February 2011 marked my first season at London Fashion Week. As a first timer I researched as much l could about what to expect and what to do during Fashion Week. I read articles on ways to maintain on 'How To..', 'the Do's and Don'ts', 'Everything you need to know', a plethora of sources on the right Fashion Etiquette when mingling with the fashion world's elite. As organised and equipped as I thought I was, nothing prepared me for the exhaustion, dehydration and chaos that lay ahead and before the sun rose on day three I was already wearing bags under my eyes as an accessory.
Fashion Week has the potential to be the 3 E's, Exhilarating, Exciting and Enjoyable. Whether you're new to the game or a season veteran it should be a pleasurable experience. I’ve collated a few tips that can turn a brutal week into a triumph. This guide is as essential as a muzzle on John Galliano in a room full of Jews. Enjoy!
DO
PLAN, PLAN, PLAN
Fashion Week is all about Preparation. If you intend on going to a show, the schedules are up on the website weeks in advance so make sure to request invites as early as you can. Don’t get carried away PR companies will have a field day at your expense if they get Fashion Week invites months before a show. Put together your own schedule once you get confirmations so you know where you need to be and when.
As not all shows are on site time management is key. Though most off site shows are not too far away from the main venues some presentations are. To avoid any potential mishaps, make sure you manage your schedule. Pay close attention to the venues for events to make sure you accommodate for the time it will take to get there
PACK LIGHT
Us women are often tempted to carry everything with us. The best thing you can do for yourself, your sanity (and your back) is to carry the bare minimums. I packed my netbook, netbook charger, camera, my blackberry charger, make up essentials, perfume, a spare pair of shoes, diary, head phones, a note book and my invites. Before midday the combination of rushing around in high heeled shoes and carrying around a potato sack of a bag gave me a hunch back and I had to lean on anything stationary. Not only did I not need my netbook, but by the second day I had more than halved my overall load. The British Fashion Council, provide a Press Lounge and various facilities are located around Somerset House that allow you to use computers and high speed internet for free.
EAT
Carry Water, carry snacks and make sure you take the time to eat. It’s easy to prioritise everything else but yourself while in the midst of the Fashion Week frenzy and forget that your body needs food to function and your mind needs nutrients to keep working.
SLEEP
You can’t make it to every show and every party because by day three you'll end up feeling like a zombie.Early starts and late nights require sleep. Give your body time to relax
GET YOUR SEAT IN ADVANCE
This ties in with the first point about planning. Make sure you get your invite! Even if you have standing tickets, as long as you have a place that's all that matters. If there are free seats when the standing invitees are being ushered in, you could probably bag yourself a seat. The last thing you want is to be the girl waiting in line without a ticket to a show hoping to get in. Depressing!
DON’T.....
Ask....”Is this seat taken?”
Do not by any means ask if a seat is taken! By the time standing invitees are being ushered in, a free seat is then fair game (but that doesn't make it secure), as the show will start soon after. If you ask if a seat is taken then you might as well wear a sign saying 'I do not belong' and either get ignored or told its being held for somebody else. Confidently perch your derriere, look busy, look important and like it’s yours. I had a standing ticket to John Rocha but ended up on the second row!
Try and get into every show
No Invite? Don't be disheartened if you don't get the invite you wanted, information and photographs from shows will be available on the web before the models have time to take their shoes off.
Forget to network
Fashion Week is not the easiest place to network as people at the top tend to fraternise with their peers. The ability to network is what you need to make it, but do not expect everyone to be friendly
Forget to enjoy it!
Fashion Week can be full of contradictions; it’s draining yet exhilarating, tough yet enjoyable and daunting but exciting. Don't forget that it's all about being in the presence of great clothing and you're at a unique sartorial party, enjoy it!
