If there was one golden ticket last night, it was definitely Mara Hoffman Swim. Unfortunately, that meant that getting into the show, or even through it, in some sort of orderly fashion was basically out of the question. Considering that 95% of my pictures are riddled with arms raising iPads and iPhones, I felt compelled to bring to light some basic fashion show attendance etiquette. Here’s a quick list of rules to keep you on everyone’s good side and keep your limbs out of their photos.
- Don’t skip the line. We’re all trying to get into the same show. Some of us have even gone about it the proper way of RSVPing way in advance and have brought our tickets and confirmation with us. We don’t care who you are or who you know. If you’re not some sort of super VIP (and someone would know if you were), get in line just like everybody else and deal with it.
- Don’t stand on the runway. Once that protective cover has been removed, the show is ready to start within seconds. Scurrying across like a cockroach isn’t flattering to you and just sets everything back because you’ve just scuffed up in a moment what they’ve been trying to keep pristine for hours.
- Don’t stand in your seat. Seriously. That’s just crass, no matter where you are. And if you’ve been fortunate enough to snag a seat to a hot show, have some consideration for those of us who are just happy to be in the back enjoying standing room admittance.
- Don’t be a padhole. If you’re not sure what that means, click on the word and learn the definition well. Raising a smart phone to capture a shot is obnoxious enough. Raising an entire iPad blocks the view for at least 4 people behind you. Plus, it just makes you look really stupid.
- Don’t block the photographers. This is a big one. These guys and girls are there to work. Really hard, I might add. Without a good shot, they may not get paid for hours of preparation and labor. If you care at all for the designer whose collection you’re there to see, show some respect by allowing their pieces to be captured as they were intended. Also, if you’re being yelled at by an entire cluster of the international press, chances are your best response is not to yell back defiantly, but rather sit and quit blocking the shot of the designer taking the runway at the end of her long-anticipated show. Your desire to Instagram this for your friends does not outweigh their need to actually cover the event professionally – for work.
I’ve included some pictures to illustrate what was quite an adventure in fashion show coverage. Peruse for yourself and judge these padholes accordingly.
Check out the recaps for Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 for MBFW Swim event pictures. Click here to see pictures of the Mara Hoffman Swim 2014 show at MBFW Swim.
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