How I Crashed Fashion Week

I am not an influencer, I am not an editor, I am not a buyer. But I work in fashion, I f*cking love what I do, and I am not embarrassed to admit: I crashed fashion week. While it’s untraditional for people who do what I do to be at fashion week, that’s precisely why I learned the importance of attending. It’s not about being on the “in” in an industry that can feel like when you’re in, you’re in and when you’re out, you’re out. For me, fashion week is about business development. As a freelancer who works “behind the scenes” in this industry, sometimes, you have to get to the front to make your presence known. 

I am not an expert at party crashing, but I did manage to have a full schedule from London to Milan with a near-perfect success rate of getting into places I was not invited to. So here’s how I did it: 

1. Dress the Part

Simple, but effective. Even if your name isn’t on the list your odds of getting a seat, (and a good one at that), is increased. Do your research, check the brand’s socials, and look at last season’s collections. See what the vibe is, and dress with your take on the designer’s aesthetic. I am not saying you need to go out and buy a head-to-toe look. But what I’m saying is I wore Diesel to Diesel and despite not being invited, I sat amongst the editors and influencers. So it certainly doesn’t hurt.

2. Confidence

Cliché, I know, but no one is going to let you in anywhere if you don’t think you should be in the room. This doesn’t just apply to getting past the front door. Once you’re in, how you carry yourself, introduce yourself, converse and mingle needs to come from the confidence that you should be there, even if the brand or PR doesn’t know it yet. There’s no point in crashing if you’re not going to get connected. So don’t float under the radar just because you’re name wasn’t on the list. Walk in like you’re supposed to be there and talk to everyone, shake hands, exchange contacts.

3. Befriend the PRs

PRs are your best bet on getting into shows, events, parties and the inner circle – not just for this season, but all year round. They are often the easiest people to chat with. Knowing and befriending everyone is their job so don’t be shy to introduce yourself. Be genuine because reading people is a skill all PRs have and it’s about building a long-term relationship, not about gaining access. Be a fun addition to the party, have good banter, but be respectful of their time. Others might be there to socialize but they are at work so, acknowledge how thankful you are to be there, be empathetic, and know when to excuse yourself. 

TIP: Send a thank you follow-up email or DM after an event or party. I have been email-friends with a lovely PR who got me into a party during Men’s Fashion Week and we connected again on this trip. Since that first event back in June the PR has forwarded invites for anything that makes sense for me to attend. 

4. Flirt with the Security (tastefully)

Desperation isn’t a good look but there’s nothing wrong with an innocent flirt. A lingering gaze, a quick smile. While they don’t have the list, they do watch the door and if you can charm them, they likely won’t think twice about letting you in.

5. Just Ask!

Sometimes it’s as simple as asking. Certain shows have standing areas which means you could get lucky. Just walk up to the door and say, “I didn’t RSVP but I would love to see the show, is there standing space?” You don’t get what you don’t ask for, so just ask!

6. Leverage Your Network

If you work in fashion, it’s inevitable to have fashion friends. Those friends are the best because you can spend hours talking about the Fall 2002 Prada collection, or send Vestiaire links for second opinions before checkout, psychoanalyze who wore what and when, and you get to experience things like fashion week together. Fashion friends from far and wide end up in the same cities a handful of times a year and it’s honestly, like a chic summer camp for adults. The best networking I’ve done the past few seasons hasn’t been at shows or at events – it’s those intimate group dinners, spontaneous drinks, or late nights at a beautiful stranger’s, who is a friend of a friend. I am notoriously a plus one, and whether you were invited or someone’s plus one doesn’t really make a difference, because at the end of the day you’re in the same room.

Conclusion

Here’s the thing; in work, in love, and in life, rejection is inevitable. If you operate from a place of fear of rejection you won’t get very far. Hearing a “no” or “I am sorry but you are not on the list” might hurt for a split second but the bottom line is that your worth isn’t defined by sitting at a show or going to some party. 

While I had a few invites, the majority of what I attended this fashion week were shows, parties and events I crashed. I tried and tested these strategies and they worked. I had an almost perfect success rate until one show in Milan, where they politely said “No I am afraid we are over capacity and we are not letting anyone in who is not on the list.” But hey, a 99.9% success rate is still pretty solid. Was I bummed I couldn’t see that one show? Not really. I thanked the PR at the door and met friends nearby for drinks. 

Fashion week or not, handling rejection with grace is a basic skill everyone should acquire. While I hope to grow my career and network to eventually not need to “crash” the majority of fashion week, for now, I’ll be leaving Milan for Paris where I will be continuing these techniques. 

By Anonymous Fashion Week Crasher