Yesterday, I briefly talked about New York Fashion Week and why your fashion is extremely important.
(If you missed that article, you can read it here.)
Today starts the 1st day of the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center here in NYC, and I’m going to talk more about the background of this industry I’m very familiar with it being involved myself.
New York Fashion Week occurs twice a year. There’s Fall Fashion Week around the 1st week of September and Winter Fashion Week the 1st week of February.
This is when top-designers showcase their upcoming lines to potential important clients, who are not limited to high-industry people to celebrities because these are the folks who care most about their looks than anybody else and how to present themselves.
That’s why they’re active at these fashion events during this one week of fashion obsession…and you can meet them at these runway shows.
Fashion Week doesn’t just occur in New York but all over the world in the big cities. There are London Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week, and Milan Fashion Week. (In fact, Milan is the biggest influencer within the fashion industry with the biggest name brands coming from there…Versace, Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada etc.)
Models from around the globe all travel together to the one city its own Fashion Week is happening, and are sent off by their agencies during castings in the weeks prior to the designers’ showcasing, where the models present their portfolio and are screened by a panel of casting directors, with usually the actual designer being present, and then demonstrate their walk. If the models are selected, they will then have to attend the fitting to try the clothes on.
Finally, on the day of the show, have to arrive at the destination early in the morning, wait for half of the day before actually getting hair and make-up done, and then things get chaotic as an hour before the show starts getting into the outfit with people screaming and stressing out while the models try to stay calm and composed…all for 15 seconds of fame on the runway.
Modeling is not as easy and glamorous as people think. There are a lot of rejections, and other things models have to deal with. They have to maintain a certain size and physique under contract by their agency, or otherwise be involuntarily let go. They have to continuously hustle to get works to meet dead end’s meet in order to pay rent…only if those lucky enough to get the expensive campaigns will be paid substantial amount, making average $200,000/year, like one of my friends did landing on a cover of Vogue Korea last year.
(* Now I have written a guide before on how to meet and date models.)
Why did I become so interested in this industry?
Because this was when I no longer had to do random cold approaches hoping to meet women. Being in this industry, naturally allows you to meet a lot of hot women and high-status folks giving you access into the most exclusive high-end venues and a hyperactive social life, like daily breathing.
During this time of Fashion Week, there will be a lot of parties and events with select group of social elitists and celebrities you can even find yourself partying with.
But the question now is, where should you start?
Well, during Fashion Week, there will be an event called “Fashion’s Night Out” where the public can go around fashion retailers location hotspots with stores opening late giving special preview of upcoming trends with special offers and free gifts.
Unfortunately, here in New York, it has been on hiatus since the Fall 2012 with the minor riot incident in Soho; but is still happening in other big cities’ Fashion Week.
This is one great night you should participate and meet people already heavily involved in the fashion world, who naturally attend all these parties and events.
Also attend runway shows. Now this is not something easily accessible to the public if you’re not already well indulged within this industry. You have to be privately invited. Last minute shows don’t work unless you’re part of some media press, plus the additional factor if there are spaces available.
So prepare ahead of time find out about them in your area. Contact shows/events and see if you can volunteer help out is the easiest approach to go.
If you can’t get in, just hang around the location and be prepared to network to get your foot through the door, like anything else. Be and surround yourself where the actions are.
This is your opportunity and chance to get into the “in-crowd,” I like to call it. These are not your average folks you meet at a normal pedestrian bars, but folks who are well-connected social elitists living active social life.
Get involved!
If all this interests you, be sure to take a look at my Nightly Nomad.
