It’s that time of year again, where NYFW (New York Fashion Week) is just around the corner, and bloggers are planning their outfits, brands are setting up meetings, and the city is getting busy! It was one of my HUGEST blogging goals to attend NYFW as a blogger, and after 2 years of blogging… I made it happen! Not only did I go once, but I was fortunate enough to attend TWO years in a row! It was everything I dreamed of and more, and I created memories I’ll never forget…
With that being said, I’ve made the decision not to attend NYFW this year, for a few reasons, which I’ll share in today’s blog post! I’ll also get down to the nitty gritty about what New York Fashion Week is REALLY like, and the truth behind it all!
Before you read on, be sure to read my past New York Fashion Week blog posts:
Best places to stay + eat + shop in NYC
The 7 most valuable things I learned at NYFW
Let’s start by talking about: how to attend New York Fashion Week
- Honestly, ANYONE can probably attend! 95% of bloggers attend NYFW because they want to and fund the entire trip themselves. Keep in mind, your blog’s popularity and size determines the shows you can get into.
- Be confident and reach out to brands that are hosting runway shows. 1. Look at the runway show schedule that gets released about a month before NYFW starts. This is GO TIME! 2. Find all of the brands press contacts on their websites or linkedin. You must complete all of the outreach to get the most out of your NYFW experience and it’s up to you to to find brands contacts! 3. When you reach out be sure to introduce yourself, share why you love that brand (and maybe link to anything you’ve worn from them), ask to be included in any event they have going on, and make sure you stand out with your subject line! 4. Some brands you’ve worked with in the past have showrooms in NYC so browse through your inbox and make that connection because it’s always great to put a face to the name and meet up with them while you’re there for NYFW. 5. Get the app GPS Fashion Radar where you can see more NYFW events and ask to attend on the app.
- Create a spreadsheet with all of your show and event times, days, etc. Things get REALLY crazy, REALLY quick so it’ll help keep you organized, especially if you can access it from your phone while you’re there.
Next, let’s chat about: my honest thoughts on NYFW and the truth behind it all
- Yes, NYFW is amazing. Yes, NYFW is fun. Yes, NYFW is a blogger’s dream come true. And yes, it is a memorable experience, but…
- It comes with a lot of out of pocket expenses (airline, hotel, taxis/ubers, food, drinks, 8+ outfits, etc.)
- It’s exhausting- you wake up at 6am to get ready, have about 3 outfit changes all day/night, are taxing around the city to make it to shows/meetings/events on time, all while trying to get good content and photos shot with a photographer, and before you know it, it’s midnight and you’ve only had one meal and barely any water all day. It really does take a toll on your body because you’re always on the go.
Honestly, I feel like bloggers think that attending NYFW is a necessity. Don’t get me wrong, it’s incredibly amazing, a dream come true, and a great place to network, but I feel like it’s not something that is going to make or break your career. It’s almost like everyone wants to be “seen” to be included and feel part of the “cool kids” group just because they attended NYFW. I think back to my two years of attending, and it was exhausting yet MAGICAL! I’m so happy and glad I was able to attend twice… I love NYC itself and exploring areas like Soho, the Brooklyn Bridge, and going to the top of the Empire State building. It was also SO fun to meet with brands that I’ve partnered with, hand out tons of business cards, but I realized that aside from the whole experience itself, nothing came from it. Yes, maybe I grew a little and became more confident and enjoyed NYFW for personal reasons, but it didn’t create new opportunities for me, and in turn I felt like I spent a ton of unnecessary money.
I’ve made the decision this year to sit out, because #1- I just moved (phew, the news is out!) and #2- I’ll be in Nantucket the following week and traveling from CA to the East Coast back to back is a lot! And #3- I really want to focus on my blog and my mission behind it all. I want to stay humble and focus on the control I do have over my website and my brand instead of playing a “who’s who” game. Basically, my goal is to stay in my own lane and focus on sharing what I love by bringing the most value to you girls 🙂
Whether you’re attending NYFW for the first time this year (just have fun), or whether you’re attending as a pro (you go girl), make sure you stay true to YOU and remind yourself why you’re attending! 🙂
XO