What It’s Really Like To Attend New York Fashion Week
In September 2017 I was invited to attend New York Fashion Week, and I was thrilled. Before attending NYFW, I had interned two summers in New York for different companies, but I didn’t know what NYFW was going to be like. The only prior insight I had to Fashion Weeks was by watching The Devil Wears Prada and Sex and the City, or by reading Vogue. I’m just a girl from Las Vegas, attending college in a small town, so when I was given the opportunity to attend huge fashion events in the Big Apple, I jumped on it. It was everything I expected and more, and I want to share my experience with you. Here’s what it’s actually like to attend New York Fashion Week!
1. Busy, Busy, Busy
The first thing about New York Fashion Week is it’s fast-paced, and there’s always something going on. There are multiple places where shows take place: usually, you are running from Chelsea to Flatiron to SoHo in a seemingly never-ending circle. There’s no time to waste, though, or you’re going to miss out! As a rule of thumb, if you have a show at, say, 1:30 you better be there at the latest at 1:15.
I remember having to memorize my subway routes, sharing Ubers, and even sometimes walking from show to show. The fashion industry is totally non-stop and New York Fashion Week ups the speed entirely: I remember attending shows and events from 9:30 in the morning until 10 at night – without breaks! It’s such a busy week but the excitement increases your adrenaline and every crazy busy moment is 100% worth it.
2. Who Do You Know?
The fashion industry revolves around who you know. That’s not shocking, and New York Fashion Week is no exception. One thing that stuck out to me is that other attendees would ask who I knew and how I was able to attend the show. It’s like a networking event, only better: it’s really an opportunity to get to know new people in the industry an make important connections. I always loved being asked this question and asking it myself, as it gave me a chance to get my name out there. I also still follow and chat with some of the people that I met at the New York Fashion Week, which proves that you do build solid connections! That week I chose to look at the question “who do know here” as a positive rather than a negative one.
3. Glamorous
New York Fashion Week is as glamorous as it seems in the movies. When you’re walking down the street, photographers take your picture left and right. And the outfits that you see on the streets are out of this world. These women and men are dressed to the nines. Once you get into the venue, you’re personally escorted to your seat, there are goody bags and usually treats within the venue. I’m not joking: you feel like a celebrity when you’re attending these shows. Also, the shows themselves are incredible. The clothes, the accessories, the people, the music – everything is glammed out.
4. Cloud Nine
When attending New York Fashion Week, you are on cloud nine. The shows, the people, and the after parties make you feel some incredible way. I was filled with so much adrenaline and excitement it put me in a mood like no other. I felt like I was on cloud nine because I was well aware that this is not an opportunity many people get, and I felt incredibly blessed that I was able to attend. That’s what really put me on cloud nine: knowing that I proved myself capable of handling New York Fashion Week. Even when I think about it now I can’t wipe the smile off my face. This experience was one of the best of my life. I still hold on and cherish it to this day.
