My Fashion Plate Blog

Guest post from My Fashion Plate stylist Nicole Faris

Twice a year, like clockwork, I prepare for the ramblings of my “civilian” friends.  The situation is always the same; Ben, the investment banker is dating Tricia, the cocktail waitress, who went to school with Danielle the Artist who lives with Austin, the intern for Mara Hoffman, who got comp tickets for her show but can’t make it.  So now, through some strange twist of fate, Ben (who can barely match his socks) is attending Fashion Week and has no idea what to wear. The stress is immeasurable. The situation dyer.

Now, I am not a wizard, a fairy, a fashion house or otherwise.  I am not even a seamstress.   In fact, I am a twenty something New Yorker who’s monthly earnings are often spent by the 10th.  You can find me looking street chic and with bare pockets on any given day, with no money for food let alone new clothes for Fashion Week.

Shockingly enough, I have learned over the years that Fashion Week doesn’t care.  It’s coming whether our wardrobes are ready for it or not so we have to prepare. Ration.  Reserve.  Get creative.

Here are my tried and true tips that I will offer up to Ben, and all my other friends wondering what to wear to fashion week:

1.  Pay homage to the designer, don’t nose dive into their sample library!

If you are lucky enough to own a piece by the designer who’s show you are attending, wear it!  I love to arrive in one signature item and let it be the focus of my whole outfit.  I don’t love showing up and seeing someone in front of me wearing every piece they own by the designer piled on top of every piece their mother owns accesorized with every piece their roomate and their sister owns.  A little bit goes a long way and since it is highly unlikley that you are one of the few lucky enough to wear from the new collection, you don’t want to look dated!

Try a timeless handbag or even a beautiful scarf by the designer.  If paired with a black dress in a shape that is on trend, you will look like you’re in the know big time.

2.  Don’t overdo it, the paparazzi is not there for you.

It happens every year, someone shows up dressed like a Unicorn en route to Spain and people take their photo…and then we all laugh at them.  No. No. No. Please and thankyou, no.

Along these same lines (although understandabley not as severe), please take off your sunglasses once you’ve entered the show.  Just because Paris Hilton kept hers on does not mean you ought do the same.  Even if they are fabulous.  Don’t do it.

3.  Do not wear one designers piece to another designers show.

You would not go to a Yankees game and wear a Red Sox jersey unless you were trying to be obnoxious.  The same discretion applies here only in Fashion, aforementioned obnoxious behavior is not found witty. It is downright rude.

Better to wear no name, well tailored, well matched basics than to wear a DVF dress (so easily spotted!) to a Michael Kors show.  It will not make you come across as a well dressed person who owns expensive clothes, it will just make you look silly!!

A Recent Shoot Styled by Nicole Faris. "Dress Me Up and Take Me Downtown." A fresh approach to once stuffy formal wear; the modernized tuxedo and gown.

4. Remember that no one is there to see you.

Sounds a little harsh, I know but…A lot of stress comes from the thought that everyone in the fashion world is judgmental and that all the guests at the show will be looking around evaluating one another.  This is just not true.  For me fashion week is like Christmas. It can’t come fast enough. I am running towards it.  I will knock over my sister to get there first and not even notice. I will wear my footsie pajamas without hesitation.  I will not care.  I am there for the event, the event is not there for me.

It takes a lot of pressure off when you look at it like this!

5. Don’t slave the trends.

Just because something is in when fashion week rolls around doesn’t mean you should devote your entire look to it.  Remember, once a trend ships to stores it has been wholesaleing for over 6 months and was designed several months before that.  So maybe lace is huge right now, maybe you’ve seen it all over Barney’s Co-op and in the Bloomies catalogue and The View talked about it in their ‘hot trends for Fall’ feature but that doesn’t make it fresh to anyone in the industry.  We’ve all been looking at it for the past year!

I’m not saying don’t wear it, I’m saying don’t wear too much of it, i.e. a lace dress with lace fingerless gloves and lace half socks under your open toe booties with a jacket covered in zippers on top (because zippers are everywhere too so you thought it would look totally trendy!).  Like most things, a little bit goes a long way.

6. Basics are a girls (and guys) best friend.

History Lesson 101.  My first fashion show ever I wore black leggings (they weren’t back in style yet, how risky of me!), an oversized mens v-neck white tee, a black cashmere vest, Red Marc Jacobs Pumps and a vintage alligator clutch.  And it was fabulous. I’d still wear that outfit today.

If you don’t own designer, if you can’t afford to buy it, if you don’t have the time or the were with all then put on your best basics and get there.  I love American Apparel, Kain, and LNA for great basics!

So that’s your lesson in dressing for Fashion Week.  In closing, don’t put so much energy into dressing that you miss out on the amazing art that the designer is presenting in front of you.  This is the best time of year, enjoy it!!

XO
Nikki

Get ready for fashion week with a personal consultation with Nicole!

About the author:
Nicole Faris began her career as a buyer for one of New York’s most prestigious and recognizable Soho boutiques.  Specializing in bringing European fashion and Haute Couture designs to the New York woman, it was here that Nicole cultivated her eclectic style and extensive knowledge of the fashion world at large.   Eager to be engaged in a more ‘hands on’ approach to fashion, Nicole soon transitioned into a position as a Personal Shopper.  Working under New York’s finest, Nicole was able to learn the art of styling and tailoring and was able to build a client base of New York socialites, Television personalities and Celebrity wives.  Today Nicole style lookbooks, album covers and catalogue shoots and works as a consultant for up and coming NY and L.A. based designers including Obvious Clothing which was most recently seen on Fergie in People Magazines Best Dressed Issue’s centerfold.