By: Miriam Bribiesca
New York Fashion Week has a reputation for being exclusive, intimidating, and wildly out of reach, especially if you’re a college student. But in case you didn’t know, a HUGE part of NYFW runs on interns, volunteers, creatives, and stylish humans who love fashion. You don’t need a seat in the front row to be part of the action, you just need a plan and an undying willingness to stand out.
Let’s break down how college students can actually participate in NYFW, and not just romanticize it from afar.
Dress Like You’re New to Earth
Street style photographers don’t chase logos, they chase personality and an immaculate sense of style. During NYFW, sidewalks become runways, and the people getting photographed are rarely dressed like your typical civilian, they’re dressed uniquely.
So if you are looking to make headlines, here’s how to have your 15 seconds of fame:
- Pick one standout piece (oversized coat, wild boots, sculptural bag, dramatic sunglasses) and build your outfit around it.
- Thrift fashion > fast fashion. In the fashion world, vintage fits read way cooler and more authentic on camera. Plus if they ask what you’re wearing, there’s nothing better than saying “it’s Vintage.”
- You’re not trying to look expensive, you’re trying to look intentional.
Lastly, remember that photographers tend to linger outside important venues before and after shows. Even if you’re not attending, dressing the part in the right areas can get you noticed.
Know Where the Underground Shows Are
The most exciting fashion moments during NYFW don’t always happen at the biggest shows. Emerging designers and indie brands often host events that are more accessible and honestly, way more fun!
Here’s what to look for:
- Pop-up runway shows in warehouses, galleries, or rooftops ask around to get in.
- Designer showcases hosted by fashion schools or collectives
- Brand parties that double as creative networking hubs
And now here’s how to find them:
- Follow emerging designers on Instagram (especially those with under 50k followers)
- Watch stories tagged with #NYFW, #NYFWBackstage, or #NYFWEvents
- Sign up for fashion event platforms and newsletters weeks in advance
- DM brands politely asking if they need volunteers or assistants. Yes, really!
Volunteer Your Way In
As you may or may not know, Fashion Week runs on free or low paid labor. BUT that doesn’t mean it’s not valuable. And this is how a lot of people start!
Volunteering as a college student can get you backstage access, real fashion credits for your resume, direct connections with designers, stylists, and PR teams, and hands-on experience you simply can’t get in a classroom.
Now given the downsides, if you are still interested in breaking into the industry, here are some roles to look for:
- Dressing assistants
- Production runners
- Front-of-house check in
- Social media or content capture
- Backstage coordination
Start searching 2–3 months before NYFW and reach out directly to designers, PR agencies, fashion schools hosting shows, and event production companies. Fashion is competitive and chaotic, but reliability stands out. People will remember that.
Internships, Internships, Internships!
If you’re serious about fashion, NYFW internships are a crash course in how the industry works.
But before you run into it, here’s what to know:
- Most internships are unpaid or lightly paid (budget accordingly)
- The hours can be intense, so be prepared to WORK
- You will not get creative control, but you’ll get proximity! And proximity can mean everything in the fashion industry.
If you are a student of fashion, being in the room matters. Watching how designers move, how PR handles stress, how shows come together last minute, that knowledge compounds fast.
And yes, the industry is tough. Rejection is super common. Emails often go unanswered. But just remember that it is not personal. Persistence is what separates people who “tried fashion once” from people who built careers in it. What will you choose?
Now for those who love fashion but don’t necessarily want to work in the industry, New York is still the place to be! There you can walk through fashion history at museums like the The Metropolitan Museum of Art on the Upper East Side (home to the legendary Costume Institute), explore the Museum at FIT in Chelsea for rotating exhibitions on designers and trends, and catch powerful fashion showcases at the Brooklyn Museum, all while standing in the very city where some of fashion’s most important moments actually happened.
Fashion rewards those who are bold, and it’s important to remember that this world isn’t just about clothes, it’s about storytelling and showing up before you feel ready.
If you want to live large, you have to move intentionally. Dress like yourself. Say yes to opportunities. Be patient with the process.
And when it comes to getting to the big apple, using your exclusive student discount from ScholarTrip makes it easier for you to actually afford experiences like NYFW, that way more of your budget can go toward the moments that matter, not just the plane ticket!
