New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2019 ended last week & if you follow me on IG, then you probably noticed the lack of NYFW content flooding my recent feed. That’s because I made the decision this year to skip it all together. Here’s why:

For the last 5 years, I’ve attended NYFW 10 times and allowed it to take over 7 straight days of my life. From sprinting to every show I got invited to, while changing into a new look after each one, and somehow managing to make it out after hours for the evening events, I pushed both my mind and body to the point of complete exhaustion. At the conclusion of every season, I’d be handed a nasty cold as a parting gift for running my body into the ground.

Why did I subject myself to this overwhelming stress 2x each of these 5 years? Because I felt like I had to in order to excel in my career as a blogger. Fashion Week has always been presented as an opportunity to see and be seen, emphasis on the latter. Going to every show (which is borderline impossible) and showing face at every event to network felt necessary if I wanted to build myself up as an influencer. Because I was led to believe the only way to grow was to take complete advantage of Fashion Week, I continued to force myself of its intense demands. And yet, it would come at a cost by taking a major toll on my mental and physical health each time.

By no means am I saying that the above isn’t important – it 100% is in retrospect. Fashion Week gives an opportunity to meet the people you work with face-to-face in a prestigious and somewhat exclusive sort of way. And yes, the more you participate means the increased likelihood of landing bigger gigs and attending bigger shows down the road.

This particular season of NYFW landed on a week where my personal life took priority. Between my best friend’s wedding and my parent’s anniversary, my presence for them was preferred over my presence at the shows I’d be missing. I didn’t feel an ounce of regret when I realized I’d have to miss these shows either; instead I had a feeling of relief. That’s when I decided that maybe it would be better for me to step away and take a break from it for the first time in 5 years.

Instead of attending shows, I focused on meetings with brands that were in town for the week and made strides to visit their showrooms, offices, and pop-up shops instead. I had the energy this time to seize the opportunity of getting my face in front of the people I email back and forth with. Not having to worry about trying to do it all allowed me to represent myself in a strong light during these meetings as well.

This year I decided not to let what everyone else was doing affect what I needed to do for myself. I personally needed the break; I needed to focus on my friends and family during this week, as well as what would ultimately be more important for me to focus on now for long term results.

This won’t be the case every Fashion Week. Next February I plan to be much more involved. But this break allowed me to refresh and regroup, and I feel it necessary to share that skipping Fashion Week is okay to do. Don’t let the prestige of Fashion Week dictate what you feel is right to do for you & the success of your career. Your health is your wealth, and the real root of your success.

Pencil Skirt: ASOS | Bodysuit: ASOS | Fedora: 10th Street Hats | Metallic Sneakers: Tretorn | Bag: Henri Bendel