NYT Staffer Sits In The Back Row At Fashion Week, Kind Of Enjoys It

If there's one thing The New York Times does best when it comes to fashion, it's not getting sucked into the scene. Whether in a badass way (see: all of Vanessa Friedman's articles), or in a "Dad, it's time to go home now" way (see: various out-of-touch trend pieces), these reporters are decidedly outsiders, which helps them maintain a sense of objectivity throughout an event that can seem to be all about popular opinion. However, we'd never expect the newspaper of record to have a sense of humor about one of Fashion Week's biggest taboos: occupying the very back row.

Ruth la Ferla found herself in the last rows at Alexander Wang, Jason Wu, and Carolina Herrera. But, instead of throwing a fit or shrinking into the shadows (or, just leaving the show completely, as we've seen some editors do), she went the route of a real, honest reporter: She reported. "It was a challenge just to do [our jobs]," she explained, about the prestigious editors and stylists who couldn't see anything below the models' knees. "Have I somehow ticked off the house publicist," she wrote. "Has my ranking slipped irreparably? Can someone see me up here in fashion purdah?" However, it wasn't all bad: la Ferla quoted a few compatriots speaking about the more laid-back vibe, the discretion, and the opportunities for periscoping that those in the front row never get.

At the end of the day, being able to go to a fashion show is a straight-up privilege, even if writing, selling, and buying clothing is how you earn your living. Back row, standing, and even hanging off the rafters — we'll see you there with a matching grin, Ruth! (NYT)