Tips On How To Sneak Into The Shows...

[BCBG freak]

softgrey, if you dont mind me asking, what do you do for a living? i mean are you an editor? or do you work for a certain magazine? you seem like a hella interesting person. wow.

anyways back on topic: i love your tips, and i hope to to be able to try them asap. it's my dream to go to a good fashion show (ive never been to one )

 

[Neo_Classic]

BCBG, I've been to a few but I've never been to any of my dream designers shows.
It would make my day, year, etc...

 

[Pastry]

Oh! Fascinating thread!

 

[nr9dream]

At the Carousel du Louvre shows I’ve done this and just being very, very polite to security works…do not make up exuses etc. they will see through it immediately. Just ask nicely, wait patiently & they might let you in standing (even got upgraded to fill a seat sometimes) This was several year ago though (late 90s--I no longer have the energy to do this lol) Security could be more strict now...

 

[Diamond Star]

Security could be more strict now...

Yeah that may well be true.Good luck to anyone who's going to try though!

 

[clay]

In new York its really hard to get in without invite. Those lucky enough to get invited in like Kaimir are extremely lucky( kaimir must be really cool and met a really cool person).

I have even been on the lists and people question what I will do in there... The last time i went to Bill Blass the A-hole could not believe I was legit even though I was with a President of another Bill Blass divison. He let her in and promptly held me up for a few minutes questioning me. He said "what do you, dress people?"" But He apologized when he saw my name and title and said he was only doing his job....

You can get invites by helping smaller design houses. For example if you know so and so is looking for a model, dresser, a tailor or stylist and you know someone, tell them about the person you know. Usually they are really greatful for good connections. I got invited to a few like that.

 

[Meg]

Softgrey is a stylist.

Sean it's easy for you because a)it's London or men's Milan b)you know people and c)you also have modelling contacts.

 

[princeofpersia]

Are there any small shows currently scheduled for London? I'm desperate to go to a show and have never been to one. Also kinds new to this site but I like it.

 

[dior4ever]

i recomend that you ask people for spares,i usually get several,most journalists do,but its better if you get in when the pr is not at the entrance or just busy, just go when the security guys are alone,ive also told people who have asked for help to just walk in with me so ask dont be shy

 

[princeofpersia]

ermm thanks I'll definately try asking people in this forum. I just a moved into London a few months ago and looking forwad to some fashion events during the Summer. Hey it would be fun walking in with a journalists though

 

[siamit]

Wow, this is an awesome thread. Since the S/S 06 shows are coming up in New York I was thinking about taking a trip there to see if I could possibly get standing room at a smaller show.

So it is possible to get in without a clue or a contact? I'll try the tactic of just being honest and polite. I'm also not trying to hit a big show or anything like that, any designer would be awesome. I would love to see what being there is actually like. I also have a couple questions. A couple of posts mentioned that you should dress nice. For guys, what does that actually entail? I don't want to look like a slob but I don't want to go overboard either. Also, are they very strict about taking personal photos or can I just go snap-happy with my digicam?

Thanks!!

 

[taz]

my dream was always to attend a YSL couture & give him his standing ovation ... but he retired earlier
October is coming soon in Paris, wish to enter pilati & elbaz shows

 

[MissAlexis]

Haha! pure skill I love it. If I ever make it onto the London Fashion Week schedule my first invites are being posted to you guys

 

[LostInNJ]

Wow, this is an awesome thread. Since the S/S 06 shows are coming up in New York I was thinking about taking a trip there to see if I could possibly get standing room at a smaller show.

So it is possible to get in without a clue or a contact? I'll try the tactic of just being honest and polite. I'm also not trying to hit a big show or anything like that, any designer would be awesome. I would love to see what being there is actually like. I also have a couple questions. A couple of posts mentioned that you should dress nice. For guys, what does that actually entail? I don't want to look like a slob but I don't want to go overboard either. Also, are they very strict about taking personal photos or can I just go snap-happy with my digicam?

Thanks!!

You don't have to dress nicely...trust me, there have been many fashion disasters! As for taking pictures, I haven't had any trouble with that...It's allowed.

 

[zamb]

it is not that difficult to enter a small designer show, or even a few of the bigger shows. one way to attend the shows is by simply calling the pr company and volunteer to be a dresser or assist backstage, this way depending on how much models they are using you may not get to see the actual show on the runway but you get to see the clothes backstage and meet the models and other interesting ppl. and even some of the drama backstage.
for smaller shows its not that difficult especially if its an offsite venue just be polite and request a standing room space (if seats are empty just before the start of the show they let you sit, as no designer wants thier show pictures to come out with empty seats) concerning dress, do not overdress as you dont want to seem as a fashion victim (unless you want to draw a lot of attention to yourself) fashion people lead busy lives and most of them do not bother to dress up too much.

I will be showing in new york this season (spring 06) and if anyone wants to attend, whether to help or just for the experience you are more that welcome to contact me for an invite

 

[MissAlexis]

^ Wow. I wish I lived in NY!

 

[foxinthesnow]

Sneaking into even 'big name' shows can be done- but I don't think there is any set guideline for what works...

An unamed production company consistently messes up my name and affiliation for one of the only NY shows I go to- even so (it is a hard show to sneak into) I have always gotten in even when PR was unable to find my name on the list and even when said PR persons were extremely obnoxioius. There is a publication which sounds a good deal like my affiliation and once they were like "fine if you are from ___ you can go", by that time I was so exasperated (and somewhat insulted) that I was like "ok but I'm not from ____ I'm from ____!".

 

[princeofpersia]

it is not that difficult to enter a small designer show, or even a few of the bigger shows. one way to attend the shows is by simply calling the pr company and volunteer to be a dresser or assist backstage, this way depending on how much models they are using you may not get to see the actual show on the runway but you get to see the clothes backstage and meet the models and other interesting ppl. and even some of the drama backstage.
for smaller shows its not that difficult especially if its an offsite venue just be polite and request a standing room space (if seats are empty just before the start of the show they let you sit, as no designer wants thier show pictures to come out with empty seats) concerning dress, do not overdress as you dont want to seem as a fashion victim (unless you want to draw a lot of attention to yourself) fashion people lead busy lives and most of them do not bother to dress up too much.

I will be showing in new york this season (spring 06) and if anyone wants to attend, whether to help or just for the experience you are more that welcome to contact me for an invite

zamb, do you ever show in London

 

[tuomas]

I'm going to the fashion weeks cause of my work and quite often we get extra invites, which we'll give away for fashion students/fans waiting by the show venues and I'm sure we're not the only ones doing that. So, if you just be polite and ask nicely from a friendly face, you might get lucky. On some days there's way too many shows to attend, so you could also ask, if someone's skipping a show or two to have time for lunch or something. Some Paris PRs like Pressing, Christofoli and Totem usually let extra people in as well, you just have to have the patience to wait.

 

[Nader]

The answer is obvious.

Does anybody know if Anna Wintour is seeing anyone?