Perhaps, it's a sign of the times, although one with a touch of irony: January is literally having a moment in the limelight, and it makes a lot of sense. "January is an important issue, in the fashion magazine and luxury industry, but also from a psychological point of view. The new year is a palate cleanser of sorts. It is about a fresh start, and establishes a tone for the year," thinks Priya Tanna, editor-in-chief, Vogue India.

The old tenets of the retail format have been rechanneled, from the biannual seasons to a merry-go-round for frequent collection "drops". Cruise collections now hit the stores between November and December—just in time for the January issue, rather than in August—and they now account for a higher revenue simply because these pieces can be worn throughout the year. The shift is part of a larger trend towards "seasonless style".