DO's and DON'Ts: an insider's guide to Fashion Week

"I think people are so remarkably well behaved," said Tim Blanks, when asked what he considered to be his do's and don'ts at a fashion show. "I can't think of a thing that would annoy me!! I try to deliberately let nothing bother me ever. After all I'm still doing this after all these years!" That's the sort of zen attitude that everyone needs to steel themselves up for a month of approximately 140 fashion shows. And Blanks is right. As professionals, we are incredibly privileged to be able to go and witness the ultimate zenith in fashion firsthand. But as the fashion schedule becomes ever more crowded, and as editors, buyers, bloggers and the old school photographers all jostle for the money shots – be it on their DSLR or phones – have we lost our sense of common courtesy?

Dazed writer Susanne Madsen has commented on the distractions of social media preventing us from actually seeing a show, as well as a new, even more unpleasant habit – running out of a show before it's even finished. In light of this crisis of fashion week etiquette, we asked some of the industry's most beloved and esteemed figures to give us their fashion week do's and don'ts. Whether you’re an editor guilty of heading for the door prematurely or an intern still waiting for your first ticket, consider this a crash course. "I started out in fashion with a standing ticket," said Blanks. "If you asked me this question when I first started, I would have had a litany of woe. I don't know what it is like for people starting out now. It is what you make of it I guess. Tomorrow is another day!"

TOMMY TON 
Streetstyle photographer for Style.com

DO:

"As a streetstyle photographer it is your obligation and responsibility to make sure you take a nice and flattering photograph of your subjects!"

DON’T:

"Charge towards the subject and do not speak to the subject unless spoken to. These people are here to see a show. You're keeping them from going to the show and that's their priority. It's gotten to the level where photographers are telling editors who aren't getting their photo taken to get out of the way. Everyone has a job to do and there's no need to get violent or rude!"

TIM BLANKS
Contributing editor-at-large of Style.com

DO:

"The rule of thumb of interviewing designers backstage is to keep it short and sweet so that everyone gets their turn."

DON’T:

"Temperature! It's hot outside, it's cold inside. It's hot inside, it's cold outside. I have a very sensitive thermostat – I'm always uncomfortable! For me personally, climate control at fashion shows annoys my inner thermostat!"

PHIL OH 
Streetstyle photographer for Vogue.com and blogger at StreetPeeper.com

DON’T:

"Get caught on camera posing in front of your superior. She might get jealous."

DO:

"Follow five paces behind your boss so she won't see you getting papped." 

ANNA DELLO RUSSO 
Editor-at-large and creative consultant for Vogue Japan

DO:

"Enjoy fashion. Dress up like you're going to a wedding, party or like you're on a date. Fashion is a celebration!"

DON’T:

"Wear black. Also, don't carry a big bag. If you sit in the front row, you'll make people trip over."

SARAH MOWER 
Ambassador of emerging talent at the British Fashion Council and contributing editor to American Vogue

DO:

"Applaud. When a designer has put on an amazing show, they should applaud. The sound of no-hands clapping is just rude. Applause has decreased severely over the past few years as everyone's posting on the Instagram. People should be looking at the shows as opposed to their iPhones."

DON’T:

"I think PRs should be at the front of house, welcoming press as opposed to walking up and down the runway in a designer's clothes. They're far less important than the designers and they're there to represent the designers."

COCO ROCHA 
Model and TV presenter

DO:

"Pay attention! Do document of course. But like yesterday, I saw a man on a phone call the whole way throughout a show. You came all the way here to make a phone call?! No, you came here to watch a show!"

DON’T:

"Last night, I saw a man take off his reading glasses to put on sunglasses to have his photo taken with me. And it was pitch black dark and I didn't understand what he was doing. He just wanted a photo with me with his sunglasses on. I don't understand why people would wear sunglasses at a pitch black show."

VANESSA FRIEDMAN 
Fashion director and chief fashion critic of the New York Times

DO:

"Be polite!"

DON’T:

"Push!" 

ALEXANDER FURY 
Fashion editor of The Independent newspaper

DON’T:

"Push to try and get out because we're all in the same boat and someone might shout and snap at you."

DO:

"Applaud. Everyone should applaud. Even if you didn't like it, you should applaud the effort people put into the show to pull it together. I applaud as soon as the finale hits me and as soon as the finale hits you coming back and when the designer emerges. Possibly the whole way if you like it enough."

BRYAN BOY 
Blogger at BryanBoy.com

DO:

"Look at the clothes! If you have time, do pay respect to the designer after the show. Dress appropriately (*laughs*) But the most important thing is, do look at the clothes!"

DON’T:

"Bring your dog!" 

VIRGINIE MOUZAT 
Editor-in-chief of fashion, Vanity Fair France

DO:

"Check with the PR, if you want to crash a seat that is not yours. Don't mess up the whole seating plan!"

DON’T:

[For PRs specifically] "Stalk editors with requests to come to a show. PR's should explain why it's important to come as opposed to hassling you multiple times, demanding that you attend a show." 

SUSIE BUBBLE

DO:

"Be patient, especially when you're at the bottom of the pile. I've waited two hours for a Riccardo Tisci interview post show (last show of the day…) and it was totally worth it. Huffing, puffing and yelling at the PR's won't get you anywhere, even when you're at the top of the game."

DON’T:

"Steal goodie bags from people's seats. Take them at the end if they're left behind. It's like crashing people's seats – ultra ultra embarrassing when the PR asks you to hand it back to its rightful owner. Actually, maybe don't take goodie bags period. They just weigh you down when you're schlepping from show to show."