Hello final day of Fashion Week. My you’re looking fabulous.
Before arriving for my first Australian Fashion Week, I’d been warned that I needed to treat it like a marathon, not a sprint.
Don’t go in too hard, too early. Stay away from the parties until the week’s out. (Well, that bit was easy as I wasn’t invited to them 😉 )Â
And get plenty of sleep.
Oops. Haven’t really managed that one. So much to blog about; so little time.
Anyhoo, I’ve got two more shows to attend today before posting my final blog post and waiting for my husband and youngest son to fly in for the weekend. I’m looking forward to seeing more of Sydney (although the view from my room pretty much captures this beautiful city in one wide vista).
I thought today, thought, I’d share with you some of the things I’ve learned about fashion shows as a newbie Fashion Week attendee.
1.  There are three levels of seating at the main shows. The front row is typically reserved for key media players, celebrities and sometimes sponsors … that is how I accidentally found myself front row and centre a number of times this week. Next rung up the seating hierarchy are those with allocated seating – with an actual seat number. These people get to go into the show before the third rung, those with general admission tickets.
If you’re on a general admission ticket (and I was a couple of times this week) you need to line up early to be at the front of the GA line. That way you might score a seat to sit on, otherwise you’ll be standing at the back. Which is ok, because you’ll be at the show and it’s still invite only. Just before the show starts, they will announce that you can move to any spare spots (except for the front row … celebs are allowed to be fashionably late). This can work to your advantage, particularly if you snare a second row seat by default (see point 2).
2. The gift bag. The gift bag is synonymous with fashion week but unless you’re seated in the first two rows, seeing a gift bag at a show will just tease and mock you from your position in rows 3-5. I was fortunate enough to receive a number of gift bags this week and have a spread of goodies in my hotel room to show for it. My favourite gift bag had to be the Alice McCall neon zipped document bag – totally using that in real life. What looked good but I missed out on? The cushions gifted at the Camilla show. And I’m told that the front row at Zimmerman received silver clutch bags. Nice.
3. Front row legs. Â Ummm … big trap for Fashion Week front row newbies. Should you find yourself sitting between media celebrity Ruby Rose and digital fashion queen Paula Joye, this is not the way to place your legs.
In my defence, I was carrying a “mini office” in a weekender bag with me – most of the people sitting front row carry a clutch and a phone as they have photographers and videographers in the media pit at the end of the runway doing the extra bits for them. Me, I need to juggle an iPad (the Third Generation is amazing for video and photos) and my Canon Powershot G12 while tucking my Mac Air and every possible charger in a bag under my feet.
I managed to lift my game for shows afterwards, practising the very lady-like sideways-feet-together-leg-lean. Crossing my legs so they neatly sat on top of each other was not an option for my 40-plus-year-old legs. I attempted this manouvre but quickly realised I could possibly take down a model or two with my protruding foot should I persist in such leg action.
4. Small bum seating. Seating is usually on long platforms; not individual chairs. This poses a small  large problem when one’s derriere is somewhat more ample than the average skinny minnie celebrity.  Thank goodness no-one took bum comparison photos from behind …
5. A Keeping it Real outfit will not get papped.  After most of the day time shows many of fashion’s beautiful people – Australian and overseas bloggers who look like models – get asked to be photographed. By fashion watchers, media, street-style photographers … anyone with a camera. I did not expect them to be interested in photographing a 40-something mum blogger from Queensland who, gosh, horror, wore a Sussan jacket on day one 😉 Should you wish to be photographed by someone other than yourself at Fashion Week, I suggest you wear a faux fur vest, leather shorts and neon sky-high pumps. That should get a camera pointed in your general direction.
That’s it, Stylers, thanks for following me on the blog this week … I’ll have another couple of posts up today and then I’ll be taking a couple of days’ break.
Oh, just about forgot … one of the best parts of the week … being stopped on the way into the Alice McCall show by a gorgeous young PR rep who had to tell me that she and her mum LOVED my blog. Thank-you!
Here’s my week (and the people behind it) in photos:
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Thanks so much Maybelline NY Australia for having me blog all week about your fabulous makeup collaborations at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia 2012. I’ve loved every minute!
Comments 45
When you’ve got all of that to carry what does it matter how you have your legs. You coped the best you could and you were wearing jeans so at least you had some modesty.
hmmmm…who would I seek fashion advice from?? The slender 20 something in faux fur vest and neon stilettos…or the 40 something “normal” Mum from Queensland???…says she with the Seed tube dress and the NYD jeans?? Thanks…and love you keeping it real Nikki..You ROCK!!!!
Nikki I so agree with Kylie. What an amazing adventure you have taken us on. I have loved reading what happened behind the scenes this week. It has been fantastic seeing your oufits each day too. Truly inspiring. Love your style!
You know what Nikki, not only did you graciously give me a belly laugh by showing your ringside seat legs apart moment captured for posterity, BUT you also keep me there with you every step of the way, by doing that, and everything you do. You are gracious and stylish and yet you’re one of us…you’re taking us with you on this incredibly fun ride like we’ve ll sneaked in the back door together and can’t believe our luck. I LOVE you, I LOVE your blog, and I ALWAYS will.xxxxx
oh Kylie that is so lovely of you to say x
Have loved it all.
