How To Attend Fashion Week Like A Pro

This is a repost of my Forbes Lifestyle article which can be found here.

Fake it until you make it, they say. Mainly applied to business conduct, the idea also runs true to attending fashion shows during the most frenzy few weeks of the year. With New York Fashion Week well underway and London, Milan, Paris to follow, you need to be well prepared to take the fashion weeks head on, especially when you are a newbie trying to fit in the world of fashion week pros.

1.DO PREPARE IN ADVANCE

All good things come with good preparation. If you are not the lucky few that are showered with designers’ invitations every season, you need to work your magic to get on that list. If you do not belong to the buyer/press/celebrity/socialite/blogger category, can you still attend the shows? The answer is an encouraging yes, depending on whose door you are knocking on (I wouldn’t hold my breath for a Chanel invitation in PFW anytime soon). Each fashion week will have their own dedicated website (i.e. LFW at www.londonfashionweek.co.uk) where participating designers are listed together with the contact details for press or sales. Start with shows that are new or less well known to the wider population, and send your request to the appropriate person. It will also help if you volunteer to cover the story on the show for a magazine or online publication. Failing that, each fashion week will also have related events and trunk shows that are open to public – i.e. the trunk shows in Paris or the London Fashion Weekends.

2.RSVP IN GOOD TIME

By now you would have received a few invites and if you are looking to attend specific runway shows please do make sure you notify/RSVP to the fashion house in advance so to ensure that your spot is confirmed. It is good etiquette and manners as your notification will enable the event organiser to plan ahead and avoid last minute chaos.

3.PLAN YOUR DAILY SCHEDULE STRATEGICALLY

If you are planning on attending a few fashion shows and visiting a number of designer show rooms on the same day, make sure you map out your schedule strategically. Whilst most fashion week shows are scattered within a relatively small area in the city, you still need to allow sufficient travel time to arrive at the correct location, ideally half an hour or more in advance. Traffic can be impossible during these days and weather condition could be challenging (snow and ice in New York, constant rain in London), it is always a good idea to hone your power walking skills in heels weeks in advance and incorporate a stylish hat into your fashion week ensemble on a rainy day.

4.DRESS THE PART AND DON’T BE AFRAID TO BE YOURSELF

What to wear could be the biggest question for anyone attending fashion week shows. The truth is, it could all be very intimidating when you are solely judged on what you wear, particularly if you are sitting in the same room with Anna Wintour or Kate Moss (excitement and horror all at the same time!).  It is good to dress the part, but certainly do not feel the pressure to conform to the norm. If you have a strong personal style, now it is your chance to show the world. Let your motto be less is more or more is more, the fashion world is your oyster. It is not always essential to wear the designer’s piece when attending the show, but showing up at Miu Miu wearing head to toe Moschino is almost certainly deemed inappropriate.

5.DO MINGLE WITH YOUR FELLOW ATTENDEES

Let’s face it, people in fashion do not look like they are the most easy to approach people on this planet. However under that fabulous exterior, everyone in the room with you has the same passion for fashion. Do break the ice and introduce yourself to attendees seated around you, you may bond over love for excessive accessorising or hate for gladiator sandals.

6.HAVE A GOOD TIME

Now you are in, watching the show of your dreams, mingling with people who love or hate the same things as you do, there is only one thing left to do – enjoy yourself. Soak in the atmosphere, observe the details of the garments and watch how the colours shimmer or how they move as the models stride along: these are the experiences that cannot be captured or transmitted simply through a high definition camera.

Follow me at @DemureAndStylish