you cannot win if you do not play

P.S. A few comments that have just come in (from 'Crossing Burberry') reminded me that I should have done a post on this sooner:

The British Fashion Council, who host London Fashion Week, are, in my experience, and that of everyone I've spoken with, just the nicest bunch of people you'll ever met. I mean, every company has their good and bad eggs, but I haven't come across one bad egg to date @ the BFC. They have completely transformed my expectation of the 'fashion community', which prior to last September, I was basing on The Devil Wears Prada and assumptions I made around the mystery of the 'traditional' (pre blog) fashion media circus. They're cool, they're kind, and they're genuinely helpful.

They are also really supportive of bloggers. If you have a blog, it's really worth going to the LFW site and applying for a press pass. Someone there will be able to figure out soon enough if you're a real fashion blogger. I mean, if you think about it: even if you're 14 and have been posting daily for a few months, that's still more 'deadlines' than a lot of professional journalists write in a year. And most bloggers aren't jaded, and truly have a passion and enthusiasm about fashion. You've earned the right to go. You're an important part of the fashion industry.



I could be wrong, but don't think it's too late to apply. And even if you don't have a pass, it can't hurt to just show up at Somerset House because a lot of the fun is just hanging around, and they've got great coffee @ the Lavazza Silverstream truck. Kidding aside about Amy (who I am sure is absolutely lovely btw), the shows are an incredible experience, but it really is fun just being around the hysteria and yet being able to relax. It's like my friend Jerry, in high school, always wanted to go with me to JFK. Not to fly anywhere, just to watch the people running for planes. That's what it feels like when you're trying to get into a show on time - it's really stressful. Especially in heels. On cobblestones. And some of these venues are really far apart, there are no taxis, the shows are close together in time.. it's like trying to get a connecting flight and your first one is late.

But if you can just be there at Somerset House and relax and enjoy the show: that part is free and open to everyone. And as for the Press Pass: it might just be within your reach.

For example. Last February, which was really cold and rainy, my friend Jen (Style Crusader) came to Somerset House and had a blast running around shooting and making friends and never once went inside the building, because she didn't have a pass. The last day was really cold and wet and I asked the nice people and they said of course anyone can come inside, just up to the check point. So she and some other girls came in and sat in the warmth, on the sofas. Just for the fun of it, I went to someone and asked if she could get a pass, as she had been posting on fashion week and had a lovely blog. 'Of course', the nice woman said. 'Does she have a card?' (she did). Hey, Presto: she got her pass!

Moral of the story? It's worth a shot. Everything is. I'm also assuming that a lot of these nice BFC people are volunteers: that's worth looking into, too.

So, who am I gonna see on the 17th? Whatcha wearing?