Thanks Pen x
Hi Nikki,
I love that you keep it real. I’ve been looking at all the photos this week of ‘what they wore’ and have been completely blown away by the labels they (glossy editors, industry peeps) are all wearing, every day! How do they afford it? Are they wearing freebies? Or swapping with each other? 🙂  I think the general public want to be inspired by a fashionable person wearing brands that they can afford and buy within their budget. Maybe with a few luxury pieces to dream about of course! So I think you are doing a great job showing us stylish outfits that everyday women can add to their wardrobes! Thank-you!
Delia
http://www.whatshouldiwear.com.au
Australia’s #1 style advice site & AppÂ
Fun, and great tips Nikki. Singapore Fashion week is next week, Â but alas no invites just yet, so I will probably experience it from the outside, to taste the atmosphere at least…
Oh I hope they come – you’d be perfect to bring us the 40+ perspective.
Thanks for transporting me to Fashion Week for a lovely little interlude this afternoon, Nikki. It sounds as if you navigated the week with aplomb! Back to my script now. xx
Oh good luck with the script!
Hurrah, you made it to the end! I love your Fashion Week coverage, and this is one of the best things I’ve read all week. xx
Thanks! Was so good to meet you!
Woot! Awesome end to an epic week, no?
Macbook Air’s the best for travel+work. And your red NYDJ legs are just the hallmark of blogger/writer hard at work 😉 That’s a BIG bag you got there, and little room!
It’s been amazing following you through Fashion Week, have never been treated to such a colorful spectacle before 😀Â
Have a lovely weekend with your family! You deserve it!Â
Thanks so much Silver – and yes I love my Mac Air!
Also, please please tell me about Crashing Red Maria’s earrings!! They are a-mazing.
I’d be really interested to know exactly what Ruby Rose is wearing. Is it some kind of complicated onesie?
It was like a Michael Lo Sordo skirt and jacket.
Great blog Nikki – you looked gorgeous! Have a fabulous weekend enjoying Sydney with the family xx
Will do, thanks Lucy!
Love you Nikki your so funny and real and that’s why I follow your blog ,your not above yourself.You Look fabulous  today too and Thank you.
I would love some of those goodie bags make sure you tell us what you scored,a camilla cushion would have been nice ,one step closer to a Camilla Kaftan I reckon.
Have a lovely weekend with Mr styling you and your son and go to Doyles or somewhere fab for dinner with lovely fresh seafood.Whatever you do Enjoy!
Oh, good idea Lisa – thanks!
Nikki you’ve nailed it!!!  You got noticed – wooohooo!!  Great ad for NYDJ i reckon.  Thanks for sharing your week with us – I’ve scored a lovely new pair of shoes 🙂  had a great chat with the lady at ZK.  Can’t wait for their arrival.
You looked amazing all week and the posts were great. Have a lovely weekend with your family 🙂 XX
Thank-you! And well done on the shoes!!
OMG, worst photo of me. I disapprove of this unauthorised image.
Oh Kimmi I’m sorry – thought you looked so beautiful.
Front row legs … bahahaha! Thanks for that giggle today. Much needed.
Happy to oblige! X
Oh, I realise that everytime someone takes a photo of me when I am sitting, I look like I am trying to lick my belly button… Its weird so your photo looks perfectly lady like in comparison!!!
Ive been following your photos from the week and I would have papped*Â you! You looked stunning!!!
*Sounds like pap smear just a little. I mean photographed you! 😀
LOL – and thank-you lovely lady!
LOL at least you were wearing trousers … would have been worse in a s hort skirt!
Very true Janet!
A friend of mine 15 yo aspiring to be a model was handing out gift bags at Fashion week. She is absolutely stunning and I have no doubt that sometime soon she will be strutting that cat walk. From what I hear, just being able to be there was a blast for her.
How lovely to finish your week with your hubby and little man. enjoy the weekend.
Yes that would have been SO exciting for her!
So nice to meet you finally Nikki – twice 😉 Hope you and hubby have a blast this weekend, and chat soon xo
Likewise! And we will!
Great post, I miss those fashion week years!! Ruby Rose looks fab, even dressed as a giant toasted sandwich!
Ruby looks fab in anything!
Love this post Nikki, thanks for sharing fashion week with us. The tips for fashion week newbies are great, nice to imagine being invited to fashion week and actually needing them!!
Hee hee – I’ve probably broken some cardinal fashion show rule by revealing these secrets and won’t be asked back!
Lol! Yes, having been to a few fashion events I’ve come to realise that looking normal will not get you noticed. Another tip to get papped: outrageous hair. Or some kind of headwear. 😉
How you make me laugh!! Keep keeping it real Nikki. Can’t wait for the next update. As for the front row pose….you were just doing what your mother always asked you to do…such a good girl. Don’t let it put you off wearing red. It is soooo your colour. Enjoy the rest of FW. A:)
Oh, it won’t stop me wearing red!