LFW Outfit: Day 6
On the last day of London Fashion Week Matthew came rushing over to my hotel in the morning to tell me he had just been sent the most incredible dress from Cypress. He didn’t even have to ask if I wanted to wear it because I immediately pulled it over my head and started cooing about how much I loved it. The vibrant colours, mis-matched stripes, oversized shape, details at the wrists… I felt so snuggly and cozy all day but still like a million bucks. I never wear bright colour like this and I absolutely loved it. This dress has snuck its way to the top of my wish list… wearing it once just wasn’t enough.
Wearing: Natar Georgiou dress, Balenciaga boots, American Apparel large leather clutch, Bottletop clutch (last photo), and Topshop ring. Thank you Kit for the photos.
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On being a blogger at fashion week…
Fashion week has come to an end but I’ve still got lots I want to show you from the week. Just a couple shows but mostly street style and the general atmosphere. Theres been a bit of a kerfuffle going on about the experience of being a blogger at fashion week this season… this is my experience and thoughts on it:
People are saying this season was different then past ones and that bloggers weren’t treated the same. It’s true. We were treated differently. Registration for fashion week opens months before the shows, normally you’ll be sent a fast-track code beforehand so that you don’t have to wait in line on the day. This season I didn’t get a confirmation. When I went to register on the first day I discovered there was a separate line for bloggers – making three categories: buyers, press, and bloggers. When I got to the front of the queue there was a girl sitting behind a computer. She asked the name of my blog. I told her and passed over a card so that it would be easier to find. I stood there while she looked it over… wondering what she was thinking. There was a long line of people behind me. She looked up and asked what my stats were. I leaned in and told her, feeling slightly embarrassed to be saying with a bunch of people right behind me. It’s not that I mind telling the BFC what they are, it was more that I wasn’t expecting to be asked. Plus, is there a certain number that qualifies you as being ‘big’ enough?’ How many twitter followers do you have?’ – she asked next. So I answered. ‘Have you been to fashion week before?’ She eventually reached the conclusion that she ‘liked it’ so she printed me a pass. Before which she explained that, ‘it was horrible to say, but a lot of bloggers are actually blaggers.’
Fair enough. I get it. I never expected to be considered press or to be waved into fashion shows. I don’t expect it to be easy. I’m a fashion outsider and, to be honest, I feel privileged whenever I get the chance to go to a show. It just seemed like a last minute decision to have the process work the way it did. Maybe in the future the pre-registration form could be a bit more dynamic. Letting you explain what your blog is and why you want a pass. Yes, I’m a blogger but I’d rather like to think I’m not just a blogger. I also write for Yahoo’s fashion channel and consult with brands/designers. But there isn’t space on the form to distinguish the multifaceted nature of being a blogger.
All this has left the question of why I even want access to fashion week spinning in my head. Is it to sit on the front row? To get photographed in the courtyard looking fierce? To drink free Vitamin Water then get my hair and makeup done in the press tent? No. I love attending fashion week because I love the inspiration that comes from it. For me the six days at London Fashion Week are like a euphoric fashion induced mind-coma. I love attending shows, even if it means I’m standing in the back row. Sure, a seated ticket is better than standing – but only because it guarantees you entry first and you aren’t left standing in line for an hour only to then be turned away. I love that I’ve been able to build relationships with different designers and PRs – that I can show my take on the best parts of a collection and give exposure to designers that people might not know about. I love hanging around outside, watching the mania take place… seeing Anna Dello Russo and Kanye West strut by in all their hyper-reality fabulousness. I love getting to see my friends. There’s loads of people that I adore together in one place who I rarely get to see – getting to meet people who I follow on Twitter for the first time and discovering they’re just as brilliant in more than 140 characters.
Yes, the relationship the fashion world has with bloggers is still having its kinks worked out – that was clearly evident in London this season. But it’s a small kink in the great scheme of things and one I’m willing and going to ride out.
