hiiiiiii all! yes, it’s been ages. yes, i’ve been slacking. yes, i will be better. no, i haven’t been busy, just lazy. k, glad we cleared that up.
as you know because you are my loyal followers and love everything i do and say and wear, i went to last month’s fashion week in new york city. it was INCREDIBLE. the most beautiful looks, absolutely amazing energy, and the most invigorating experience in fashion i have ever had. ever. and this is coming from a former pageant girl.
i wanted to give you my tips and tricks on how-to fashion week, so we can all best prepare for september’s shows and kill another season. keep in mind, this was my first (and only!) time at fashion week, so i’m going to share with you what i did do, what i didn’t do, and what i will do next time. without further ado, here’s how to get invited to shows and sit in the front rows (i love rhymes, sorry).
summary for lazy readers: you get invites to shows via emails to PR teams, dress to impress if you want to sit front row, stay close to chelsea area to save time and money
1. get a hotel to sponsor your stay – I DID NOT DO THIS but i 100% will next time
- i read from a whole variety of bloggers that this is 1) very doable and 2) very helpful during fashion week. it is the same as asking for an invite to a show, so approach this as a business partnership between you and the hotel. this is a template i drafted that you can use in your letters:
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- Good morning, My name is __________ and I am the blogger behind __________ , a __________ blog. I am attending New York Fashion Week this February/September and will be documenting my stay and experiences on my blog and social channels. For my upcoming weekend, I plan to take photographs and write articles about my experience during New York Fashion Week and around the city to share with my followers the best way to experience the city and this exciting time of year. Given this project, I am reaching out to inquire if you provide support to bloggers. My followers love to engage with __________ (ideally travel, hotel, experiences in addition to fashion) and I am excited to show them the ease of staying in New York City with __________ (hotel). Between all channels, I have a reach of __________ people. Please find links to my website and social pages below. I will be visiting from __________ to __________. Thank you for your time and consideration. Best, Signature, Name, Blog Link, Email, Phone Number, Social Links (i.e. Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, etc.)
- definitely ask EARLY is what i have heard, as hotels fill up fast around show week
- also, we stayed in midtown this time, but personally i prefer soho and it would save a ton of money to stay there or just lower manhattan in general. we spent so much money and time in ubers and cabs getting to and from the hotel changing for shows and dinners and activities, and i think if you could stay more central to the hub (from my experience, that would be pier 59 in chelsea) then you can save yourself a lot of headaches
2. reach out to PR companies that represent the shows you are available to see during your stay
- this i did do, so you can trust me a little more that this works. again, i would do this early before the season really picks up as tickets are limited. when the show list comes out, look up when the shows are and which PR companies and points of contact are listed. i used www.fashionweekonline.com to find the schedule and www.modemonline.com to find contacts. this is the exact template i used to get my invites:
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- Good morning, My name is __________ and I am the blogger behind __________, a __________ blog. I am attending NYFW and would like to request an invite and/or access to the backstage area of the __________ show in exchange for press on my website and social media channels. Between all channels, I have a reach of __________ people. My Instagram is __________. Please contact me at any time. Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you! Name, Instagram, Blog Link, Email, Phone Number
- YES, you will be ignored. YES, you will get nos. YES you will inevitably be invited to shows you can’t make. that sucks but it is what it is. i didn’t get invited to any “big name” shows, but it is still an amazing opportunity to see shows, sitting or standing, especially because you never know who the next big hit will be
- next time, i think i will stay during the week – unfortunately, we got in midday on friday and left midday on sunday, and a lot of the bigger shows and people-watching seems to be during the week. if you can take the days off, maybe try that approach
3. if you want to sit front row, get there early and dress impressively
- only one of the tickets i got during my stay was a seated assignment, and that happened to be the show i missed (bummer). the rest were standing assignments, meaning you stand behind the rows and bob and weave past people’s heads and massive fucking iphone cases to see anything. (still worth it)
- if you don’t get a seated assignment, fear not. get there early enough and wear something impressive. honestly, i believe that is what got me seated FRONT ROW at my FIRST show ever. it was a combination of preparedness, uniqueness, and chance.
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- this was the night i wore the all hot pink (or all red as many were saying) suit – it was a standout among the crowd! people stopped me all night long about my look and how cute or bold or unique it was. being both prepared and your most authentic, badass self showing off your personality is what gets you noticed
luck is when preparation meets opportunity
now, here’s a list of the things i did not do that i will 100% do next time:
- spend a day sitting outside of the shows
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- yes, this is hard in february because its -19284 degrees, but in september this is probably easier. this is your chance to see celebrities and major influencers coming and going from shows, watch the incredible streetstyle from all the attendees, and soak up some of the amazing creative energy new york has to offer during fashion week (and always, honestly)
- attend fashion-week parties and events
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- brands and companies with a variety of products (lulus to refinery 29 and more) host parties and events during this week. get in touch with PR people for those events and attend for the networking and the amazing goody bags
- pass out my business card like a fucking hot potato
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- i really regret missing this opportunity. the number of people i met, spoke to, or was stopped by, i really should have been passing out my (bad quality, but still) business cards. this is a huge opportunity to grow your network, make friends, and gain authentic followers who you already know are 1) like-minded and 2) interested in what you have to share
- try even bolder outfits
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- no, i’m not gonna rock a lady gaga-esque money clip (not a joke, saw that in real life), but street style is some of my favorite to follow and see, and i would love to explore more of that. though my looks were bomb, don’t get me wrong, i really would love to do some even bolder, edgier looks. maybe one day i will be dressed by dior for their show, but in the meantime, h&m and forever 21 are my go-tos for those looks
lastly, remember to also pack comfy shoes (lots of walking), comfy clothes (be prepared to be bloated after pizza at old rose), extra contacts, a hair brush in your purse, pore-minimizing balm (i used this one), under eye masks (again, here’s what i used), eat and drink to your heart’s content, and just have fun. once you’re there, its hard not to!
i hope you learned something or at least found this break down a little more interesting after being forced to watch my story and my incessant posting for the weekend. just prepare yourself for september. 😉
as always, if you have any questions, concerns, or additional advice, send it my way!
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