If you’ve been following along, you know that I was just at NYFW! Having the opportunity to attend Fashion Week has been a goal of mine since I started blogging.
The major Fashion Weeks take place in four cities throughout both the months of September and February: New York, London, Milan, and Paris.
New York is one of my favorite cities. Despite it being a relatively small geographical area, the population density makes navigation often take more time than expected. Knowing that, I wanted to make sure I picked a hotel that was in walking distance of most of the events I was attending.
Where To Stay
Many of the NYFW events take place near SOHO (plus, so many amazing restaurants are there.)
After careful research, I decided to stay at the ARLO SOHO and I couldn’t have been happier with this decision.
The hotel is only a year old and it’s so clean and modern.
I wanted to make sure it was walkable. Walking NYC is one of my favorite things to do and the ARLO was in prime walking location, close to just about everything I had on my list. And if you’d prefer to bike, cruiser bikes line the outside of the hotel, waiting for you to take them out for a spin.
Also notable about this hotel: There is an airport shuttle that costs $17 that goes to EWR right across the street and it leaves every half hour. You really can’t beat that! No need to Uber or train.
Each day, the hotel has different activities for guests. Live music in the lobby, rooftop yoga on surf boards, all of the events are listed in the lobby.
Rooms are compact (it’s NYC, what do you expect?), but VERY well designed and all rooms are the same size. It’s also notable that the rooms have great natural lighting. When I was researching different hotels, I read multiple reviews from other locations saying rooms were poorly lit and noisy, so I thought it would be worth pointing out that the ARLO’s natural and artificial lighting is great. Additionally, my room faced the courtyard and was very quiet — a nice retreat from the constant buzzing noise of NYC.
Oh and the roof is so fun!
From the rooftop to the lobby, everything about this hotel is Insta-worthy.
Can I live here?
How To Navigate
I created a map of starred places I planned to attend. I included everything from show venues to stores to restaurants. This made it really easy to navigate because whenever I opened up my Maps app on my phone, the little heart icon showed them right away and I could see what was closest to me at any given time.
I tried to walk as much as possible, but if it was late or raining, I took Uber.
The most memorable Uber drive I’ve ever had was during this trip: He told me he’d driven Justin Bieber and his family and had an entertaining story to share about that….
To and from the airport: I took the train and subway into the city, and took a airport shuttle mentioned above back (way more convenient!).
What To Wear
Research, research, research. Tailor your outfits to the shows you’re attending. If the designer is known for bold looks, get creative with bold pieces. With that said, you don’t have to go overboard — just wear what you’re comfortable in. A lot of the street style shots you see are of people wearing major statement pieces and the looks are by no means subdued. But if you’re not comfortable with bold, invest in a pair of statement shoes or a bag and keep the rest of the look minimal.
Looking put-together and on-trend doesn’t mean you have to drop a ton of cash.
(See how simple my look is here? It’s all about the bag and shoes.)
What To Pack
Pick out all your outfits ahead of time. Snap photos on your phone and sort them into an album. And then, pack as light as possible. How? Well if you’re still planning to buy anything to finish a look, you know you’ll be able to find it in NYC. A quick stop at Zara or Topshop can easily save you from overpacking — at least on the way there.
When you pack, roll your clothes. It creates more space and helps avoid wrinkles.
How To Attend Shows
If you’re wondering how to actually get into a show, invites come from PR companies. They will reach out to you with an invite. There are three major PR companies who manage a majority of the large shows.
Remember, a designer is presenting to an audience of people who can ultimately make a product move. You can email PR companies, but I didn’t do that because I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to make the trip out. It wasn’t until I started to get invites that I decided it was the right time to go. The very first show I attended was Pamella Rowland and it was amazing, to say the least.
General Recommendations
Bring a backup charger:
You’re going to be taking photos/videos all day long and that will quickly take a toll on your battery. I like this one because it’s small and inexpensive.
Network, network, network:
Don’t be afraid to talk to people. Most people there have something in common with you, so it’s easy to connect. Fashion Week is a great opportunity to connect with your blogger friends IRL. If you have blogger friends who are going, see if your schedules align and/or plan a time to get together.
Use a digital calendar:
I use my Google Gmail calendar to plan and create events and meetings, which helps to keep my schedule very planned and organized. I put addresses and email links in the calendar notes for easy access on-the-go.
Have you attended NYFW or have always wanted to attend? I’d love to hear your experience. Leave a comment below.