A Wren Says

Fashion month is over, but I’m just now ready to talk about it. For the first time, I had the chance to attend shows during New York Fashion Week. I was giddy with excitement the whole time, but I also wanted to come right back here to tell you all about it. I had no idea what to expect, so I absorbed as many details as I could. Here’s what I learned.

You have to be invited

For years, I wanted to go to shows. But alas, the chances of just walking up and entering without a contact are quite slim. I was able to finagle my way in via my Gap Encore membership. However, it mostly is who you know and who knows you. If you are a celebrity, influencer, or VIP client, it will be easier for you to get in. Afterall, this isn’t just a party. It’s an elaborate showroom so that the brand can sell their collections. They want people in the room who either intend to sale or promote their products. It’s a business after all. Maybe if this blog gets bigger, I can go the journalist route and go to more shows to cover them. Fingers crossed for that.

Seating is strict…

In the invitation, you will likely receive you seating assignment. Unless you happen into a public showroom, this will be the case. You will need to match the number or letters or other designation to what is on the seats in the room. And because they are intentional about where they place people for the shows, you need to go to your assigned seat. Unless you want to endure the embarrassment of being asked to move and go to your place.

… and tight

I don’t know why, but seating was tight. In one case, the benches were so close to each other, that I prayed no one needed to get up. They’d either have to climb over us all or we would all need to exit the row to let them out. And don’t even get me started by how close it was. Maybe it is part of the perception of who is into fashion, but it seemed they designed for the skinniest of the skinny. I felt like I was taking up two spots. Were my hips really that wide Or they weren’t thinking about butt spacing and just tried to ensure there was a spot for everyone invited.  (By the way, it was just bench seating. No comfy backs to rest against, unless you happened to be again a wall.)

It’s shorter than you might think

I arrived for each of the shows at least 30 minutes ahead of time, if not earlier. Each of the shows started later than was on the invite. After 30 minutes, I went in to be seated and waited some more for things to get started. In all, I was waiting at least 45 minutes. That’s actually being generous. However, the show itself was roughly 10 to 15 minutes. The People’s Runway show was substantially longer, because it included two musical performances. On average, expect the wait to be the longest part of the show.

Gifting is a possibility

Each of the shows I attended had sponsors. Now this could be the nature of smaller brands that need more cash, or it could be a regular thing. However, it is what I experience. At Sandy Liang, there was a collagen drink company, Bloom, and Kayali. At the Grace Ling show, Poppi featured prominently, with drinks going down the runway in custom 3-D printed metal carriers. There were drinks given away. And for the special people on the front row at Grace Ling, Commodity Fragrances provided full sized bottles of perfume.

People are people

There will be celebrities, influencers, and other high-profile guests. At the end of the day, they’re still people. I noticed them also shuffling along, looking for their seats, navigating small talk, and sticking close to the people they know. Of course, there are those who are effervescent personalities, bubbly and flitting around the room, trying to meet new people. But that has nothing to do with their status. Everyone wants to have a pleasant encounter, and that often means keeping to yourself. They might have more money, but they have the same amount of social apprehension as you.

Those are the big lessons I learned about what it’s like to attend a show. What about you? Have you attended a fashion show on any scale? What did you learn?