How Social Media Changed New York Fashion Week

New York Fashion week has always been known as one of the most elitist events in Manhattan, with access given only to a “whose who” crowd of top designers, buyers, a-list celebrities, and various other socialites from all over the globe. But the average fashion-conscious consumer was always left to wonder what happens in the tents and on the runways while relying on limited, opinionated coverage of the shows from a select few fashion journalists.

Not anymore. Social Media has pulled back the velvet rope to New York Fashion Week, giving the casual fashion-fan unprecedented access to every aspect of the event, and brands reluctant to join the conversation may struggle to remain relevant as the years progress. Now, you can search Instagram for pictures of your favorite designers, or use Vine and UPSTREAM to watch live videos from the runway. You can check #NYFW on Twitter for all the latest New York Fashion Week news, while viewing instantly updated Pinterest boards from designers and bloggers as the collections are presented. Everyday, the New York Times even posts a “social media roundup” of all their favorite pictures and videos.