Tickets to Fashion Week?

Ah yes, we get this question a lot. And we like to help people. We’re kind of like a superhero, except we don’t wear tights or giant boots. Though if we did, we’d go for more of a Ziggy Stardust look.

(Drat, now Pablo is humming “Lady Stardust.” It’s a good song. Spotify it, or whatever.)

So you’d like to attend fashion week.

Why not?

What could be better than standing in an hour-long line to be yelled at by surly photographers who want you out of their shots, to watch a show that lasts the length of time it takes to eat a Snickers bar, in a room filled with deafening music?

But we kid. Sort of. Of course being at a live runway show is a lot of fun. (Even if — as our editor Samuel is always pointing out, as Pablo sits behind a solitary computer with an aching back, uploading pictures — reporting from shows is actually a lot of hard work.)

HOW TO ATTEND FASHION WEEK

Short answer: The official Big 4 events (New York, London, Milan, Paris), are open to press and buyers only. (London Fashion Week is the closest exception, as they have an official open-to-the-public event. See below.) So you’ll need to show proof you’re with the press, or a buyer.

And even then, you might not get an invite to the REALLY big names (Chanel, Gucci, Dior, etc.). Especially if you’re from a smaller outlet.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to see fashion shows happening in those cities, or happening during fashion week.

MILAN

In the past, designers like Cavalli and have given tickets to organizations like The Happy Hearts Fund (run by Czech model Petra Nemcova to support children affected by disasters) and the Boost Foundation. These organizations, in turn, have auctioned the tickets off to raise money for their causes.

But be forewarned: we’ve seen bidding for one of these tickets start at $5,700! (Agh!) Though we’ve also heard prices as low as $450 quoted. So you can check those sites, or Google “fashion week tickets” and “auction.” (And “Milan.”)

PARIS

Let’s be frank: Paris is an even tougher nut to crack. You won’t even be considered without a Paris address. But don’t despair completely. Pablo’s first runway show was technically a “trunk show” at the Galeries Lafayette. Anyone can attend; it happens weekly and is a lot of fun. But you’ll have to email in advance for a reservation.

Take a look at: Galeries Lafayette Weekly Fashion Show.

Okay, technically it’s not true “semaine de la mode” (fashion week), but it’s still top-label stuff, still Paris, and you don’t have to wait for shows in summer, February or September to attend. You don’t have to live in Paris. And you will have fun.

Afterward, go to Harry’s New York Bar, down the street. Coco Chanel and Hemingway used to have coffee and / or booze there. Isn’t that reason enough?

NEW YORK

You may have thought New York would be a bit more hospitable. Wait, why are you laughing so hard?

Aanyway, if you want to buy tickets to New York Fashion Week (the proper series of events), you’re out of luck, my friend. Again, it’s for press and buyers only. (Of course if you’re a celebrity, that could certainly help.)

But if you’re willing to spend money to see some strong up-and-coming designers, you can always buy a ticket to Couture Fashion Week in New York, a for-profit venture that seems to put on a pretty good production. We’ve never attended one of their events, so we can’t personally recommend you buy a ticket there. You might have fun, though. Tickets start at $70 and go all the way to $5,000 for a “Platinum VIP 3-day press.”

You can also take closer look at them on Facebook and see if it feels right for you: https://www.facebook.com/pages/couture-fashion-week/184373687274

LONDON

London, we love you.

Yes, you can buy tickets to a portion of LFW. London Fashion Week’s official open-to-the-public event is London Fashion Weekend. And you can buy tickets. So rejoice.

WATCH LIVE, HERE

LiveRunway.com has all the streams from New York, Paris, London, Milan and more. Look to the right. We also have a new, easier-to-remember location, FashionWeekOnline.com.

Watch it in your pajamas at 9 AM, with some good coffee. Throw a “dress-up” fashion party at midnight. Hook your computer into your plasma TV. (Or watch it with one of those cool web TV browsers they have now.) Prep cocktails. Make popcorn. Invite the cat.

Now aren’t you happy it’s the future?

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Photo: Horrible Photoshop job courtesy Live Runway