1. Outfits
There will be various events throughout the week and you want to make sure that you have the appropriate attire for each event. The week kicks off with a 90s themed launch party on Monday, Wednesday is the
"Curves at Sea" All White Sunset Dinner/Dance Cruise, Friday is the Indie Designer Showcase, and Saturday is the Retailers/Boutiques/All Stars Runway Showcase & Industry Awards Event. You should be sure to look your very best and be ready to smile because there are cameras everywhere (literally!)
 |
| at the All White Cruise |
 |
| at the Retail/Boutique Showcase |
 |
| at the Indie Designer Showcase |
2. Camera
Like I just previously said, there will be cameras everywhere so be ready to smile, but there will also be opportunities for you to take pics with your favorite designers, models, and bloggers! Make sure you have your batteries charged and your memory cards emptied because you'll have the chance to make good use of them!
3. Comfortable shoes/Flats
Yes it's a week of fashion, and sometimes that comes with a price, but that price should not be pain! Every smart girl knows to have a pair of flats nearby. I have a pair of foldable flats that I keep in my bag. I usually with throw them on if I have to walk in the city or at the end of the night once we're done taking pictures and are hanging having drinks or are on the dance floor. I wear a size 15/16 heel but love my foldable flats from "Fit in Clouds." If you wear a more normal size (like a size 12 and below), you can find foldable flats at Walmart, KMart, CVS, Kohl's, and Target. Please pleas please don't be one of those girls walking/hobbling around NYC with your heels in your hand and nothing on your feet. Not a cute look! 
4. Cash!
Last year at FFFW, some people learned the hard way that it pays to have cash on you. The All White Cruise had a cash bar, and the only ATM on the boat was broken! I've never seen so many beautiful people hot (literally) and bothered because they couldn't get their sip on! It also pays to have cash on you in the event that you need to hop in a taxi during the week. If you plan to go shopping in certain areas, cash will also allow you to bargain with vendors. Kind of hard to bargain when you're holding plastic!
5. Business Cards
There will be plenty of opportunities to network during the week, so be sure to have your business cards or comp cards with you. Since many events will be packed with people, some people don't want to spend time taking out their phone an doing the whole "add contact" procedure. Last year, I added my contacts (via facebook, email, or added them to my phone) at the end of the night once I had time to sit on the couch and decompress. If you don't have any cards, you can have free ones made at vistaprint. If you're willing to spend a little cash, you can go to your local Staples.
6. Fan, handherchief, loose powder and powder puff
It will be mid-June in New York City so it's bound to be hot! Even if it rains, it'll be hot and humid. Don't get caught at a FFFW event without a fan. You will wish you had one. I'm a queen that's known for having a fan in her bag (I love and have a collection of the big Chinese snap fans). No matter how flawless your makeup may be, you will need to powder (or blot), which is why you should be sure to have your loose powder along with your powder puff. This will help you to keep a matte looking face and avoid the shiny face look in pictures.
7. Mints, deodorant, fragrance, and baby wipes
If you're going to attend events during the day during FFFW, these things are essential. You'll be moving around to different locations, meeting lots of people, and, I say again, it'll be hot! You want to make sure that you're a fresh as possible! You don't want to ruin that first impression with bad breath or by smelling sweaty. Pop some mints during events (avoid gum as it is unprofessional when having a conversation with someone), LIGHTLY spray a little fragrance early in the day, and you can use the wipes to freshen up if you began to feel hot an sweaty (one of the best places to hit so you cool off is the back of your neck!).
8. ID and portable charger
Whether you know it or not, it's actually illegal in New York to not have ID on you. Even if you don't drive and have a driver's license, you can have a state issued ID. Having an ID is important as many clubs, lounges, and bars in NYC will card you. We ran into an issue last year where there was a group of about 6 of us going to a lounge after an event and two of the girls didn't put their ID in the bags. It became an annoying situation which ended in the girls having to hop in a cab (see #4 above), go back to the hotel for their IDs, and come back to the lounge. A portable charger is important because tweeting, posting to instagram, and taking pictures with your phone quickly drains the battery. Be sure to pack your charger so you're not one of those people walking around the club/bar looking for an outlet or asking the bartender if you can "plug in" behind the bar! I'm partial to the Anker portable charger (which can charge two phones, or in my case my phone and iPad mini at the same time!). Make sure you charge your external charger (and your camera battery) overnight while you're sleeping.
9. Saftey pins, bobby pins, hair ties, nail glue, and dryer sheets
I know that this is more than one thing, but I keep them together in a zip lock bag. Safety pins come in handy in the even that a zipper busts (it happens) or a button comes loose. The bobby pins and hair ties are useful when it gets hot and you want to put you hair up. The nail glue will help with quick nail repairs, and you can use dryer sheets to run over your hair to keep stray hairs out of your face (and not on the awesome lipstick you'll be wearing!).
10. Confidence and a great attitude
Remember a big point of this week is to celebrate and support the plus sized community. You have made sacrifices to be a part of this week and people are coming from all over to be a part of such a great week. You'll have the opportunity to rub elbows with, chit chat, and hang out with your favorite designers, models, bloggers, and photographers during this week. While there will be networking opportunities, it's also a time for people to personally connect. The press people (bloggers, reporters, etc.) are not there just to talk to industry professionals. They're there to also finally meet all of you that have been following and supporting them on social media (Thanks for that advice Nikki!). Don't be afraid to approach others and introduce yourself. I was so nervous last year at FFFW, but everyone was so nice and welcoming. It allowed me to shed the nerves and talk with people I had previously spoken to online. I have to give a shot out to some of the industry's giants that were so lovely to me: Gwen DeVoe (creator and CEO of Full Figured Fashion Week), Sharon Quinn, Tonya Giddens, Marcy Guevara, Ashley Graham (who was a hoot), Allison McGevna, and Monique Walton.
Well I guess that's it for now! If you're in attendance at Full Figured Fashion Week and you see me, please come up and say hello! I'd love to hear how your week is going! Until next time! Remember, "being beautiful is not just about what you wear!"
- Sasha
