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Simon Ungless —executive director of Academy of Art University's School of Fashion— is no stranger to New York Fashion Week. Between his design career and his years attending Academy's student presentation at the tents, this refreshingly forthright Brit has seen it all. So if you're attending fashion week for the first time —and judging from our Instagram feed, a lot of people are— listen up.
Ungless sat down with the folks at Haute Living for a frank discussion about the realities of fashion week, and doled out the kind of straight talk that you need/want to hear before you embarrass yourself on the global fashion stage. Here are our five favorite tips from the interview.
1. What you should carry in your purse: iPhone with all social media apps downloaded and on, breath mints, colloidal silver spray (all those fashion kisses in hot venues are a breeding ground for bugs; spray liberally wherever you go), hand wipes for the same reason, Band-Aids for blisters. Le Mer sample sizes of concentrate-apply during and after shows-and a bottle of wellness herbal remedy."
2. Avoid being a fashion victim: Don't over do it with the dress up; people will know you are a rookie.
3. Where to go to get photographed: The steps of Lincoln Center are always swarmed with photographers, so if you're looking to be photographed just take a stroll through Lincoln Center Plaza.
4. On switching from flats to heels: Change shoes just before you exit the taxi.
5. If money is not a concern: Hire a driver for the week, have multiple looks in the car and layer up and layer down at will.
For more of Simon's tips, check out the full article here.