IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET INVITATIONS WITHOUT GREAT CAREERS?
PARIS FASHION WEEK (PFW) - the biggest fashion designer presentations held in a fashion capital, Paris - every time attracts fashionistas' attentions. It is natural you are passionate about attending runways in such an attracting fashion event if you love fashion. However, Fashion Week is generally held for business people who work in fashion/media industry, which means it is not easy for non-professionals to get invited to the shows including runways and presentations. The system of each Fashion Week, New York, London, Milan, and Paris depends on each event's operating organization, but generally speaking, at least Paris and Milan Fashion Week is not easy to get invitations without career titles.
"OK... so, you mean it's impossible. I'm just wasting time in reading this blog"
Wait,
I can prove you still have a chance to get in even if you're not a professional. Keeping on reading this blog is definitely worth your "wasting time"
HOW DID I ATTEND PARIS/MILAN FASHION WEEK RUNWAYS AND PRESENTATIONS?
First, some basic info of PFW.
PFW has three main categories, Men, Women, Haute Couture, and each category's Fashion Week is held twice a year.
Here's the rough annual schedule of Women collection.
(If you want more schedule info of each category, visit FWO website)
Spring/Summer collection (SS) starts in NY in the beginning of September and ends in Paris in the beginning of October.
Autumn/Winter collection (AW) starts in NY in the beginning of February and ends in Paris in the beginning of March.
I actually attended runways in Paris/Milan Fashion Week (AW19) which were held from late in February to beginning of March 2019.
OK.. SO NOW LET'S START THE MAIN TOPIC OF THIS SECTION.
WHAT DID I DO TO GET INVITATIONS WITH NO JOB TITLES (JUST HAD A STUDENT ID. GAH)??
THE ANSWER IS...
I EMAILED EACH PRESS OF ALL SCHEDULED RUNWAY SHOWS!
As a result, I got some replies from press within 24hrs. However, I saw the word "Unfortunately..." in every single reply at that time.
I got this requesting method info via so called influencer's blog and never heard the successful experience of non-professionals, so it was not very shocking for me. Rather, within my expectations.
BUT... Who could give up with this just a little rejection?
NO I DIDN'T.
I SENT THE SAME EMAILS TO PRESS AGAIN JUST THREE DAYS BEFORE OF PFW.
THEN, I FINALLY GOT SOME INVITATIONS VIA EMAIL ON THE VERY PREVIOUS DAY OF THE FASHION SHOW.
Of course, you need to think of the email contents and convincing profile to catch their eyes.
I will show you my actual email example and keys to make your email attracting in my next blog post.
Keep watching on my uploading.
I TRIED... BUT I COULDN'T GET ANY INVITATIONS!!!
GIVE ME PLAN B/PLAN C IMMEDIATELY!
Unfortunately, there's no guarantee that you will get invitations successfully. What's more, you will never know the consequence until the fashion show starts.
What I mean is you can't fix your schedule during Fashion Week in advance, even actually on the week.
"But I can't get anything in the worst case even if I have been keeping the schedule open for the show! "
Yes, unfortunately, I could happen. To be more accurate, you should expect the worst case in advance.
BUT, YOU STILL HAVE CHANCE TO FIX YOUR SCHEDULE IMMEDIATELY AND ENJOY YOUR FASHION WEEK.
1. VISIT THE SHOW VENUE EARLIER THAN OTHERS AND STAY IN A LINE TO SECURE A NO-SHOW SEATS/STANDING!
Go to the venue around 1 hour before the scheduled show time and watch for no-show and standing chance.
This is not an absolute way to attend the show either, but worth trying and being patient for your hope.
I tried this method couple of times, but I guess the more well known brand's show you hope to attend, the less chance you will have. Famous and big brands did not even make a line for people without invitations. In my case, I tried Chloé show but I didn't even see the line.
However, I actually succeeded to secure a vacant seat in the front row of Japanese brand's runway!!!!
