Fashion Week Advice for Beginners
When I first started blogging, I would scroll through my Instagram feed during fashion week with a serious case of FOMO. All these bloggers were dressed to the nines looking like they were having the best time so naturally I wanted to experience that for myself! Of course, there’s Instagram life and then there’s reality so always keep that in mind when you’re wistfully watching from a distance (I’ll expand on that a little later). Fast forward a couple of years and I finally attended my first NYFW during one of the coldest weeks in February (you can read about some of my NYFW experiences here, here and here). Had I known that it wasn’t that difficult to get into shows and presentations, I would have attended much sooner so I’m happy to share my advice with those of you who are looking to attend fashion week in the future. I’ll walk you through the steps I take each season: how I pre-plan, what to expect, and advice on what to wear.
Pre-planning:
Conveniently, I live in the area, so I don’t have to worry about booking a hotel. But for those of you who are from out of town, I would recommend reaching out to hotels 2-3 months in advance (I’m not talking the Walforf Astoria…think smaller, boutique hotels). Contact their PR person (which you can usually find on the hotel’s website) and politely request a complimentary stay in exchange for a blog post/social media promotion. When composing your email, be sure to include your blog name, what your blog is about, your social media numbers, the dates you will be in town, and a pitch on how you can share your hotel experience with your readers. Most hotels will turn you down but don’t get discouraged. You only need to stay at one! If they aren’t willing to grant you a comped stay, ask about a media rate and invite other blogger friends to share the room with you.
A month prior to fashion week, the schedule goes up for all the shows which you can access here. Fashion week always runs from one Wednesday to the next so it’s helpful to look at this calendar when you’re planning your trip. My advice is to jot down a list of shows and presentations you would like to attend within the time frame you will be in town. Be realistic…if you’re a new blogger with a small following, you’re not going to secure an invite to the Ralph Lauren Show. Scope out smaller designers or up and coming ones instead. Contact their PR person via email and request an invite. Similar to the hotel request, mention your blog name, a sentence or two describing what your blog is about, your social media numbers and that you would love to share the latest collection with your readers. Keep in mind that you don’t want to schedule shows back to back especially if one show is midtown and one is downtown. So, always map out the events and prepare for extra time in between to get from each place.
If you don’t have an account with GPS Radar Launchmetrics, sign up asap. This is my go-to source for fashion week and other events in and around the city. They provide a full list of shows, presentations, and events during fashion week and conveniently, you can request an invitation directly from this site. This is a major time saver and lately, I mostly use this site to secure invites. The majority of the invites are through PR agencies so this is helpful because once you’re on their PR list, they will automatically reach out to you for the next season. Most invitations will just be for you so your blogger friends will have to secure their own invites…it’s rare that you have the option of inviting a plus one. If I want to request a guest, I reach out directly to the designer’s in house PR person (and again, only to up and coming designers because they want as much exposure as possible).
Once you request invitations, the responses will be emailed to you rather quickly at which time you need to formally rsvp to secure your seat or standing assignment. Don’t fret if it’s a standing assignment. Usually, you end up sitting anyway because there are always no shows. I make sure to keep an organized list of all the invitations with the days/times/locations so I can plan out my week ahead of time.
What to Expect:
Fashion week is quite the scene so my advice is to not take it too seriously, work it to your advantage, and decide what you wish to get out of it. If you’re a freelance fashion writer and your goal is to write for established and reputable sites, focus on photographing your favorite looks, taking detailed notes, and interviewing the designers whenever possible. If you’re a new shop owner who wants to see what’s trending for next season and share that on your social media platforms, then you definitely want to cover the shows on your instastories and snapchat in order to engage your customers and get them excited for what’s to come. If you’re an up and coming fashion blogger, then concentrate on curating unique looks that will hopefully be photographed by street photographers to maximize your exposure. In addition, attend fashion week social events that will provide you opportunities to connect with other bloggers, brands, and digital publications. You never know who you will end up meeting so always carry your business cards with you and consistently act polite and professional.
The atmosphere at fashion week can be a bit overwhelming especially if it’s your first time attending. If possible, ask a fellow blogger to join you or invite a friend if you’re able to invite a guest to a show or an event. It’s always less daunting to have someone with you. If that isn’t an option, don’t let that stop you. I find that attending presentations alone is perfectly fine. You breeze in and out rather quickly on your own time frame as opposed to a show where you end up waiting in line, then waiting to be seated and waiting for the show to start. If you do end up going to a show solo, the best thing to do is people watch. There are a plethora of styles and personalities and the whole scene is highly entertaining. Inevitably, you end up chatting with the person seated next to you because you’re all squeezed in rather tightly. Always be open and friendly because a) acting pretentious is never a good a look and b) you never know who you’re talking to…don’t blow a valuable opportunity or a connection by being rude.
Lastly, don’t get too caught up in the whole Instagram #NYFW silliness. Way too many bloggers humble brag about being soooo busy shuttling between “appointments” and shows, etc. I used to buy into this charade but now I see through it. Pretending to be someone you’re not is a huge turn off. Be yourself and share an authentic experience with your readers and followers. If you were only invited to one show on a particular day, own it. Share other things you’re doing in the city during your down time (and no, that doesn’t include Starbucks). Go to a museum, explore a new neighborhood, try out a different restaurant or a unique specialty shop. Try to provide fresh and exciting content to your audience rather than being a carbon copy of all the other bloggers out there.
What to Wear:
My approach to fashion week is to wear something timeless, comfortable, and effortlessly chic. I never want to look like I’m trying too hard so I gravitate towards a well fitting pair of jeans or trousers, a crisp top, and low heels because I’m on my feet the majority of the time. My go-to source for fashion week inspiration is to refer to French style. I find that French women always get it right. They keep their looks simple and classic while choosing quality pieces and thoughtful accessories. (You can refer to my Pinterest board where I have compiled my favorite French inspired looks here). Keeping my look minimal and fuss-free is what makes me feel most confident but if you feel comfortable rocking the latest and loudest trends, by all means, go for it! Fashion is supposed to be fun and expressive so wear what makes you feel your best.
I chose a blouse bodysuit, cropped black jeans, leopard kitten heels, and this Meli Melo handbag for a day that consisted of three shows, lots of walking and dinner afterward. My only regret was that I didn’t add a layer because the temps dropped later that evening and I was quite chilly by the time I headed home. If I had checked the weather that morning, I would have worn this blazer which is the perfect staple for fall.
Shop My Look:
