Standing out in LGFW.

What to wear, say, and do during a Fashion Week event.

Courtesy of WeHeartit

There are a few things we’ve learned since embarking on this pony adventure. Some of which were from pros like Shinan Govani, and others we’ve picked up on ourselves. To survive in this world, one must not be a lone ranger  – nor should one be surrounded by a posse of ponies everywhere she goes. Poise, appearance, wit, and demeanor are just several of the core traits to be constantly aware of and strive to improve upon every day. But it’s finally time we let you in on exactly what we’ve learned on our journey thus far, that way, you can stand out as a confident conversationalist come LG Fashion Week.

Let’s start with your surroundings. Chances are someone has invited you to an event as their guest, but if you’ve responded to a media event and are intending on going solo – you’ve got your work cut out for you. Attending solo means you need to be that much more confident in approaching strangers and asking them about themselves. You have every reason to be there as much as Jeanne Beker does, so take advantage of this solo act by meeting and greeting (as opposed to meeting and greeting the open bar).

If you’ve got several friends with you, this will also be a challenge. Friends are like a security blanket in that they provide you with a reason not to socialize with the new faces around you. Do not ditch them by any means, but if you’d like to stand out and make a lasting impression, you may want to excuse yourself for a brief moment to introduce and schmooze with a few other individuals.

Next, appearance. We’ll never forget our first day at the Ontario College of Art and Design where we were blown away by the number of artists desperately attempting to stand out amongst the crowd: men with satanic horns shaved into their heads, women in tutus and piercings. Being bold doesn’t mean wearing a costume. Besides, appearances can be deceitful in that sometimes the woman in the plain black suit has more to say than the woman in the tutu. Be yourself first and foremost – but to add extra oomph, we’ve found that high heels add not only height and prominence, but a perfect posture as well. If God is truly in the details, then highlight your outfit with complimentary and unique detailing that doesn’t overpower your radiant personality. You don’t want to be remembered as “that girl in the fluorescent tights”.

Conversation. Shinan taught us Cowgirls that when you meet a celebrity, you must pretend as if you’ve never heard of them. “I know she’s Nicole Kidman, she know’s she’s Nicole Kidman, it feels as if there’s an elephant in the room – but there’s no other way around it.” So should you find yourself talking to Dan Levy or hell, Shinan Govani himself, remember they are a person like everyone else – worthy of your time. With each person you meet, remember everything your mummy taught you: eye contact, ask questions, listen, learn, and engage. If they compliment your outfit, do not respond with a compliment right back at them. And above all things, smile. Would you rather know a woman like Naomi Campbell or like Heidi Klum? Think about it. A smile can go a long way – and even Victoria Beckham admits that she flashes a smile the minute the flashing cameras are off. You’re not there to pose, you’re there to shine.

Courtesy of WeHeartit.

Your toolkit. What good is networking without having your business cards present and easily accessible? Think beforehand about how you’ll define yourself in a quick and confident way. When we started in September, we were “just starting this new blog-thing, it’s not big yet. Oh, I don’t know. Toronto stuff. Hard to explain.”… Pathetic. Now, we’re “the Cowgirls from Mushy Pony. We round up Toronto’s trendsetters and provide them with a voice that other media outlets may normally miss.” If you can, bring a notepad and pen to jot down details about the people you meet – their emails, contact info, etc. Bring a camera, lipstick, bottle of water, cash, your usual necessities. It’s not about putting on an act, or merely acting how you normally do on any given day. It’s about letting your inner self shine. Having a presence when you walk into the room that beams radiance. Soak in every moment – because it’s yours for the taking.

XoXo
– The Cowgirls.