What's In My Bag? New York Fashion Week Edition

“Every year the women of New York leave the past behind and look forward to the future… this is known as Fashion Week.”

Did you really expect me to start out this post with anything but an iconic Carrie Bradshaw quote? I sincerely hope not.

I am in full NYFW prep mode at the moment which essentially means that my closet looks more like a violent tornado ripped through it than a place that a normal human gets dressed. The fact that I am now posted up in my bathtub taking ridiculous photos in my new GG tights is a pretty good indication of where my head is at.

In all seriousness, this will be my second year attending Fashion Week and I could not be more grateful for the opportunity.

Ever since I fell in love with the fashion industry, attending NYFW has been a true dream of mine. I felt incredibly proud of myself last year to check that milestone off of my goal list.

When I booked my bus ticket to New York last January I didn’t have a single invite, but I told Sam that I would find some way in. At the very least, I could spend time studying the fashion crowd from afar. I spent the weeks leading up to my departure reaching out to every PR contact I could scrounge up on the internet.

Eventually, I found myself RSVPing “yes” to more shows and events than I could even fit into my schedule. It was a whirlwind, to say the least.

In case you missed my coverage last year, take a peek at my favorite trends on and off the runway, and my outfit roundup here.

This year, I am feeling much more prepared because I have a better grasp on what to expect. Although I have cut down the number of shows and events I committed to so that I can soak in the city and explore a bit more freely, I know that some facts will remain the same. More often than not, I’ll be standing in lines for an hour at a time for each show (they notoriously run late), walking many miles in the cold, and rushing from one location to the next without a break to grab food or water.

Fashion Week is not nearly as glamorous as it may appear on major publications or social media, but there are SO many incredible aspects that make the chaos and exhaustion totally worth it.

If you are attending your first NYFW this season, I recommend taking the time to pack a practical bag that will carry you through each day. These essentials will help you avoid any added stress or last-minute scrambling.

Without further ado, here is my New York Fashion Week Edition of “What’s in my bag?”

White Wipes

I recently discovered these individually packed wipes for cleaning and whitening your teeth on the go and, let me just say, they are life-changing. If you are a black coffee/tea addict like me, or fancy a glass of red wine on occasion, these wipes will become your new go-to.

Bulletproof Collagen Bars

I highly recommend packing a few Bulletproof Collagen Bars in your bag to hold you over if you simply don’t have time to grab lunch or dinner. They are gluten-free, dairy-free, have 12g of protein, only 2g of sugar, and high-quality fats to satisfy hunger. My favorite flavors are Vanilla Shortbread, Fudge Brownie, and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.

Fold-up Flats

Remember how I said that you’d be standing in lines and walking for hours on end? I’m not exaggerating in the least bit. If you are a heels-type of girl like me, having a pair of comfortable flats that you can slip into between photoshoots and shows is essential. I repeat: you will not survive an entire week in pointed toe heels and designer OTK boots alone.

DSLR Camera (with 2-3 memory cards)

I know that a lot of people in this industry prefer to shoot on their iPhones, but I personally prefer my DSLR camera for high-quality images. The camera that I use for all of my blog and social media photos is a Nikon D750 with a 28mm lens.

If you have a video stabilizer for your phone (Sam recently got me this one), I recommend bringing that as well for shooting video content at the shows or behind the scenes.

Business Cards

This should be a no-brainer, but NYFW is an excellent place to network! Since you’ll be standing in line with people in your industry already, it’s best to use that time to make connections rather than scrolling through Instagram.

At the end of day 3, I had a pocket full of business cards - from fashion photographers that took my photo outside of Spring Studios to independent designers, bloggers, and editors. My point is, you don’t want to be the only one empty-handed (or worse: yelling out your Instagram handle over a crowded room) when it comes time to form connections.

Langeige Lip Mask

Since this beauty product doesn’t leave my side at home, it’s really no surprise that this is my number 1 essential for skincare on the go (especially with the cold, dry weather in NYC). I use this lip mask in place of chapstick throughout my day and always overnight to hydrate my lips and keep them from cracking.

Lip Liner and Gloss

Along with the Langeige lip mask, I highly recommend bringing a lip liner/gloss combo for touch-ups. This is the only way to stay fresh and glam all day after drinking, eating, and talking. My favorite is the NYX Butter Gloss in the shade Creme Brûlée and the NYX Professional Lip Pencil in the shade Staged.

Mints

Speaking of talking and making connections, no one wants to be the girl remembered by her bad breath (especially when you’re in close quarters with strangers for hours at a time). Having mints on hand to pop in every few hours is key.

Blister Band-Aids

Very few things can ruin a travel experience like unattended blisters can. I have been the victim of many ankle blisters in my past and having a few band-aids in your bag to quickly resolve the issue and continue on is clutch.

Portable Charger

Is it just me or do phone batteries die EXTREMELY quickly in cold weather? One second I’m feeling great at 78 percent and the next I’m grasping onto the final 2% for dear life so that I can tell Sam I’m going off the grid in the middle of a strange city alone. Not ideal; am I right? This year, I’ll be packing my portable charger to be safe (and to keep Sam sane).

Hand Cream

I hate to break it to you, but dry, cracked hands don’t exactly compliment your gorgeous Gucci bag. Grab an unscented mini moisturizer and bring it along so your hands can be as dewy and hydrated as your face.

Travel-Size Perfume

I would consider this more of a glam item than a “necessity”, but I like to have a mini bottle of perfume on hand to freshen up when I know that I’m going to be running around all day. A quick spritz and a touch-up of lip gloss can make all the difference in your confidence when networking.

Sunglasses

Who doesn't love a good pair of sunglasses? Ya’ll know that I love my Ray Ban round metal glasses, but I recently decided to switch things up and test out a dupe for their new (eerily similar) design on Amazon. I got them for $16 with a beautiful leather case. Although they don’t feel as solid and high-quality as my Ray Ban glasses do, when you’re looking at them from a distance, you truly wouldn't know.

These will be the glasses that I throw in my bag for the most part since I’m not worried about scratching or potentially losing them amidst the chaos.

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Want more fashion inspiration? Read How to Nail the Trendy Two-Piece Suit Look and Warm and Pretty Coats to Get You Through the Winter.

Was this NYFW guide helpful? Let me know by commenting on my latest Instagram post, or by tagging me in your OOTD with the hashtag #herblushingstyle!

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xo Anna Elizabeth