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Fashion month—that biannual odyssey through New York, London, Milan, and Paris—is upon us again, but frankly, that old four-week format has begun to feel quaint. The Fashion Week concept has expanded into a global phenomenon, as cities around the world now stage shows all year long. These cross-cultural events bring together writers, editors, and influencers from disparate points to experience fashion in its locale. They’re also a chance for emerging designers to showcase their talent and demonstrate that good clothes aren’t always born in an established fashion capital.
So what of the enthusiasts tasked with braving this new frontier—how do they pack, what do they wear? Here, seven Vogue editors divulge their travel tips, tailored to the cities they cover. From what shoes to bring to what clothes not to bring, consider their stories an insight into fashion’s global past, present, and future.
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Steff Yotka, Fashion News and Emerging Platforms Editor
Packing for Australian Fashion Week in Sydney is always trickier than I think it will be. Mid-May weather down under can be unpredictable—one year I was on the beach, the next hiding from torrential rain—so I always end up bringing more clothing than I actually wear. Here are the essentials, at least as I’ve lived it: A bohemian midi dress, some walkable booties, a one-piece swimsuit that could double as a body suit, a printed skirt, and a cute miniature bag. Stuart Vevers gave my original Coach monogram bag—purchased when I was 13—his stamp of approval, so that has become a great go-to for travel. And a sheet mask!
Emily Farra, Senior Fashion News Writer
I went to Shanghai Fashion Week for the first time in October, and from day one, I instantly realized what I forgot to pack: sneakers! Every girl there was wearing them (Converse, New Balance, Golden Goose, chunky Balenciagas, et al.) with everything, including dresses. My suitcase of heeled boots suddenly felt really wrong.
I’m not a sneakerhead, but next time I go, I’ll at least pack my Loeffler Randall stretch-knit lace-up boots, which sort of combine the comfort of a sneaker with the edge of a boot. Or I’ll grab a pair of old slip-on Vans, if it’s warm enough to go sock-less.
I’ve also been dying to go back to India (for work or for fun!) ever since my trip to Rajasthan for Holi Saloni last year. When I do make the trip, I’ll leave my T-shirts and jeans at home (a huge mistake last time) in favor of super bright, juicy colors: hot pink, clementine, chartreuse, tons of floral prints. . . . There is literally color everywhere you look there, especially in the women’s clothing. They take so much pride in dressing colorfully and often find meaning in particular shades. It makes you wonder why you’d ever wear boring black!
Laird Borrelli-Persson, Archive Editor
For some reason I figured that winter in Stockholm, with its lovely archipelago, would be less polar than it is. Rather than ruin a pair of cute booties, I now pack a more rugged pair, like Penelope Chilvers’s Incredible boots or my Swedish Hasbeens Zip-Its.
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Monica Kim, Senior Fashion News Editor
I travel an awful lot for fashion shows, and my strategy for each city is slightly different. I ll tell you about Tokyo and Seoul, which I go to most often—twice a year to Seoul for almost four years now and Tokyo for three. I used to pack a lot of little dresses and A-line miniskirts, but October and March can get chilly, especially in the evenings. A printed pant is the way to go—I love Dries Van Noten and vintage Jean Paul Gaultier—and lately I ve been wearing them with a skintight black scoop neck and a gaudy earring.
If I’m doing Tokyo-Seoul back to back with one suitcase, I’ll usually pack a few pairs of base pants—cropped black leather and denim—to mix with the sorts of loud floral tops you can throw on and feel good about. Both Tokyo and Seoul involve navigating weirdly steep hills and cobbled-y streets, so block heels and platform boots only. I used to bring a ridiculously big bag to haul everything around, but that only encourages my hoarding, so now I pick something small and close to the body (think: fanny pack, pochette).
I dress a little more conservatively in Tokyo. Though the street style photos are always OTT, the fashion scene is a bit more buttoned-up on the whole, so I’ll often put some kind of “suit” together: those leather pants, a tee, and blazer, for example. Seoul is like a second home to me, so if anything, I’m likely to look a little too comfortable (One time, I actually rolled out of bed and went to the shows in my pajamas). The common ground: I never have a warm enough coat, no matter where I am.
Liana Satenstein, Senior Fashion News Writer
While my family couldn’t wait to leave Eastern Europe, I am more than happy to visit. And though I’m not quite ready to wear Ksenia Schnaider’s asymmetrical jeans, I do like wearing homegrown designers. I’d wear a Kiev-based Ienki Ienki black puffer coat with leather pants and a Nike shirt. Also, Bevza has the most deliciously square-toe boots I’ve ever seen. I have worn my own all season long.
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Brooke Bobb, Senior Fashion News Writer
This season will be my fifth traveling to Copenhagen Fashion Week and I think I’ve definitely gotten smarter when it comes to how and what I pack. If it’s the Fall shows, I’ll pack heavy—chunky knits, my patent leather Margiela boots, and a cozy Saks Potts coat to bundle up and keep dry from the rain. During the Spring shows, I edit down. I’ll bring a few long, prairie-style printed dresses (very Copenhagen), and maybe my lighter vintage Chanel jeans with a pouf sleeve top for days that aren’t so hot. Being a New Yorker, I use Copenhagen Fashion Week as a time not wear head-to-toe black and to embrace bright color and vibrant prints.
Janelle Okwodu, Senior Fashion News Writer
I’m a classic over-packer, and when I head anywhere, I like to be as methodical as possible since I know I’m going to wind up bringing a bunch of stuff I will never wear. I pack everything using Muji packing cubes and an assortment of organizational tools, which isn’t glamorous in the slightest but gets the job done. On my last trip, which was to Abu Dhabi, I brought several beautiful dresses from 11 Honore, including a silver Zac Posen with long sleeves and a gorgeous blue Zero Maria Cornejo that’s like a caftan. I tried to narrow things down to pieces that would be both modest and have a bit of visual interest.
That said, I forgot some of the most important things, most notably, sunglasses. For some reason I can never remember to bring them, which is a shame since I’ve got quite a few nice pairs laying about. Next time, I’ll also bring a giant tote because as cute as the tiny J.W.Anderson bag I brought was, it was wildly impractical given my desire to cart around camera, tablet, water, and an arsenal of beauty products.
