This post may contain affiliated links, which means if you purchase an item I will earn commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you!

cape (similar) // silk pants // poet sleeve blouse // clutch // nude heels // earrings c/o

NYFW is slowly winding down for me. I have a few more shows to attend in the next few days, but the craziness is behind me. Since this is my 3rd time attending NYFW and 2nd time going to the shows, I thought I would share with you tips on how to attend fashion week.

The first thing you need to know is that you have to get invited by the brand to attend their show. You can apply for press credentials, but honestly unless you work for a magazine, stylist, or a network you will most likely not get it. It also cost money to apply for credentials so you pretty much are wasting money….. and yes I know from personal experience. Getting invited by brands is the best, and the most common, way to go (unless you work in the industry and that is a whole other story).

J.Crew cape (similar) // J.Crew silk pants // Style Mafia poet sleeve blouse

Nordstrom clutch // Kate Spade nude heels // Baublebar earrings c/o

New York Fashion Week happens twice a year– one in September and one in February. In the fall the designers/brands are showcasing their winter line and in February they are debuting their spring line. September is definitely the bigger one of the two as I feel most bloggers attend the September one because it is not as cold. I noticed there are more shows in the fall than in the winter. During this time it seems to be more presentations or by appointment.

Let me break that down for you.

There are 4 different ways brands and designers showcase their new collections: shows, presentations, appointments, and showrooms. Shows are your typical runway where you are seated at your assigned bench and the models walk by you. Presentations are when you go to a big open room and the models are just standing there– brands like Kate Spade and J.Crew always do presentations. In presentations the brands could create a production set with a theme but sometimes it is just a plan white background. You also get up close and personal to see the detailing of the clothes. I like shows and presentations the most. Showrooms are kinda like presentations but instead of using models you have mannequins. Usually smaller brands do this. Appointments I have never been to but from what I have gathered it is an intimate way to see the new collection. Those who are invited to appointments are usually stylists, buyers, industry workers, etc.

So you have 4 different ways of seeing the new collection, how the heck do you get there? I start about 2 months out from fashion week. I work to build up my following and work on my content. I also polished and updated my Media Kit so it is ready to be sent out. A while back I started (the smartest thing I have done) a spread sheet of all of the contacts I have gathered from the brands I have worked with. I go through my emails and update the sheet so it is current and I am not emailing someone who no longer works for the company. I also research PR contacts for brands that I do not have a personal relationship with, which can sometimes be found on their website. If is it not, most brands hire a PR company to run their fashion week invitations. You can google New York PR companies and look at their client list to see if they deal with any of the brands you want to see.

About a month away from the big week CFDA releases the first draft of the shows schedule. I print out the schedule and highlight the shows that I really want to attend. I then make a calendar and I map out times/dates. Also a month out, I start to contact brands and ask for an invitation. I have a standard email that I use and will tailor my verbiage if I have worked with the brand in the past. For instance, I have hosted two events at Kate Spade in Columbus and I make sure to mention it.  I will also link any current blog posts that feature so and so’s brand, just so they know I do wear/promote their clothing. In my email I attached my Media Kit to give them more insight into my blog, social media channels,  and my analytics.

I first send out emails to the brands I really want to see. Then I will start contacting  brands/designers that I may not have heard of before, but I go to get the experience– and you never know, you could discover a new brand you love. Usually new bloggers/influencers will be invited to attend the smaller brands than the bigger ones. I have only just tapped into the bigger brands but still get declined from most of them… hopefully in September that will change.

So you sent out all of your emails to every brand known to man, what now? Well, you wait. You will not hear back from your contact until about a week, maybe two, before the event– I have even been invited to/declined during fashion week, so you never really know! I sometimes hear back right away that they will pass on my information and will get back to me soon. One thing I do for sure is go back and contact all of the brands I haven’t heard from and do a follow up email.

You you got an invite! Yay!! Now what? Well you wait again for your seat assignment which is usually given to you a few days to a week before the event. You will receive an email with a seat number and a bar code. But wait, your ticket says standing room? Well then get ready for a heart attack. Standing room is an anxiety attack waiting to happen–at least for me– it means you got invited to the event but you are not guaranteed to get in. You have to stand behind a rope and wait for all of the people who have an actual seat assignment to get into the show. You are then ONLY allowed in if there is enough empty chairs. If you get a standing room ticket make sure you get to the event SUPER early so you are the first one in line. Also do not be afraid to push people (nicely)….. just saying. I do what I can to get in. Then you have brands that are open to the public, think Givenchy in 2015 and Rebecca Minkoff in 2016. Both shows were open to the public meaning ANYONE could attend. No need to wait for an invitation. Unfortunately I have not experienced this god given luxury yet because I always have another show during those times… ugh.

Lets say you did not get an invitation to any shows. No worries,  just keep working on your content! I really have no idea why brands choose certain bloggers over others. This time around I noticed some girls who have way less of a following than me got invited to shows I was declined. There really is no way of figuring it out–unless you are a top tier blogger and they basically pay you to go. Yep, some bloggers get paid from the designers to attend their show–they are also gifted with an outfit to wear. #Goals.

Ok, back to not being invited. That is completely ok! There are a TON of events you can go to and network at. My first year attending I could not attend any of the shows due to my sister getting married, but was able to attend two events. I flew into NYC for 24 hours just to attend the events because I knew it was the best way to get out there. I met other influencers/bloggers/brands, and got somewhat of a fashion week experience. And honestly, the events can be the best part and most fun of the week.

Another tip I have is to book your hotel room ASAP, even if you have not been invited yet.  Hotels know it is NYFW and jack up the prices. They also book fast, so get on it as quick as possible. If you can, room with other bloggers/influencers to make it a little bit more affordable.

Fashion Week is A LOT of fun, but I know it is not for everyone. It is stressful and you are constantly on the go. It can also be a little catty and SO easy to compare yourself to others. I mean you are surrounded by the world’s most fashionable people. Some of my friends have stopped going because they are over the whole stress of it, but I still love it! I try to look past all of the stress and comparison and try to focus on why I am there—because I love clothes more than anything.

Please let me know if you have ANY questions about NYFW and hope to see you in September!