As Paris Fashion Week recently kicked off, and with the Armory Show just around the corner, one has to wonder: how do art fairs and fashion weeks differ? Both are go-to events, industry must-dos and places to see new, cutting edge culture. But how similar—or different—are they? Apparently very. Here are our top five reasons how they differ (and what never to do at either).
At an art fair, it doesn’t really matter what you wear
You will see performance artists strolling up in full regalia and boring curators in every shade of black. But take that same blasé approach to attending fashion week? You probably won’t get invited again, so think twice about what you select from your closet before taking seat in the front row of a runway show.
At a fashion show, all you have to say is the show is “amazing”
That’s all people do at fashion weeks—except maybe the fashion critics—is just say something is amazing, simply “amazing.” The fashion world is a lot more cautious about its criticism, but in the art world, you can actually engage in a conversation about the art in a way that’s deeper than a puddle.
The VIP lists have different protocol
It feels like there is less room for people at fashion week runway shows, but at art fairs, its still relatively easy to get in the large, shopping-mall esque vibe of it all. Oh, and those florescent lights make for terrible selfies.
Art fair afterparties are as exciting as hackathons compared to Fashion Week
If there is actually an art fair afterparty, its probably a bar gathering or (heaven forbid) some sort of panel discussion turned dinner party where only a handful are invited. Fashion week afterparties at least have moderately-known DJs spinning parties and people tend to be a bit friendlier. Maybe. And there’s no goodie bags, either.
You can’t pick up any guys at fashion week because because they are more interested in each other or taken
That’s the bottom line, so naturally, see you at the art fair!
Photos via Flickr