This is an interesting article. I’ve wondered how bloggers are invited into shows, and I wonder how they were chosen. But it’s interesting to read that now you have to prove yourself as a blogger to the girl behind the counter! Were there people turned down because they weren’t popular enough? I find it kind of scary because I never expect to make it big like you and some other bloggers, but hey I guess I can still be a fee-paying fashion outsider!
love,
Nora
Hey Nora,
To get access to the shows you have to individually write each PR agency and request tickets. The blogger pass only gets you access to the exhibition halls around Somerset House and into the press areas (well, this year it didn’t even get you that – you needed a press pass not a blogger pass). You don’t actually even need the pass to attend fashion week. Anyone can write to the PR agency and request tickets. I’m not sure what sort of criteria each uses to decide if they want to send you tickets.
I was told they were turning away bloggers who only post about self style. I’m not too sure how they would base the popularity of the blog – by the stats I suppose. After the first day people were asked to bring a print out of their google analytics.
xx
Hey gorgeous,
I guess it’s different because in Australia you can pay to get tickets to fashion week. I kept missing it due to being overseas but yeah you can just buy tickets and show up on the day. I’m new at this so I am still learning. Maybe it is a different system there? Because I never knew that you can just write to the PR agency and request ticket. But thanks for the tips!
I guess I can understand that they turned away self style bloggers. But intuitively (for me at least), the popularity of your blog is also defined by how many sponsors or how many brands are behind your blog. You need to be “sponsored” to not call yourself a self style blogger. Very interesting!
Ah! I see! Yeah, in London you can’t pay but they do have something called London Fashion WeekEND afterwards that the public can pay to go to… it’s not really the same thing though and the impression I have is that it’s more about shopping. xx
Oh you might be right! I might be confusing them! I just came back from the UK two weeks ago and I missed both the Sydney and the london fashion week(end)! Very sad!
Thanks for the information! You are one of the bloggers I look up to and this article has been very informative!
Cheers love!
Really great post Jen! I was lucky enough to get a press pass again this season (for my work with MercedesLFW), but I too noticed the shift in blogger access this season. And to be honest, I can kind of see where it comes from – last season there was so much bad behaviour from bloggers (obviously not all! In fact the more established ones were the best behaved it seemed) with them stealing seats and goodie bags that weren’t their own, and throwing tantrums when they weren’t allowed in. Even this season, I witnessed a blogger steal a seat in the front row at Maria Grachvogel, and even when Jess Cartner-Morley (ie. a proper fashion editor) couldn’t get a seat, she refused to budge.
That said, I think we add a wonderful new dimension to the fashion world – democratising access, giving a new perspective (that is usually unbiased and not clouded by advertisers, etc.), and giving exposure to younger designers. I think there is definitely space for bloggers at Fashion Week, but it needs to be done in an effective way (and we all need to remember to be well-behaved!).
P.S. Was SO nice seeing you, however briefly!
Briony xx
Such a good point Briony. I think everybody needs to remember to be well-behaved. It is so cringe when you see a blogger sitting front row and, for example, Hilary Alexander is crouching on the floor because there isn’t any space. It’s always when I see people like her and other editors/buyers acting humble about everything that I feel reminded that everyone needs to just chill out on the ego.
I don’t think the whole seating thing is always the fault of bloggers though. I know there were a few mix ups where the PR put bloggers in the wrong place… I guess it’s all a bit manic and confused really and a lot to keep track of.
So nice meeting you too! xx
I agree that quite a lot of bloggers behave ridiculously at the shows. But you also see stylists and junior journalists behaving in exactly the same ways. And those idiotic bloggers/journos what-have-you are invited by the designer or the PR team – their presence at the shows has nothing to do with the BFC and I’m not sure how the BFC preventing us from accessing the press room has anything to do with that.
I was one of the bloggers who got to sit on the front row at the Maria Grachvogel SS12 show. In fairness I was specifically asked to sit there by one of Maria’s PR girls. Not really sure why but I was certainly not about to complain.
Couldn’t believe it as I would happily have sat or stood anywhere.
