New York Fashion Week: Is It Worth It to Attend as a Blogger?

It’s currently New York Fashion Week and our feeds are being flooded with envious posts of the bloggers wearing the latest trends and attending the hottest shows. I used to have FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) over these things…not anymore and here’s why…

When I first started blogging, my number one dream was to attend New York Fashion Week. Without knowing anyone or anything about Fashion Week, I booked my flight to New York City just 5 months after starting my blog. After my first visit to New York Fashion Week, I was hooked. I proceeded to attend the next 4 seasons after that and loved every bit of it. However, looking back, it was more of a vacation with my fellow bloggers than it was beneficial to building my blogging business. I could never really tell if you all (my beloved readers) cared that I was at Fashion Week or even cared about the trends that were being shown at the fashion shows.

Is it worth it to attend Fashion Week as a blogger? Yes and no. Let me give you my insights on a few things….

Can you afford it? Could the money be used better elsewhere? Fashion Week is not cheap (food, hotels, flights, clothes etc.) I probably spent close to $1500 each trip. Hotels are having so many bloggers pitch them for free stays that it’s extra difficult to get free accommodations during this time. Since I have already experienced Fashion week, I would rather spend that money going someplace I’ve never been before. (Did someone say Paris Fashion Week?!)
Do you have to take time off work? This is a tough decision for some. For me, I was perfectly happy using my vacation days for Fashion Week. It was after all, like a vacation for me.
What are you really getting out of attending? Like I said, I never noticed a jump in followers or likes on my posts. Sure I felt cool being at Fashion Week and attending shows, however from a business standpoint, I don’t think it helped my business grow all that much. I got to meet with a lot of brands and PR contacts. But honestly, everyone is so busy during Fashion Week that you’re better off booking a trip to New York when it’s not so hectic and planning out showroom visits or coffee with PR/brand contacts to get more face to face time.

Sure, I had a lot of fun going and seeing the designers. Plus, I always love a trip to New York City. However, it was a lot of money spent. Now, unless I am making a profit from going by partnering with brands while I am there attending the shows, I would rather take a trip to a place I’ve never been before then spent all that money going to Fashion Week. Honest truth. I encourage every blogger to go at least

Honest truth: I encourage every blogger to go at least once in their life (if they want to.) And I highly recommend going with someone who has gone before or who can give you a lowdown on how to make the best of it. I’ll write a separate post on this since this post would be way too long if I combined my tips with this one.

Hope this article helps! And of course, I’m always happy to answer any questions you have.

Xoxo

Laura

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