NYFW Travel Tips

Models,

I understand we all dream of brands and designers flying us out because we just have the look that sells, the way that conquers, and the face that serves. However, if you’re just starting out or haven’t had that extensive exposure yet, then this post is for you. Read more to learn how to travel for New York Fashion Week on a budget.

1. Ensure you have a budget.

   1. Whether you are staying for 3 weeks for castings and shows or only a few days, it is important for every traveler to have a budget and a reasonable one at that. I always budget $1000 for a 2 week stay - $300 for transportation (Lyft to and from the airport, and the metro while I’m in the city), $300 for food and groceries, $0 for my stay (I have the family hookup! So if you have friends or family in the area, take advantage because NYC is NOT cheap!), and $400 for entertainment or supplies/emergencies. Continue reading to learn how I stay within my budget.

2. Plan your stay and focus on work.

   1. Whenever I travel for work, I do not focus on sight seeing or tourism. I’m there to work and earn money as a model. There is a difference between traveling for pleasure and traveling for work. Feel free to attend after parties and networking events in order to find collaborative opportunities but if you travel to NYC or NYFW for fun only, then I guarantee you won’t secure as many bookings. Stay focused and don’t get lost in the sauce. So many models get lost in the dream of the big apple, and thereafter, lose their focus and lucrative opportunities. Stay focused on bookings, as well as work that aligns best with your brand. I'll create a networking FAQ page for models, as well as lessons and tips for how to pitch yourself to brands so stay tuned.

   2. A Subway Metro card is your BEST FRIEND. Make sure to bring your go-see bag and some pepper spray as you ride from casting to casting. I’ll create a post about what to ideally bring to a model casting or audition.

3. Set alerts for affordable round-trip flights.

   1. Google Alerts are my best friend (not sponsored unfortunately). The best times to look for flights are at least 6 weeks in advance and at the beginning of the week (from my research, Tuesdays seem to be the ideal day for booking cheap flights).

4. Pack what you need, not what you want.

   1. For all my overpackers, please press F to pay respects because this is NOT the time to pack the boots that you might need just in case. My rule is for a 2 week trip includes:

      1. Packing versatile clothing. All black is ideal with 1 or 2 colorful accents. I pack 3 bodysuits (Black T-shirt, long sleeve, and turtle neck), 2 jeans (all fitted but not skinny - black and blue jean), 1 pair of white casting sneakers (Tommy Hilfiger), 2 pairs of black tights, 3 pairs of heels (black pointed toe, nude pointed toe, and black open toe as a back-up), 1 outing dress (black simple strapless dress), leather jacket (you can never go wrong with this depending on the season you attend NYFW), 2 pairs of biker shorts, 2 regular T-shirts, and a few pairs of sports bras and seamless NUDE underwear.

      2. All this can fit into a carry-on so you could save costs. If you need a at least 1 checked luggage like me then you can pay $30 at Delta and get 1 free carry on and personal item (be aware that you will be traveling with all your luggage in NYC - I would suggest taking a Lyft ($50-$100 depending on which airport you leave from to get to Manhattan) and not the subway with all your items. Southwest does allow 2 free checked bags I believe so pick the airline that works best for you and your situation.

5. Reduce costs by investing in a travel card or your travel miles/points.

   1. Personally, I use my Chase Sapphire Preferred card everything I travel. You get 5x the points on dining, travel, and more. This is great for booking hotels - which you can easily filter through Google and find some in Brooklyn or outside of Manhattan because the city is $$$ let me tell you. It is worth the investment as I travel frequently for modeling, as well as for my other business. A lot of my travel is self-funded so I am always setting aside my money saved from gigs and I am always using my travel points for my flights and hotel stays. Definitely worthwhile for frequent flyers.