Somehow you can't really enjoy the fashion show while being tucked into a modest third row seat.
It's definitely something with me and the seating at the fashion show. Even in my early reporting days I sneaked to the second row seats whenever I could. Today, when I don't get a nice seating, I would rather wait outside.
It's not that I am a snob.
But not in Toronto. PR people put very little effort in researching who is who and who will provide the fashion show with more visibility, an industry insider told me. As a result, people get seated quite sporadically. Two-month-old publication with total reach of 20 people (including family and friends) will get a sweet second-row seat, while a daily newspaper would be crammed somewhere behind the black curtain.
When I {politely} asked one really busy PR fellow why we don't get a seat, he said he had "more important things to do". Right.
So who is seating where at FASHIONWEEK? Front row is occupied with sponsors, Holt Renfrew, designer friends/relatives, then some more sponsors and sneaky people who proudly take empty seats (including gift bags) when no one is watching.
The second row is for those who really work in the fashion industry. Fashion Monitor is seated in between FQ and Fashion Magazine. I am really flattered.
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