Runway Etiquette: A Guide to Behaving at Fashion Week

KENTON Editors | October 26, 2012 | 0 Comments

As fashion week season comes to an end, we reflect on our observations from various runways around the globe. Turning our attention away from the runway and onto the show guests, we felt it necessary to compile and share a list of rules for proper runway etiquette.

So let’s begin…

1. If the seat doesn’t have your name on it, don’t sit there. If you’re placed in someone else’s seat and he or she shows up, pick up your things, move and minimize all interaction. Oh and leave the gift bag.
2. Don’t argue with PR. They invited you and they can also disinvite you.
3. Put down the iPad. Not only are you obnoxiously blocking the view of everyone else around you, but taking photos with a dinner plate is just not chic. (This goes for SLR cameras as well.)
4. Discreetly take photos with your smartphone and share on social media. That is a great way to generate buzz for the designer. However, be wary not to have your face in your screen throughout the entire show.
5. Uncross your legs in the front row. You may think your shoes are gaga worthy, but in reality your feet are photo-bombing the designer’s runway images – and heaven forbid, you trip a model.
6. Once the show starts, don’t move. Do not stand up, do not try to snag a better seat, do not crowd the aisles and never cross the runway.
7. Cheering for a designer at the end of a show is supportive. Yelling like a soccer mom in the second half, during the middle of the show is not. Also includes fangirl/fanboy screaming, catcalling and whistling.
8. Keep your running Rachel Zoe commentary to yourself. There is no need for everyone around you to know that you’re dying for bananas.
9. The average fashion show is 15 minutes long – you do not need to be eating. Loud, mouth-open chewing does not a fashionista make, so leave the snacks for later.
10. Despite the multiple open bars, fashion week is not a boozy brunch. Mind your liquor. There’s nothing worse than stumbling around in your 6-inch heels.