Great dress and a great post Jen. I kept wondering why, leading up to Fashion Week, I had no confirmation of my pass, as I always have done in the past. I heard the rumours that Bloggers were being asked about Stats and even though, as you say, a pass isn’t always essential, I was asked for my business card and Stats but nothing about Twitter followers. Like you, I feel honoured to be just a teeny tiny part of it, even if like in the past, I have only gone up for one show, I still love the whole atmosphere and why on earth Bloggers would “act up” in such a way, beats me, they are hardly going to endear themselves to PR’s that they might want to build a relationship with in future. xx
Great post Jen, I was totally unaware of the blogger ‘criteria’, so I’m glad you brought it up. Great comments too, and a totally fair point from Briony.
Attending fashion week as an editor (press), but also being a blogger, its easy to see both sides, experience them and often be a little annoyed by them! I’ve been refused entry to shows, ticket in hand and employed to review it, only to see coverage later with a gaggle of style bloggers, who will not report on it, sat front row. But I’ve also been as a blogger and questioned why my professional opinion isn’t, or will not be deemed informed enough or of worth by other editors or PRs.
You’re right in that there’s still many kinks to iron out, which I too think will happen in time, as the world of blogging desaturates. Right now it often feels like every (wo)man for themsleves at every aspect of the event, and its funny how the situation changes depending in which capacity you attend.
Sarah x
that dress is gorgeous – and beautifully accessorised too. what you wrote was really interesting because I’m a fashion student and i don’t actually have a lot of connections in the fashion industry so it makes it kind of difficult to get involved in a lot as its either so hush hush or invitation only. so all though i’d love to see shows at fashion week to see other peoples work i never know whether you can get in with just an invitation or whether you need a pass as well? i do think they should make it less ‘you’re this or that’ at fashion week because even if i wasn’t entering into the fashion industry i’d still like to be able to see the exciting shows – although i do understand theres a limited capacity
There was restricted access to fashion shows this season especially with bloggers. I think it is because some of them behave like they are a big time editor of vogue and the people that run things are getting fed up.
As for the pass: that’s odd, because they sent me mine online with a bar code as usual days before fashion week and they just scanned it without any questions at somerset house.
Anyway, there is a movement going on in the fashion world called blogging and it cannot be stopped. There is a huge demand for this stuff and somebody has got to supply it.
Loved this post, I can understand why they changed things up this season but wished that they’d at least informed us in some way. I would have been none the wiser if a blogger friend hadn’t called up and found out what I needed. I guess after two years at fashion week I’m used to how things work, I never really expect a seat (I prefer to stand to take photos anyway) and I feel really privileged to get to attend the shows I do. I know that some bloggers may want to go for the wrong reasons, but I genuinely love the catwalk atmosphere that you don’t get when streaming a show and seeing the progression by each designer season after season. I wish that there was some way for the BFC to differentiate between bloggers who will actually write about shows and exhibition designers and those who just want to steal seats. I’m not sure if it can really be figured out by scrolling up and down for 30 seconds and looking at stats.
I really love the dress by the way, thanks for introducing me to a new designer!
OMG this is disgusting, this is even worst when I read it from your post ‘…bloggers are actually blaggers’. If I were in that line and asked me if I have been to fashion week before, I would reply like this with evil eyes ‘this is my 19th season, how many times have you been?’
Even though it is a good thing, how many times had we complained about the full capacity of bloggers at last LFW? Tonnes. What they should’ve done for the online registration is to have a separate section for bloggers, fill in the usual infos; blog name, stats, twitter stats etc……and then assess it, rather than submit your confidential details in public.
I can’t believe they asked people to hand over their stats in public! Ridiculous!
I think what I find strange about all of this is the way the BFC reacted being so out of kilter with how the designers and PRs themselves were behaving. I received more invites to shows than I did last season (all of which will receive posts on my blog, tweets, tumblred photos etc), and yet the BFC decided I no longer required access to a power point to charge my phone/iPad/laptop/camera – all the tools a blogger needs. I would have assumed the role of the fashion council was to support designers and those who give press to them, but apparently not. In some sense it seemed like the BFC was trying to punish all bloggers for the bad behaviour of others – and yet many of those bloggers (who will remain nameless) were still invited to big shows. Funny.
I was also surprised by how inconsistent they were in handing out passes. I received my fast-track pass the day before the shows started and so could pick up my blogger’s pass immediately, no stats required. You had to give them your stats even though your site is much more prominent than mine? Bizarre.
