Attending New York Fashion Week as a Blogger

Several people have asked me about attending New York Fashion Week and how I am able to have such a busy schedule filled with events and shows. The good news is your NYFW can be as busy or as slow-paced as you prefer.

Shows:

The official New York Fashion Week shows are held at Spring Studios, Pier 59 and private off-site locations. Getting into the most coveted shows like, The Blonds, Christian Siriano and Pyer Moss is indeed difficult but not impossible. To get into the shows, you will need get approved on GPS Radar. Once you do, you are able to request invites directly from the brands. Also, do your research to find which PR companies are working with the brands you are looking to see walk the runway. You can also, them emails as well. Do keep in mind, the more well known the brand is, the harder it is to get in because they do have a limit.

Events:

Filling up your New York Fashion Week Schedule with events is very simple thanks to Eventbrite. You are able to set parameters like date range, key words, etc which will help you filter through all of the events taking place. Another way to secure your invite to an event is by reaching out to brands directly or their PR company. If you are a journalist, blogger, or Influencer, when you inquire about an invite, be sure to let the contact know what you will be providing in return- whether it’s a write-up, social shares or video content. For events and shows I highly recommend creating a spreadsheet to keep track of the ones you have requested and been approved for so that you can keep your schedule organized!

Connecting with Creatives

Don’t be SHY! I always have to remember that not everyone is an extrovert like me. Even though I am a 100% extrovert, I too have to hype myself up on occasion when making new connections with creatives. If you go to fashion week alone or with one person, you might not know anyone else attending the shows/events that you have been approved for. Don’t let this deter you from going. Have a pep talk, listen to your favorite music and tell yourself that You Got This! You might be wondering, “How do I meet other creatives during New York Fashion Week”? Well there are several ways to go about this. I suggest doing these two things: Attend Blogger/Creative events or Send a DM to other creatives that you see on Instagram that say they are going. My photographer, Christy who attended this most recent season with me RSVPd us for a Style Collective event that was hosted at Ann Taylor. We went and as soon as we walked in we were greeted by friendly bloggers commenting on our outfits - which is always a great way to break the ice! Before we left the event, we ended up RSVPing for their Instagram Photo Meet up that was scheduled for the following day.

Sliding through someone’s DM might seem a little creepy, but it works! When I went to Miami Swim Week in 2019, I slid in a local blogger’s DMs. We had been following each other for a while and periodically engaged in each other’s content. I decided to DM her to see if she was going to any events and we ended up getting each other into various events and hanging out during all of Swim Week - and we are now friends!

WORKING

The last topic, I wanted to touch on is working during NYFW. Now, let me say there is nothing wrong with having a “fun only” trip. However, if you have goals that you are working towards and this trip can help you, then I strongly suggest you figure out a way to do work while in the city. As I have stated, I am pushing myself to do more on-camera hosting this year. Because of this, I secured several on-camera interview opportunities with designers through different publications. Not only did this give me additional experience interviewing, but it also increases my credibility since I was able to speak with designers at the official shows! Once you determine what type of work you are trying to do while at fashion week, PITCH YOURSELF. Be prepared for “no’s” but don’t stop till you get the right “yes!”

All in all New York Fashion Week is what you make it. Both seasons that I have attended were memorable, filled with great experiences and new friends and connections!