Blush

This is my, “I’m clearly not in NYC for fashion week look.” Considering the windchill is around -20 in NYC, there would be no pencil skirts (seriously how cool is this blush leather one) and light sweaters! I keep getting asked why I am not at fashion week. Truth is – I absolutely hate it. I know that is almost a sin for someone who loves fashion but let me tell you – Sex and the City totally airbrushed it. Not only are you running around in the freezing cold to catch a show but you look around and see others doing the same thing, in outfits they probably would never wear. I always got the sense that everyone was trying so hard to be something they weren’t in their day to day lives. It really gave me the wrong vibes. What really killed me? Last year – I witnessed two girls in the MOST ridiculous outfits, like straight up alien outfits, walking up and down Lincoln center for hours just trying to get their picture snapped by street photographers. These girls literally snuck into the exit of a show and walked out with a group of people time and time again. For some reason it made me nauseous to see the amount of effort they were putting into it and the fact that people were taking their photos. I promise you – what they were wearing was nothing short of a costume. I literally thought Jimmy Kimmel was going to jump out and say, SIKE, all of you are suckers for thinking this is fashion. It was that bad! After watching them and observing others throughout the week I realized maybe this whole shindig wasn’t for me.

Don’t get me wrong there were good parts. I loved seeing girls I hadn’t seen in a while but it was always such a fast encounter that I didn’t really get to catch up with them. Everyone is in a hurry running from show to showroom that there isn’t a chance to catch-up, how I like to. I am sure there are many of you rolling your eyes while reading this. “Listen to this negative Nancy. I would kill to go to fashion week.” Trust me – I know how I sound. But, when I visit a city I like to really enjoy the city, the people, and the atmosphere. So running around like a crazy chicken trying to catch a coffee date or not miss a show it just isn’t enjoyable to me. Actually the antithesis of enjoyment.

If you are in the fashion industry or a blogger I recommend something else. My idea of fashion week is to skip it, book a trip to NYC a few months later, and visit with all the girls or brands you want to. This way, they actually have time to know you, talk to you, and remember you. In any industry you want to make lasting connections. To build a relationship you need to have time to get to know the other person or brand and a quick 5-15 minute conversation just doesn’t cut it (which is about what you have during FW). Booking your trip a few weeks after fashion week will be much more beneficial as the brands aren’t exhausted from the craze of getting their shows ready, everyone will have more time to meet, and you stand out (because you aren’t being pushed and shoved by 100 other girls). Now, do you get to say you went to fashion week? No. But did you help your business for future partnerships – Most likely. Just a recommendation but if you prefer a more personal and meaningful connection this is what I would do. However, the best advice: experience FW for yourself! You can alway say you went, gave it a shot, and loved or hated it!