Love that dress!!
I love your attitude about the controversy.
Fashion week sounds so scary for bloggers! :S
There definitely needs to be a better system, surely questions about stats etc could have done in a more discrete manner-I understand the reason why it needs to be done but asking it on the day is incredibly unprofessional
This post is so fascinating to me! I’ve only been blogging for a short while but I just love hearing about more established bloggers’ experiences. I had no idea how things worked and was kind of shocked to hear how it went for you. It all sounds so cold and ruthless, but then I suppose, why shouldn’t it be. This is a commerce and image-based community, not exactly a hand-holding bunch of people, right? In any case, I loved hearing about it, thanks so much for sharing your experience! And by the way, that dress is fabulous, the sleeves are rocking my world.
http://nomadic-d.blogspot.com/
I feel grateful for being accredited because I love fashion, and will always be grateful for any access that gets me closer to new design talent. But I’m not happy about this blogger being a blagger attitude. Blagging for what exactly? A free tote bag? Tickets to a show that we’ll probably cover from a live stream anyway? The partner perks seem lovely but I, like most, have never enjoyed them as I’m too busy getting my content.
But I agree that there are some idiots who are giving bloggers a bad name. Pinching Jess CM’s seat is unbelievable.
Thanks for posting about this.
Oh gosh, I had no idea this had been the case this season.I’m really glad you posted this. It’s a far cry from February 2009 when I first started coming to fashion week and bloggers were practically hailed as the exciting vanguard of some new revolution. I noticed the changing attitudes a lot last season, when I didn’t get any of the tickets which had been a solid given for the past 3 . However, the ticket situation is all down to the individual PRs which I completely understand. The blogger market has become completely oversaturated and some who attend shows neither report nor buy – the reason everyone else is invited to the show and contributes to driving the whole industry forward – to a fashion PR the concept of ‘personal enjoyment or inspiration’ is futile. No ticket. Fair enough.
But stopping bloggers from accessing the exhibition? That to me seems ridiculous. Many of the exhibitors are smaller labels who need coverage from lesser-known journalists, photographers or bloggers. Everytime I’ve been to the exhibition I have always been welcomed by the designers, encouraged and they have gone out of their way to let me arrange their pieces to set up good photos. From my experience, they appreciate blogger interest more than anyone.
The times … they are a’changing…
Good heavens – having to do a google, twitter striptease is quite nasty might I add.
I don’t even have a twitter or facebook account, but I was at Paris and London FW last year.
In my humble opinion the soul of fashion week is outside not on the catwalk. As in the aftershows when people leave the building and all the street-style photographers get to work. That’s more interesting for me than being front row.
I think its great to see people are now being interested in traffic & twitter followers of bloggers. To me it shows the blogging community is maturing into an industry, and people are standing out.
really interesting to hear all this, i guess it probably was getting a bit too easy. i bet the stats thing threw you right oh, bit of a shock for sure.
WOW you look wonderful! xx
I’ve heard so many stories about bloggers being treated badly this time around, even with big blogs such as yourself, which in my opinion I think is shocking. As a small blog I wouldn’t be expected to be treated the same as bigger bloggers, but my hope is to build my blog and maybe someday my blog can be bigger. But what I think fashion week doesn’t understand is that print publications are like that too- some are small, some are bigger, and all should be hoping to grow bigger and better, just like blogs.
I’ve said this before but I’ll say it again, that viewing your blog for a split second by a girl at a desk won’t accurately assess your blogs readership, influence (the most influential blogs aren’t necessarily the most subscribed to) and most importantly- the blogs quality!
If I was assessing blogs I’d probably look at whether they had covered fashion week before, and how well they had done it- so a focus on reputation and good quality content. This wouldn’t necessarily turn away personal style blogs, rather it would go some way to increasing the likelihood that those who are at fashion week will increase profit for designers by covering the shows.
