What It's Really Like at Fashion Week, From Someone Who Just Went

Once I actually made it inside the venue and found my seat, I sat down, read the show notes, and waited. Most shows run 20 to 30 minutes late because of last-minute run-throughs or because (VIP) guests are still arriving. At Chromat, guests packed into the Skylight Clarkson lobby, waiting for the doors to open as models practiced their runway walks on the other side.

And because it's Winter, the heated rooms often became hot and stuffy — plus, you're nestled between strangers and you're all wearing puffy coats. Once the show began, though, I forgot all about my discomfort. As a hush fell across the room and the music died down and lights dimmed, my attention went straight to the clothes.