it. It just becomes chaos. There's so much going on at once and so many things to think about. I spend most of the time in a state of high anxiety. But when it's finished, I feel wonderful and I just can't wait for the next one. The shows are the reason I do what I do and I get a real thrill and sense of satisfaction out of them.'

Ben Simone’s last collection had excellent reviews. But after taking a short break, it was not long before he began to think about next year’s collection. Designers work a year in advance, so at the moment they are working on collections that will be seen in the shop windows in a year’s time. However, getting new ideas for clothes does not come easily. Although designers work to tight schedules, Ben explains how creativity can't be immediately available whenever and where ever you need it, 'Suddenly I start imagining forms and shapes in my head; colours and designs. Then I sit down and start to sketch and the ideas simply run out of me.'

Once the designs are on paper and the designer has chosen the fabrics he or she wants to work with, the sample collection for the shows can be produced. This is carried out by the design team under the designer's supervision. Firstly, the cutter makes an initial pattern of the garment from the designer's sketch. Then a model is made, which is then altered by the designer until it is exactly how they want it. Finally, the perfected patterns are passed over to a machinist.

At the same time the garments are being made, the designer starts to work with a stylist. Together they decide in what way the collection is going to be presented at the shows. This involves deciding what accessories; hats, bags, belts, etc. should be used, and the hiring of the creative team - choreographer, producer, hair-stylist and make-up artist. The more money a designer has available, the more experts he or she can employ to create a successful show.

About a month before the show takes place, the stylist will begin to visit modelling agencies. Getting models with the right look is extremely difficult if the budget is tight. Fashion shows have a reputation for being badly paid, and often models chosen for a show will drop out at the last moment if they get a better paid job, like an advert. However, a show that gets a lot of press coverage can make a new model's name.

When things aren't certain even up to the last minute, it's no wonder there's an atmosphere of panic backstage. While the designer may be wondering why he or she didn't take up painting instead of fashion, it is up to the stylist to remain calm and in command. As head of the creative team, the stylist must make sure that everyone mows exactly what they're doing. There is only one rehearsal before the real thing and this is when the stylist has to get everyone organised. Whether the show is a triumph or a disaster depends on that.