I have been going to London Fashion Week for five years and this season left me feeling very dejected. I found the attitude of some of the BFC staff to be very dismissive and off hand and the facilities were below parr. I also found the lack of communication before the event to be very unprofessional and to be told to disclose your blog stats verbally on arrival with no warning ridiculous. I have no problem disclosing stats but this is something that should have been asked for during online registration. The comment by the lady from the BFC was totally unacceptable and offensive.
This is a really interesting post & one I completely agree with. Compared to a lot of bloggers, I am still a relative novice at Fashion Week, this past season only being my second season attending. However, I am glad I wasn’t the only one who noticed a huge difference in the treatment of bloggers between this season & back in February. Back then, I admit, my blog was not nearly as widely viewed as now, and I had only a handful of followers, and I will admit, the content wasn’t as great. Yet when I went to Somerset to register, I received a Press Pass no problem, with the woman behind the desk barely even scanning my blog.
This season though I pre registered months in advance & I too wondered why I had never received my fast-track code, or even a confirmation that I had registered. Nevertheless, I headed to Somerset thinking that they would have me on file or something, since I had attended the previous season & had pre-registered. I got such a shock when I found a long separate queue for “bloggers”, with each person being subjected to the equivalent of a “Blogger Medical Examination”, with stats, followers,& content all being laid bare for all to see. Now, I’m not ashamed of my blog at all, or its stats, but its slightly degrading & was a little embarrassing being judged with so many others around. Then the two women kept flickering their glances from me to my blog, exchanging mutterings over the content & whether I knew what I was talking about – I am a fashion student for goodness sakes! Thankfully, my blog was deemed to have a good enough following, a cohesive layout & relevant content, and I myself was dressed “fashionably”. I couldn’t believe they were basing their opinions about my blog on my appearance! I am a great believer that your stats & followers don’t determine the quality of a blog – I’ve seen so many blogs with hundreds of followers, but there is little substance or knowledge of the industry!
Don’t get me wrong, I think its a good thing that they are not just letting any old “blogger” into Fashion Week – its such a saturated area & after my blog had been approved, along with a huge sigh of relief came a feeling of pride, like my blog had been judged important enough.
Another thing that irked me was the decision to have a tiny “Bloggers Bar” at Somerset, separate from the Press Lounge. It was always crammed with bloggers waiting impatiently to grab a laptop space while we couldn’t access the Press Lounge. It sounds so trivial but having access to a place to sit, have a coffee, organise show notes & take your time to blog would have been so much better. I wonder if they would have refused the likes of Susannah Lau from the Press Lounge?It kind of felt like we were a “lesser form of press” this season. Blogging is supposed to be the fastest form of communicating with the public, surely meaning larger blogs have a larger scale of impact than some publications. Hence I spent most of my time at the chilled out Press Lounge at Freemason’s Hall, where there wasn’t any “blogger prejudice”.
Wow that was a rant!
http://lapetiteplumes.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/laura224
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It’s unfair asking bloggers to declare stats in the queue. Blog hits vary every day, so it’s hard to give a precise answer unless you’ve analysed them, which you would if given notice. It raises the question, how well-equipped are the LFW assistants in deciding whether a blogger gains entry? Are they offered training or a general template to follow?
With regards to ‘bloggers are blaggers’, perhaps some may be (who doesn’t like free hair products!), but without trying to discredit the prestige of attending a catwalk show, many bloggers receive samples and gifts with a significantly higher (monetary) value. Access to a show that is streamed on the internet anyway, pales in comparison to a press trip to meet a designer in Paris or being dressed by a brand, which PRs have already arranged for a number of fashion bloggers, whether they are big names or if they just love their blog.
The way to bloggers’ hearts next season is to offer computer facilities that actually work, maybe nourish us with one little bottle of water (it is sponsored water, after all) and make the guidelines clear. If bloggers are accredited, then they deserve to be there and should be welcomed not scorned, as some have reported.
I may be alone here, but I don’t actually enjoy sitting front row! I’d rather write notes, get some pics in a good spot and take in the collections and atmosphere in peace without being judged if I’m important enough to be on the frow.
I love your outfit post!
