Get Ready For New York Fashion Week - Sept 8th - 15th

New York Fashion Week –  or the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, to give it its full corporate name – is set to take place early next month, less than three weeks away now. The perfect way to ease yourself out of summer and into the fall, this season’s Fashion Week lineup is one of the most hotly anticipated to date, giving you the opportunity to catch a sneak peak of the top Spring 2012 collections from the world’s best designers.

Today we’re bringing you a New York Fashion Week preview to set you up for the big occasion, where we’ll give you information on the top shows, how to get invited to the main events and – most importantly – how best to dress at a fashion show if you’re lucky enough to get in!

The Lineup

New York Fashion Week has been going since 1943 and is widely regarded as the hottest media event in town. Taking place twice a year, in February and September, all the stellar names and upcoming designers can be found displaying their wares throughout the city during what is usually a hectic and exciting seven days for participants and attendees alike.

The schedule for this Fashion Week is jam packed as you would expect (you can view it in full here) so we’ve narrowed it down here to our top three choices, to give you an idea of which shows are simply must-goes.

DIANE VON FURSTENBERG  September 11th, 4PM, Theatre

Around since the 1970s, the Belgian-American fashion designer remains one of the biggest names in the business, and rightly takes a prominent place in this NY Fashion Week lineup. DVF is worth seeing for her iconic status alone, considering she has been awarded a lifetime achievement award by the CFDA and has appeared as a judge on Project Runway. And, as her Fall 2011 collection showed everyone, she and her label are still at the cutting edge of fashion innovation.

TORY BURCH  September 13th, 9AM, Alice Tully Hall

Another megastar name in the industry, in recent years American designer Tory Burch has seen her lines garner huge critical and commercial attention throughout the fashion world. Despite the fact that her label has only been around since 2004, she has become a favorite on the sample sale circuit, helped in no small part by an endorsement from queen Oprah Winfrey herself. We can see Tory Burch being one of the big hitters at this season’s Fashion Week and, best of all, the Tory Burch label is based out of Manhattan, so it makes sense to support your own!

NORMA KAMALI  September 14th, 9AM, David Rubenstein Atrium

Norma Kamali is one of the most respected innovators in the entire design world. She was responsible for the unforgettable red swimsuit worn by Farah Fawcett in that famous 1976 Charlie’s Angels poster, which gives you an idea of how deep her influence on the fashion industry has been. Her slot in the schedule is not to be missed, despite the early start.

Of course these three examples represent a mere handful of what will be on show. Some other great recommendations we have been given include Cynthia Rowley, Song Jun Wan, Lela Rose and Nanette Lepore, so you certainly won’t be short of great fashion talent to peruse.

How To Get Invited To A New York Fashion Week Show

On of the top ways to get into the best shows during the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is to put in some work. That is to say, to volunteer to help out on the logistical/administrative side of things. Similar to the Tribeca Film Festival, volunteers are offered free passes to many of the main shows, as well as getting exclusive participatory merchandise. Free tickets and free stuff, as well as a nice little addition to your resume – you can’t go wrong! Contact IMG now to inquire about voluntary work at this season’s Fashion Week.

If you are a keen follower of The Vogue City, then there is a good chance you like to blog about living and style just like we do. Particularly if you write for an established website or blog, you may be eligible for press credentials. If you have never blogged before, it’s probably too late to make a name for yourself in time for the upcoming Fashion Week, but who knows where you’ll be come next February’s show. Front row press seats could await you in the near future!

This is probably the riskiest one, but if all else fails, just turn up! You might get lucky and be allowed to take the seat of someone who doesn’t show. After all, not everyone who has a ticket is going to be able to make it. However. don’t just stand outside in a t-shirt, sweats and uggs – make sure you look the part! It’s by no means a sure bet, but if you’re really passionate about your fashion like we are then it’s certainly worth a try!

Dressing For Fashion Week

For most people, what they are wearing themselves is even more important than the clothes on the models they have come to see. We’re all vain creatures at heart after all! But seriously, what better occasion to display your superior fashion taste than New York Fashion Week?

Of course everyone has their own style, so we can’t tell you exactly what to wear, but we can give you some broad tips that will help you to get your Fashion Week outfit plans underway. Having listened to what some of the best fashion writers in the business had to say, we have compiled this quick list of tips that we think will serve you well. But remember, whatever you decide to wear, enjoy your time at this season’s Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week!

• Flats. Everyone recommends flats. Remember that Fashion Week can be a lot of work, especially if you want to see a lot of shows, so make sure your feet are nice and comfortable. You don’t have to wear them all the time, but make sure to pack a pair in your bag for when the going gets tough.
• Bring a camera. You don’t want to miss your big opportunity to record some great fashion week memories. As we’ve said already, pretty much all of the biggest names in the game will be there!
• Don’t play it safe. Be edgy, be unique – this is the one time when you can wear what you like and be pretty much guaranteed that someone else will outdo you on the eccentricity scale. Experiment!
• Some practical accessory ideas that keep popping up: Wet Wipes, an extra cell phone battery, a notebook (either the computerized or old fashioned variety), an unlimited Metrocard if you’re up for braving the stuffy subways – and a big bag for all this stuff!
• Whether you’re going for boots or heels, Preston Davis of Keep It Chic has somes great suggestions: “I have two pairs of the most perfect Jil Sander OTK boots with a low heel and my Valentino studded sandals, which are unbelievably comfortable.” But remember, don’t forget the flats!

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Posted by Bindra at 08:21 AM
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