Otherwise,
2. ENJOY PUBLIC/MEMBERS-ONLY FASHION EVENTS (BE A FWO MEMBER AND ATTEND EVENTS)
3 TIPS TO SUCCESS IN PLAN B/ PLAN C
１ YOU NEED DEEP RESEARCH ON CRITICAL INFO OF FASHION WEEK
２ MOSTLY WELL KNOWN BRANDS NEVER OPEN THEIR VENUE INFO
３ BE STICKY. OTHERWISE, YOU WILL NEVER SEE ANY POSSIBLE CHANCE
１ YOU NEED DEEP RESEARCH ON CRITICAL INFO OF FASHION WEEK
Please don't expect people in Paris have detailed info of Fashion Week. You can't rely on mouth-to-mouth info if you really want to get to event's venue because not many people have interests in Fashion Week and know the schedule. I expected, too because PFW is said to be the biggest fashion show in the world involving whole the fashion capital, Paris, but you need certain info to spend Fashion Week efficiently and meaningfully.
When you do research, refer to the URL below.
I used all of these websites to know expected fashion events, schedule, place, and press contacts.
MILAN FASHION WEEK
①FWO
PARIS FASHION WEEK
①FWO
Especially, I found FWO and MODEM are helpful.
If you become a FWO member with $10 annual membership fee, you will find members-only fashion events with no additional fee. Not a big event, but you will never be bored in the city. Also, this is a chance to make some connections with other fashion lovers and exchange info. They will possibly give you some update info, or be your fellow challengers.
FWO publicly opens the Fashion Week info so you don't have to be a member, though.
MODEM publicly opens update info of not only runways, but also designer's presentations, show rooms, and press contacts. This is incredibly helpful.
２ MOSTLY WELL KNOWN BRANDS NEVER OPEN THEIR VENUE INFO
PLEASE BE CAREFUL.
YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT VENUE INFO.
BUT UNBELIEVABLY, MOST FAMOUS BRANDS DON'T OPEN VENUE INFO TO PUBLIC.
I've heard they used to open the place info, but not any more. This is because they worry about the possible danger of terrorism.
But if you seek for the venue info of brands you love,
ASK PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE THE INFO.
I visited the biggest DIOR and Chloé boutique store to ask for the venue info to sales person. I visited smaller stores first, but sales person who worked there didn't have the info and told me to try the biggest store. It depends on the brand. I tried the biggest Vivienne Westwood store in the same way, but staffs didn't know anything.
So I can't assure you'll have needed info, but it's better to visit the biggest stores in Paris if you want to try. This is the fastest and easiest. And also staffs gave me helpful info very courteously.
３ BE STICKY. OTHERWISE, YOU WILL NEVER SEE ANY POSSIBLE CHANCE
Here's my experience during Milan Fashion Week AW19.
I tried to attend the runway of UJOH, one of the Japanese fashion brands, without being invited. I got to the event place 2 hrs before the expected show time. I remember I had been waited in front of the venue with no body else but two security guys. Other people started arriving around 40 minutes before the show time, which means I was there with just security guys for almost one and half hrs. (I recommend that you visit the venue around 1 hour before the scheduled show time.) Every time a model walked straight past me, one of the security guy asked me, "Are you a model, too?" with wicked smiles. Such a mean person! He knew the answer.
I guess when 30 mins had past since I started waiting, the guy told me, "There's no standing in this show so no chance for you to attend the runway."
I said "OK. I understand." But I just kept waiting.
After that, an operations staff came to me and said, "Unfortunately, we can't give you any seats. No chance. Please don't waste your time."
I wondered if I shouldn't keep waiting anymore, but I took the chance. I just thought it should be worth the wait and patience.
In the end, around 15 mins before the actual show time (usually shows begin later than expected), the security started making a line for those without invitations. They remembered my appearance, and led me into the line second in a crowd.
I successfully won a seat in the front row and attended the runway!
IF YOU REALLY HOPE TO ATTEND RUNWAYS, BE STICKY. DON'T GIVE UP.
Watch the video below if you want to know the atmosphere of venue around 15 minutes before the expected show time.
After 10-15 mins later security started making a line for those who didn't have invitation.
I easily found this signboard in front of the security zone of the event venue in Milan. I remember this venue (Duomo Square) was used for some fashion shows. I'm not sure this sign was put every single venue of Milan Fashion Week, but it helped me to find the place to wait.
How did you feel?
This is so exhausting as you could see from this blog, so take a coffee break.
Don't feel guilty about spending money on your coffee, because YOU ARE DOING VERY WELL. Indulge yourself and enjoy your stay in the most romantic/fashionable cities in the world.
Don't miss any chances that you can possibly have.
TAKE A CHANCE, AND YOU'LL HAVE A CHANCE.
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