Planning a fashion show: tips from the experts
When it comes to fashion shows, you may think you have one of two options: either go big or go home. But that's not true at all! While some designers choose to stage elaborate productions with dozens of models on the runway and hundreds in attendance, others prefer a more intimate setting. Here are some tips for organizing your own successful show, no matter what kind of budget or venue you have available.
Plan ahead
Planning ahead is the key to success. You can't go wrong when you plan things out in advance.
- Planning helps you avoid mistakes and problems. You'll have time to work out any issues before they become real problems, or even disasters.
- Planning helps you stay on track. When everything's planned out in advance, there's no need for last minute changes or improvisation—and it makes your life a lot easier!
- Planning helps you save time and money. Planning well allows you to do more with less money spent (and less stress).
You'll feel more relaxed and confident because you know that all bases are covered!
Define your budget
Defining your budget is an important part of organizing any event. No matter how much you believe in your collection or want to make it big in the industry, you can't expect to throw a successful show if you don't keep your budget realistic.
One easy way to ensure that your event doesn't fall short of expectations is by making sure that all necessary costs are included in the budget. Most people don't consider hidden expenses like last-minute substitutions, fines or back office costs when creating their budgets—and those things definitely add up!
Create a strategy for publicizing your event
As you begin to plan your fashion show, it's important to think about how you will publicize the event. Here are some tips for getting the word out:
- Use social media to spread the news of your upcoming fashion show. Post on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. You can also use a dedicated hashtag so that people can follow along with what other attendees are saying about it in real time.
- Invite local influencers to attend and share their experience online after the show is over.
- Reach out directly to all relevant journalists and bloggers who may be interested in attending or covering your event. Include any press releases or other promotional materials that might help them gain interest in covering your show as well as any opportunities they could have at being involved with future shows like this one!
- Get the word out about your event as early as possible. The best way to do this is by sending out invitations about three months before the date. Send these invitations by mail rather than email so they get noticed and remembered better—plus it's just nicer, especially if you put some effort in making your invitations beautiful!
- Make sure you get lots of press coverage once your show is announced; this doesn't mean just local newspapers either. Try contacting bloggers who write about style topics or other related topics like travel and culture (or anything else you may feel relates to your collection). They'll appreciate being approached by someone who cares enough about their blog to reach out personally! Be sure to give them plenty of time before their deadline so they won't have any trouble writing up an article on time (they're busy people too).
- If possible arrange for a live stream so that people can watch online even if they can't make it in person.
Pick the right venue for your event. Consider both style and logistics
When it comes to choosing a venue, you’re going to have to think about both style and logistics. The most important thing is that you pick a venue that is central and easy for everyone who will be attending the event. You’ll want your guests to be able to find their way there easily and get out quickly after the show has ended.
By picking a venue in the city centre, you can guarantee that your brand will be seen by a large number of influential people. Beat in mind that the average fashion show lasts 10 minutes because journalists and buyers have to attend several shows in a day. As soon as one event ends, they usually run off to the next, often without eating or drinking anything.
You also need to consider how much space you will need for setting up your fashion show before making any final decisions about where it will take place. You should also take into account how many people are expected, because this can affect things like whether or not you rent chairs, tables and other furniture from the venue itself (which usually charge extra). In addition, if food or drinks are being served at your fashion show afterward then make sure there's enough room for them too!
Pro tip: with Milan being one of the most important fashion capitals in the world, it's crucial for smaller brands planning runaways during the fashion week to choose locations near the fashion shows of major brands such as Gucci and Armani to increase the chance of grabbing some attention from those events.
For the fashion brand Vlasta Kopylova's show, which presented a collection dedicated to timeless icons of style and inspired by pop art, we chose a very large venue with a classic style balanced with modern details.
For the presentation of the Cesare Paciotti collection, on the other hand, we focused on a traditionally sophisticated venue and set up, going for timeless elegant and a luxury vibe, and we welcomed guests with champagne flutes and finger food of the highest quality.
Think of decor and set up and make it memorable
Decor and set up should be memorable. The average brevity of these shows means that audience members have little time to process everything they've seen and hear before moving onto the next event: you will need to make an impact straightaway!
Your show should give the audience a sense of wonder, a feeling that they are transported to another time and place. The decor should be consistent with your brand, but also fit with the theme of the event—whatever that is. It should also feel appropriate for its location.
The goal is for people to leave saying “wow! That was so cool!”
If you’re planning a fashion show, think about what kind of experience you want to create for your audience. Would they like something more “classic” or more avant garde? Does your brand lend itself to a specific theme or era? If so, then consider how that theme might be expressed through decor and set up.
Keep up with communication and make sure everyone on your team knows their role.
Make sure everyone on the team knows their role and understands the importance of their part.
Don't forget about the details. Remember to keep track of small tasks that are essential to a project's success, like organizing press interviews or planning catering.
Even though a project may seem simple, it will likely have a million little details that need to be taken care of. Make sure everyone on your team knows what's expected of them and how they can help out with the big picture.
Fashion event planning takes lots of work and forethought, but making the fashion week is essential for fashion brands!
Fashion event planning is a stressful time for everyone involved. You need to make sure that everything goes smoothly and that you have a good team around you to manage your fashion show.
Whether you're hosting a brand launch or showing off your latest designs, fashion week can be one of the most important events in any designer's career. Having an event like this will help your brand stand out from other designers while providing customers with something they can't get anywhere else!
Conclusion
The fashion industry is a fast-paced and competitive one. You need to make sure that your show is as memorable and impressive as possible in order to stand out from the crowd.
You will need to ensure that everything runs smoothly on the day itself and make sure everyone involved is satisfied with their experience. And remember: securing a spot at one of the best venues in town will help you make your event a success!