For the past month, we’re sure that you’ve heard time and time again about the importance of the September issue. It is one of those fashion truths we hold to be self-evident. But what does that really mean, and why? Yes, it’s the month which produces magazines that can be used as semi-violent weapons, where ads skyrocket and page numbers are reported on covers like baseball stats, but the truth is that the content of those magazine hold what editors consider to be the best of the upcoming fall season.

For this reason, we decided to put the September issue under a microscope. We’ve scoured dozens of issues from around the world, and now it’s time to take a look at which designers, photographers and models were sought after for the most important issue of the year.