WE CAME. WE SAW. WE CONQUERED.
When Julius Caesar came up with this victorious phrase he could have easily been referring to the Windhoek Fashion Week, which concluded last night to possibly the biggest crowd the annual event, and second installment, has enjoyed to date.
While time management is still clearly an issue as every show and program I have attended during the four day event started fashionably late, the organisers kept their promise that this year would be bigger and better.
To conclude my Fashion Week Diary, I thought I would put together a survival guide to help you maneuver next year’s event should you decide to attend.
COME PREPARED
Whether this means bringing along a power bank to resuscitate your phone’s battery life, carrying a basic beauty kit in your bag to touch up your face as those runway lights can be very daunting, or bringing a bottle of water to keep hydrated, always plan ahead and come fully prepared.
ARRIVE ON TIME
Punctuality during fashion week cannot be over emphasised because while the organisers can apparently afford to be late, you can’t. Being on time means you have enough time to waste photographing and being photographed, getting drinks on offer, catching up with those in attendance and most importantly, it affords you the opportunity to get good seats.
COMFORT FIRST
Bringing the fire does not mean wearing clothes that look amazing, but aren’t practical. If your outfit won’t allow you to sit down comfortably, your dress keeps riding up or you have to keep adjusting your top to prevent full exposure, you might want to change it completely. Fashion week, as exciting as it is, can be a draining exercise and you want to get through it without friction blisters on your feet or a fashion faux pa.
GET THE BEST VIEW
While front row seats are nice, they don’t always offer the best view in the house as that has more to do with where you are positioned rather than how you are positioned. Whichever row you’re seating, if you’re not sure, always make it a point to ask the organisers for the runway entry point and exit point so that you occupy the best seats. The best place to be seated is generally further away from the entrance, but also one that gives you enough room to study the garments.
BE PRESENT
While social media is an important tool and no one is more savvy using it than 21st century millennial, make it a point to study the details of the garment as they come down the runway instead of being glued to your phone or lost in conversations with the person seated next to you.
NETWORK
Fashion Week affords everyone an opportunity to meet like-minded creatives, especially when your persona brand or work is in the creative fields. Bring your business cards if you must, have your phone ready to exchange numbers and always find out in advance who is who so that you approach the right people.
For my final look last night, I wore a white dress shirt from COS, topped by a navy blue dress coat by The Sequel Vintage, which I tied at the sleeve with a scarf also from the same shop. My pants and handbag are from Zara and my shoes from Edgars.
That’s all for me, ladies and gentlemen. Until next year, stay fashionable! – @shadows.of.wolf
