Attending a fashion show can be an intimidating prospect for most of us mere mortals. Sitting before some of the world’s most officially beautiful women can be humbling to say the least, but fear not: there are plenty of things that you can do to make yourself look fabulous, as well, and make the overall experience an enjoyable one.
Determine the landscape
The first thing you’ll want to do is get a sense of the standards for attendees. While you want to look your best, you don’t want to go TOO over the top with a crane-sized fastener or a giant feather boa like the one you saw your favorite supermodel sporting on the runway last week. Every prep requires a different approach, from looking through a passport photos requirements guide to getting ready for the prom. So figuring out where exactly you’re going is imperative.
There are several ways that you can feel out other people’s standards for attending shows:
- Ask around
Particularly if you know others who are fashion fanatics like you, you’ll be able to get some advice on what they’ve worn, what the atmosphere seemed to be like, etc. Talk to different groups if you want to get a cross-section of opinions.
- Check out some videos online
It should be interesting to compare the standards between different parts of the “Big Four”: London, Paris, etc. and also less big-time shows. Although the focus is usually on the runway, you’ll also be able to see what’s going on in the audience.
Prepare yourself
Again, you’ll want to look your best, so there are several things you can do to ensure this:
- Consult an expert
If you’re willing to pay for it, talking to a fashion consultant can be a great way to realize your true potential and select the best possible items for yourself. It may be that you’re in the habit of picking out certain outfits because you’ve gotten accustomed to them, but perhaps these aren’t the best choices for you. You might find that your natural shyness tends to hide your most beautiful features, and perhaps a different style skirt would suit you better. Alternatively, you might discover that you are so eager to impress that your party outfit actually makes you look tacky, and you don’t want this either. Seasoned fashion consultants can help you find the best looks for you based upon your coloring, size, etc and also your personality.
- Don’t forget your hair
If you’ve been toying with the idea of getting a new hairstyle/coloring for some time, this might be the right moment to take the plunge. Be sure you give yourself time before the show, though. If something goes wrong or you’re not sure how to match your new style with your chosen outfit, you won’t want to wrestle with this at the last minute.
- Accessorize
At the same time that you don’t want to be too over-the-top with that giant feather boa, this can be a great opportunity to pull out that cute little clutch you were setting aside for the right occasion, your favorite earrings, or the scarf you got for Christmas that has been collecting dust for the last eight months.
- Shoes are critical
As with all the other parts of your outfit, you’ll want to find a pair of shoes that will match. It’s important to keep in mind, though, that attending show(s) can involve long periods of standing without the opportunity to rest your feet. You won’t want to end up miserable because those cute little stilettos ended up being murder on the soles of your feet. Perhaps a compromise heel would be best.
And remember, the place will likely be so crowded that it will be hard to see anyone’s shoes anyway! (Plus, let’s face it, most of us will never come anywhere near the svelte gracefulness of those goddesses on the runway, so we shouldn’t try to make ourselves into something we’re not).
Another shoe-related point is that you should absolutely take the time to break new shoes in. At least a month. Like aching soles, blisters will surely ruin your day, so you should take every precaution to make sure your feet are as comfortable as possible. After all, you’re there to enjoy yourself.
After you’ve consulted an expert, try out different options
Fashion consultants will give you better insight into where your fashion strength lie. What they won’t do is tell you exactly what to wear. So once you’ve gotten a good feel for your ideal color range, dress style, etc, go out and try a few different options. Just because you try on five different dresses at Macy’s doesn’t mean you are bound by law to buy any of them (although you might!).
While you’re looking around, take some mirror selfies and think about them later on. Share them with friends and get their thoughts. Maybe go back to the fashion show videos and see how your choices compare. The more time you take to prepare, the more likely you’ll be to impress with your best look at the show.
Taking the time to think about every aspect of your ensemble will ensure that you go out there and present your most confident, together, and fully YOU look possible. You’ll have a better time, be more at ease appreciating what the models have to offer, and come out feeling inspired as a result.
And don’t forget to check your camera settings ad you’ll want to have an event to remember!
