Why Bloggers Should go to New York Fashion Week

The Reason for Fashion Season

“So, why do you go to Fashion Week?” <—– probably the number one question I have been asked by friends, family, and my community since arriving back home. Let me break it all down for you…

What is Fashion Week?

The best way for me to explain Fashion Week to non-enthusiasts is that it is the SuperBowl of fashion. Not an American football fan? Think of this week long style marathon as the World Cup instead. New York Fashion Week is  part of a series of fashion weeks that all add up to Fashion Month. They happen twice a year: every September (showing the spring/summer looks for the next year) and every February (showing the fall/winter looks for the next year). The runway shows start in New York, then London, heading to Milan and lastly Paris. Each city is known for their different type of style or designers that will showcase their looks on the runways.

What Happens at New York Fashion Week?

Designers have spent an entire season creating a new collection of clothing that will inspire their looks (and trends) of the upcoming seasons. During the week, there are independent designers that show at locations around the city, put on by their own team. There are also designers that hire one of maybe six PR teams that helps them put on the runway shows at the Skylight Clarkson and The Gallery at The Dream sponsored by Lexus (formally put on by Mercedes Benz). For a little longer than seven days, there are runway shows upon runways shows that buyers, influencers, magazine editors, and fashion industry leaders go and observe. Along with that, there are many events, parties, and brand meetings.

Why do Bloggers/Influencers go to NYFW?

There are many reasons why we go to Fashion Week, but a few of those reasons feel more important to me than the rest. For one, New York Fashion Week is a huge, HUGE, networking opportunity. While there, I was able to accidentally meet an LA magazine editing team on a train to a show, talk to brands that I have worked with in the past face to face and build our relationship, have dinner with PR agencies that manage designers and brands from around the world, see and brush up against countless celebrities, and even get “caught” by a street style cameras. Networking is a ginormous part of the week, for everyone! Another reason why it is important for influencers to attend is the ability to preview the looks for upcoming seasons, predicting what will be trendy and what they can market to their community of readers. Of course, going to parties and events is a great runner-up to the last two reasons people attend New York Fashion Week.

What Happens When Fashion Week is Over?

If all is said and done right, everyone will go home with new contacts, fresh content, better ideas, and a head start on the fashion scene. Once the week is over, those in the fashion industry either prepare for the next city and jet off to the Fashion Week there, or go home and ice their feet and decompress!

Have you ever been to any of the Fashion Weeks? I would love to hear about your experience!