What It's Like to Go to Fashion Week

I have been going to Fashion Week for 12 years, first at the Bryant Park tents, now at Lincoln Center. It's changed radically over the past dozen years. At first, it was easy to get into shows. You could even get extra invitations for your friends. Now, it's so overbooked and crowded that it drastically takes away the fun from attending. But here's a view of what it's like to go to Fashion Week.

The Venue

Fashion Week is held twice a year (September and February, Spring and Fall, respectively, shown in advance of the season) in New York at Lincoln Center which is the West side of town. The official sponsor of Fashion Week is Mercedes-Benz, so you often hear it referred to as Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Getting Invited to Fashion Week

You have to contact designer directly to be invited to Fashion Week. And even if you get an invitation, it's not necessarily a given that you'll get in. I got an invitation to Tracy Reese this season, but whoever was running the show cut like the last 50 attendees off (they said they were full after we waited an hour to get in.) That's one designer I'll never bother with again.

What to Wear to Fashion Week

I like to go with an effortless chic vibe, because much of Fashion Week involves standing in line, waiting for a show to start. This Fashion Week (Spring 2012) I wore things like a black maxi with a high slit, a short black dress with lace hem and denim jacket and a striped long tee with navy blazer, skinny jeans and bronze ballet flats. I'm over 40, so the last thing I want to do is try to wear something costumey like some of the bloggers do.

The Celebrities

Yes, there are celebs. Everywhere. Some of them are not-that-famous like anyone from the Real Housewives or the Gossip Girl mom, Kelly Rutherford (Funny story: My friend Angie -- who was at a party with me when Kelly walked by, blurted out "I love you" to Kelly, when my friend meant to say "I loved you on O.C." Kelly cracked up, and so did my friend and I.) And of course the Kardashians are there. Sometimes famous bloggers like Susie Bubble or BryanBoy are the celebs. It's a weird fashion world.

The Collections

I tend to think there's something good in almost every collection and try to see the designer's point of view. I also like to take time to digest several days' of collections before I start spitting out proclamations about what's "in" or "out." (and actually until Marc Jacobs shows -- which moved from his usual Monday to Thursday -- it's presumptuous to talk about which direction fashion is taking.)

Not all collections are created equal. And I don't necessarily love the same ones every time. For myself, I'm drawn to designers like Maria Cornejo who like to make cool-looking clothes for grown-ups. But I also appreciate classic NY designers like Michael Kors, Donna Karan and even Ralph Lauren for bringing consistent visions to the catwalks each season.

The People

By far, my favorite thing to do at fashion shows is to chat up my seatmates. I have met many, many people that I'd never come into contact with in my everyday life, from students to photographers to stylists. One fellow attendee -- a stylist to a very big celebrity -- and I even formed a real, lasting friendship. I like to use Fashion Week to meet up with old friends and make new ones. In one afternoon, I met three different coffee dates at two different Lincoln Center Starbucks. I was very happy (and very caffeinated.)

The Parties

Yes, there are parties. And usually I don't go to them because I'm too busy or too tired. But this year I went to two. One -- I thought -- was supposed to be a grand opening of the Frye shoe store. Turns out it was a party to celebrate the opening of the Frye shoe store. A very loud, live-band-and-drinking type party. Another was a cocktail party after the live QVC show. Heidi Klum was there and I'm told I left right before the Kardashians showed up.