How To Affordably Attend NYFW

As you may know, New York Fashion Week is this coming week and I am so excited to attend! This is the first time I will be going to fashion week and I can not tell you how much planning it takes to make this trip happen. One part of me is pinching myself that I’ve made it this far in my blog to be invited to designers’ shows and the other part of me is freaking out because I have no clue what to expect. What I do know is that you don’t necessarily have to be filthy rich and famous to attend.From my personal research, many content creators who cover NYFW are already established in the fashion and media industry, so it seems impossible and unattainable for new bloggers to even consider attending. For me, I was deathly intimidated to reach out to PR firms and brands because I had no clue whether or not my blog views and social media following were worth it to request an RSVP. After months of planning, I learned that it can be an affordable and easy event to attend- as long as you know what to do. If you’re interested in learning how I was able to afford attending NYFW, especially if you’re going for the first time, you’ll be surprised to find out how I managed to plan it all.

Because NYFW is a worldwide event, companies are eager to find the new it-girl to showcase their products, clothing, and services. It’s no secret that bloggers and social media influencers get sponsorships all the time with their content, so covering NYFW is a great opportunity to reach out to clothing brands in order to wear the latest trends of the season.Simply send a pitch email and media kit to the brand’s PR and, if they are interested, they will reply back. Just make sure it’s a brand you really feel comfortable wearing because it’s important to promote clothing you truly value and love. Also, don’t be afraid to walk to boutiques and stores inquiring about sponsorships to managers and make sure to hand them a business card- professionalism matters. Along with sponsorships, find bloggers and artists in the city who are interested in collaborating for shoots and posts. Be persistent in reaching out to people because you’ll never know what opportunities you’ll get offered.

This is such an important part of NYFW. Trust me when I say that there is no way a person who’s new in the fashion industry could afford all the gems and Egyptian cotton fabric clothing to shows. I definitely can’t afford it either! The reality of it is that many designers offer showrooms and gifted clothing so their VIP/front row guests can look great for their events and promote their upcoming collections. Similar to what I just preached before, emailing PRs access to showrooms are essential to having access to high-quality designer clothing.What if you aren’t invited to showrooms? Don’t worry, there are so many rental clothing and accessories services that also provide designer clothing for a fraction of the cost. I recently got the unlimited subscription to Rent the Runway and it has made a huge difference for NYFW! You pick 3 pieces off their site, they mail it to you, and you can wear the pieces with an unlimited amount of days. The best part is that it covers shipping, dry cleaning and rental insurance.  Whenever you’re ready to return, you send it back via post office or in-store locations for a new piece! Feel free to learn more about it here.

Another rental service I love is Rocksbox. They are a huge jewelry rental service where they mail you designer jewelry that you can personally pick, and after a month, you return it for a brand new set. I recently joined because Rocksbox has designer collections from Kendra Scott, Sophie Harper, and Slate that are perfect for NYFW. However, I have noticed that their jewelry selection is vast, so there are pieces that are great for everyday wear as well.  For a great deal, you can get a free month of Rocksbox with my code “ressamazingxoxo.” Find out more about their service here.

As soon as you know the dates for NYFW, I would suggest booking your hotel and flights. Another thing to note is that if you are wanting to attend a particular show, I would wait until the NYFW calendar goes live so you will know what days to visit in the city. Although NYFW is a week-long event, I don’t really encourage people to attend the entire time- trust me, your body and mind will thank you. The best days to visit are during the weekend when many parties are held. You’ll get a beneficial experience when you’re visiting during days where brands are hosting events so you can network with people within the industry.As for hotels, you can definitely get cheaper deals outside of Soho, but I promise you that after a long day of standing and walking around, you’ll appreciate booking a hotel within the NYFW area. For reference, many of the shows are around Soho, Tribeca, and Lower Manhattan- which are easy to get around by subway or Uber. Planning months ahead of time makes a huge difference when booking a hotel and flight at a low cost and I would be on the lookout for deals at airfare sites, like Skyscanner, to get the best discounts.

Prior to NYFW, there are amazing sales available that are being offered (ahem, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale) so you can get the latest fashion pieces. I would personally stray away from Forever 21, Wet Seal, Target, etc. and find more affordable, higher end brands available in Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, and Dillard’s. You will be amazed at the low cost of their clothing and jewelry sales!​As for shoes, I was amazed at the selection when I was shopping at Just Fab. Their shoe selection has some amazing styles that are perfect for any season and occasion. The best part about this site is that you can get your first pair for $10 if you sign up for the VIP membership! For this coming NYFW, I am adoring mules, pointy-toed sock booties and suede heels. Check out their site here.

As for makeup, ​I am a huge fan of Sephora and Ulta. I can’t remember a time when Sephora and Ulta didn’t have a sale going on in stores or online. I love that it’s a one-stop shop for drugstore and high-end makeup. Plus, I love both of their return policies: if you are not satisfied with the product, even if it’s used, you can return it with your money fully refunded. Makeup can really impact wardrobe, so I find it important to make sure you find classic products that are perfect for on-the-go and can transition from day-to-night looks.

With these tips, I hope you gained some insight in how many bloggers, including myself, are able to attend New York Fashion Week affordably. I think many social media creators and influencers keep this information hidden due to the high-end facade of such a renowned event like NYFW, but the truth of the matter is that it’s all part of our jobs in the fashion/marketing industry to promote and collaborate with brands. What are your thoughts about NYFW? I’d love to hear it in the comments below! Be sure to share this post if you find it helpful and to follow my NYFW journey (and ootds) on Instagram here. Until next time!