It is all just a bit odd how they let you register months in advance yet don’t decide to ask stats etc on the actual form?? Also some bloggers got ‘blogger’ passes and others ‘press’ passes. Then there is the whole bonkers reasoning behind who gets show tickets and who doesn’t, I’ve no idea what criteria they use! The whole thing is crazy which is why I usually sit it out, but since I was there working this year I got to see it all. I got my code thingy the week before so didn’t have the interrogation but saw it happening with my own eyes. The thing I find funny is that the pass only gets you into the exhibitions – surely they would like the free press? Next season will be interesting I am sure! Anyway the most important thing here is that gorgeous dress you are wearing, I want!!!
Hi, I have one but very important question for me. I received registration acceptance mail for LFW and does my PDF Fast Track pass will provide to enter all the shows ? of course standing place I mean?
Thanks in advane
Hi!
The registration only grants you access to the exhibition hall and if you have a press pass (not a blogger pass) you will have access to the press area. So, what you currently have won’t get you into any shows. In order to get show access you need to apply directly to the PR for each designer. You can find the e-mail address (press contact) on the British Fashion Council website under the schedule: http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/schedule
xx
Hi!
Your post is really interesting and helpful. I just moved to London a few months ago and was wondering how Fashion Week works here as I heard there is a huge difference between London Fashion Week and Berlin Fashion Week which I attended this summer.
What I did not quite understand is the issue with the blogger pass. Does it mean that you don’t have to worry if you don’t get a confirmation, but can register at the venue? I’ve got one invitation for a fashion show right now, but I’m more interested in the exhibitions to be honest. Another question I want to ask is whether there are other events besides the shows and presentations at Summerset House? There are different off-site exhibitions or events in Berlin for example. Thanks in advance!
xx
Hey hey!
Ok, it’s a little confusing. If you’ve registered online you should technically get a confirmation e-mail with a page you can print out and bring with you on the day. If you don’t receive this your information should still already be in the system. Make sure you bring a business card and a print out of your blog stats. If it’s like last year then you’ll have to wait in a line for bloggers, show them your information, and they’ll pull your blog up on a computer and decide to give you a pass or not. You can definitely register at the venue as well – even if you haven’t done anything online in advance. You will need a pass to get access to the exhibition hall but not to get access to the shows (for that you just need an invitation from the designer).
From what I was told last year when I registered the concern was based around students getting access to exhibition halls. The idea is for designers to be talking to press/buyers etc not students who are asking them questions.
There are other events besides what takes place at Somerset House. There are shows/exhibitions at Freemasons Hall and also designers that show at other sites (Topshop has their own show space… Burberry has their own location etc). Plus, there are lots of other designers doing exhibitions/shows at various locations around London that aren’t actually linked with the BFC.
Hope that helps? This is based off what I experienced the last couple of seasons – it could work differently this year though. xx
Hi,
Thanks for a great article. I know I’m a little (very) late to the conversation but as a newbie blogger who has never, but wants to attend LFW this is valuable insider intel! I didn’t apply this Feb as I was a little embarrassed by my not-so-great site stats and am not registered with Google Analytics (wasn’t sure if my WordPress Stats would be enough?). The whole process for a first timer is more than a little daunting, though this post has helped me get my head around it better.
As it happens I met a fantastic designer debuting at LFW this Feb (Anna Popovich – please check her out she is so talented) and will be attending and covering her show without ever getting in contact with LFW. Do I get the impression I could still attempt to register on the day to attend the exhibition?
Like you said, I don’t need to be FROW at McQueen, I just want to meet some talented people I could showcase on my blog, maybe bump into some pr’s, network, meet other bloggers in real life (rather than twitter) and learn as much as I can about new trends and exciting fashion things to share with my readers.
I hope dipping my toe into fashion week this season will give me the confidence to take on September with full force!
Thanks for the post and thanks for the great blog.
Emily x
Hi Emily,
Definitely understand about it being a little daunting. You can try to register on the day or even pre-register online so that your information is already in the system. It’s always worth a shot and if you aren’t accepted you won’t be any worse off than if you hadn’t tried. I think WordPress stats should be fine.
Also, the courtyard of Somerset House is open to the public (there’s always confused tourists walking around during the week) so if what you want is to just hang out and soak in the activity you can do that without a pass.
xx