Between Louis Vuitton, Hermès and Saint Laurent, Parisian Haute Couture alone embody the French imagination. And if Paris has established itself as the capital of fashion, one particular event stands alone as a symbol of the influence of French Haute Couture: Fashion Week.
During this fashion week, twice a year, all the "crème de la crème" of the fashion world is invited to attend the shows of the greatest designers (Schiaparelli, Jean-Paul Gaultier, etc.), as well as a glimpse of their new collections. Influencers, journalists, celebrities - these are the happy few who see the front rows accessible to them.
And it has to be said that many designers take part in this highly anticipated event, which can sometimes change the history of a fashion house. According to the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, for the spring-summer 2021 season, 82 houses were registered on the Official Calendar. So there's plenty of choices when it comes to the number of shows!
Now, if Fashion Week seems more accessible, it's because houses have made the choice to broadcast their shows live on social networks like Instagram. However, for some people, this only intensifies the desire of one day being able to claim to see the catwalks up close.
If the front row seems inaccessible, we're here to give you a quick overview of everything you need to know to attend the "PFW" fashion shows!
Going to Paris Fashion Week: The Dates of the Shows
It seems to be self-evident that in order to attend Paris Fashion Week, it is necessary to find out when it is taking place in the first place. Fortunately, all the major fashion houses have agreed to make participation in this event twice a year.
Indeed, as a tradition, Paris Fashion Week takes place in all the most prestigious places of the French capital (Grand Palais, quays of the Seine, Eiffel Tower, etc.) in September-October, and in March.
The Parisian Haute Couture week takes place in July and January. For fashion houses, these are two moments that have become essential when wanting to, above all, let the world marvel at the silhouettes imagined by the designers.
In a very concrete way, calendars are set up in advance, in order to list the dates and places of each runway show in the capital. On these calendars, as much information as possible is available to the general public, but not all the details are included.
Where to Find the Dates of the Paris Fashion Week?
These dates can be found on sites such as the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (FHCM), which has gradually established itself as an essential source of information.
The reason? Most of the time, invitations are personal, and anything can happen at the venue (including bad weather if it's outdoors). With this in mind, sometimes designers disclose the venue a little later to their guests.
In order to know the latter, it seems essential to know someone who has an invitation card. It could be interesting to follow influential people in the field, such as journalists, who sometimes dare to post their invitation cards before the big day.
During Fashion Week, many details are important, and in fact, the dates and locations of the shows are more accessible than they seem. All it takes is a little curiosity, and the collection presentations will be ready to open their doors.
However, there are a few tips that can be useful when trying to get close to skirts and suits. Here's what you need to know about going to Fashion Week, and trying to see a model on the catwalk.
Going to Paris Fashion Week: Having the Right Look
It's no secret that going to see the shows of haute couture houses means having an outfit that matches the event. And the least we can say is that Fashion Week is THE time to wear your most extravagant coats without feeling like you're standing out.
On the contrary, originality and illustration of your personality are recommended. It is even this that could allow some onlookers to access the most popular fashion shows, and be positioned a few metres away from Céline Dion. Because of this, it might be possible not to be part of the invited members and still attend a new collection.
This is however quite rare, but not impossible. The first technique is therefore to have a look that is "adapted" to the French fashion house you want to see, but also to the spirit of a fashion show. In this perspective, it will be easier to get noticed than if you wear a basic suit.
You should also try to be among the first people to arrive at the venue of the show in question. It may happen that a few people who are not on the list are invited to attend the show. The main purpose of this is to fill a room that is not filled.
From this point of view, it is your style that will make the difference, as it also corresponds to a certain image of the house. Sharp looks are therefore highly appreciated, to the point of becoming the key to the last row.
Getting Close to the Fashion World to Attend a PFW show
Any fashion designer or student of couture courses will tell you - from ready-to-wear to the French Federation of Couture, fashion is sometimes a world closed to the elite. That's where having contacts to be able to attend a fashion show comes in handy.
Indeed, without going so far as to rub shoulders with the great director of Vogue, it can be useful to know someone who works for the Chanel fashion show or who writes about haute couture shows. They may be able to get you an invitation.
Knowing someone who works for the chosen house can also be a good way to get passes. This can also be done through your personal social networks or even social media. Don't hesitate to write to a stylist, approach a designer's trainee or contact a small fashion designer.
With a lot of vigilance, and just as much stubbornness, it could work.
It can be interesting to organise a school or university project around the designer in question, the concept of the Parisian fashion show, or the world of haute couture and its great shows. With a bit of luck, the young designers or certain members of the fashion house staff will be indulgent, and the project will be successful enough to be garner invitation.
Watch the Brand's Social Media to go to Paris Fashion Week
If social networks have established themselves as sources of information that are sometimes reliable and often very rich, the haute couture brands have not escaped this phenomenon. As a result, they often bring their house and their creations to life on their platforms, especially during fashion weeks.
This translates, in the first place, into the broadcasting of live fashion shows (on Instagram, on TikTok, etc.), but not only that! Some fashion houses or young designers sometimes offer their subscribers the chance to win invitations. In the form of a competition, this can be a good way to go to Fashion Week without too much effort... but with a lot of luck!
The #GucciEpilogue collection by Creative Director #AlessandroMichele will be presented through a unified collection, with the seeds of what will be the near, imminent future. Follow the special live stream from 8:00am CEST on Friday, July 17. #mfw #MilanoDigitalFashionWeek pic.twitter.com/eIlgSqU4F6
— gucci (@gucci) July 6, 2020
In 2020, Gucci offered a behind-the-scenes look at Fashion Week through a live event lasting several hours.
Finally, it will have escaped no one's notice that social networks have become particularly interesting platforms for opening a dialogue with stylists, designers and other tailors. A small private message costs nothing, and with a little nerve and a lot of luck: could lead to an invitation.
Working Backstage at Paris Fashion Week to get Access
Of course, if you want to go to Paris Fashion Week, there's no better way than to be part of it! And it's not that complicated, and you don't necessarily need to master glamour and how to make trousers to take part.
The big names in fashion always need young people (often students) to work on the catwalks, welcome guests or simply backstage.
Some of these "little jobs" do not necessarily require any experience in fashion classes, and allow you to get behind the scenes of a high fashion house such as Sonia Rykiel or Courrèges without needing an invitation.
Here are some of the major sites where fashion ads for jobs are listed:
- Fashion United,
- FashionJobs,
- Fashion career,
- Employment-Textile,
- Hotesse Job,
- Etc.
It's not a front-row seat, but in principle, Paris Fashion Week and the fashion houses have never been so close. Neither have the big names in fashion!
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