12 Things You Need to Survive New York Fashion Week

Ready, set, strut! That's right, New York Fashion Week is almost here. And that means that the Big Apple's fashionistas will be hitting up runway shows from some of the biggest names in the fashion industry. But, before you pound the pavement to get a sneak peek at what you'll be wearing for Spring/Summer 2018, take a look at these key survival tips. The Lookbook spoke to celebs and fashion insiders to get their insider knowledge on what you need to get through Fashion Week. So take notes — then go and check out the clothes!

"Definitely bring a pair of flat shoes and a really cool pair of high shoes. And the reason is that, especially this year, the locations have changed. So downtown is full of cobblestone [which is a] disaster for high shoes. Like you do not want to take cobblestone in stiletto or wedges," Kell on Earth's Kelly Cutrone shared, with stylist Jason Bolden adding, "You definitely need to prep your feet because you're going to be pumping through the city, so you still want a great shoe but you've got to prep it."  Sure you might want to bring flats, but for this Real Housewife it's all about stilettos. “A great pair of heels. I would go with my Louboutin beige heels," Lisa Vanderpump shared.

"Make sure you have a car and driver. It's impossible to get around," Sonja Morgan shared. Why? "So much traffic." Duh!

Why? "Because as we all know iPhones die quite quickly, especially if you're on them all day," fashion blogger Chriselle Lim said. Kelly added, “I would bring battery chargers that are really good because social media is important and you drain out really fast.”

"I have this tiny little survival kit bag in my purse at all times," RHONY's Kristen Taekman said. "So it’s this cute little Henri Bendel bag and I have everything possible in there, like a mini deodorant, mini perfume, toothbrush, toothpaste, Band-Aids, contacts, Advil, feminine stuff in case. I take that with me and I know I can conquer the world." 

"For me, beauty and skin is really important and it's always been a very important part of my life. So prepping my skin is very, very crucial for me. I always carry around a face mist, whether it’s on the plane or during Fashion Week," Chriselle shared. "And it’s really hard to go back to the hotel in between shows, so I like to carry and freshen up."

Why? "To recharge [my] phone, to take a potty break, and to have a glass of wine," Real Housewives of Atlanta model and designer Cynthia Bailey said.

"I would bring a pair of shades 'cause you kind of can't lose with those even at night," Kelly shared. "It’s the one time you might be able to get away with those at night, like in the front row Anna [Wintour]-style." But there's another reason why they are so important. "It's always great to have the most amazing pair of sunglasses. That's always my thing, so when you're totally not into something, no one would ever know that you're not into it," Jason said. "There's gonna be collections that you're not impressed with and ... [with] the way social media is these days, everything is so instant and that could be [the moment to] go viral. So you kind of want to cover that up."

"I always make sure I have an abundance of healthy snacks in my bag because often times you’re going from show to show, or place to place, and you’re not eating and then you’re ravaged and you make unhealthy choices," RHONY's Heather Thomson said. 

“A fabulous jacket — sometimes it’s hot and sometimes it's cold. I always take seven suitcases," Real Housewives of Orange County alum Gretchen Rossi said. "You should have long-wear lipstick because you’re going from fashion show to fashion show all day long." And there are two things Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Camille Grammer would never leave home without during NYFW. “A wonderful wallet and my cellphone — so you can take pictures.” Snap away, girl!

"Patience would probably be my first thing, a strong sense of self because if you’re feeling fragile and not good about yourself it's probably not the best place to be. Self confidence is [also] definitely needed," Kelly revealed.

"Be selective," Sonja noted of deciding what shows to attend. "If you accept to go to many shows you won't enjoy them. I prefer to go to [shows of] friends of mine; it's more rewarding."

There are a lot of free drinks flowing, even backstage and in the celebrity lounges. So Sonja revealed she tries to avoid it as much as possible. "Don't drink the alcohol and champagne at the celebrity lounge," she advised. "It's a very long day and then there after parties."