There's never been more or better access to New York Fashion Week. Not for those who actually attend the event in New York; the surge in online media and celebrity culture has only swelled the numbers vying for seats at Lincoln Center, Milk Studios, and other even more intimate (read: exclusive) venues all over the city. But for those following along at home, access is booming. Demand for same-day coverage of fashion shows has led designers to aggressively pursue ways to connect with an audience outside the industry. By the time traditional glossies rehash fashion week next month, the runway looks are already seared into our brains. In fact, next-day reviews in the New York Times or Womens Wear Daily often feel like old news. The media has access to professional runway photos within hours of a show ending, and the whole world has access to the photos flooding Twitter within seconds of the first model hitting the catwalk. Of-the-moment coverage has never been more literal.
Increasingly, even the frenetic energy and ambiance surrounding the event is being broadcast. Follow the #NYFW hashtag on twitter and you'll know the moment Anna Wintour takes her front row seat. Anyone in any corner of the world can be part of the conversation when buzzworthy developments are underway, when a designer is running late, or a celebrity sighting is imminent. The fashion on the street outside the shows is documented with nearly the same devotion as the looks inside. Street style bloggers have to compete with every major news outlet that has adopted a street style gallery to keep up.
Here's a list of Twitterers to follow for front row and backstage access. Their tweets and retweets will also be worth plundering for more front row folks to follow.
@fashion_spot
@mbfashionweek
@milkstudios
@dailyfrontrow
@cfda
@maccosmetics
In terms of livestreaming shows, the major resource this season is New York Fashion Week Live. With three to seven shows livestreaming per day, you won't want for something to watch come Thursday. Lots of designers participate with New York Fashion Week Live so they don't have to manage their own livestream. The LiveRunway YouTube channel already has their countdown clock going, and if you miss a livestream, there's always the Mercedez-Benz Fashion Week YouTube channel that shows most shows on the official schedule within a few hours. The official fashion week schedule can be found here.
The best way to keep up with your favorite brands, models, designers and publications is to follow them individually on Twitter and Facebook. And don't forget to check out The Fashion Spot, of course, for same-day reviews and slideshows of all the major shows.
image: IMAXtree
Via: The Best of NYFW, Live From Your Couch