Work at London Fashion Week is often seen as the pinnacle of a freelance fashionista's career so it's no wonder that thousands of creative freelancers aim to find work at LFW every season. This year, it's a little different. London Fashion Week will be run as a hybrid event between the 18th and 22nd of February. The is means some shows will take place digitally (online) whilst other will occur physically at a range of venues. The benefits of working at London Fashion Week include the experience gained, the prestige of work at an elite fashion show, the credit and the pay, but landing those coveted London Fashion Week jobs is no easy feat. In this article, we will guide you through how to find the best London Fashion Week opportunities. Here are our top 5 ways of vastly improving your chances of finding work at London Fashion Week.

1. Know where to apply for jobs

Your first port of call in the London Fashion Week application process:

​Knowing where to apply for London Fashion Week jobs. Yes, there are awesome sites like Freelancer Club who post London Fashion Week jobs for you to easily apply for but where else can you see what's up for grabs?

Many positions with the top designers are held by creative agencies who represent freelancers (photographers, makeup artists, hair stylists, fashion stylists). To join a creative agency, you must have the appropriate portfolio and experience (and often the client list). Start by searching for agencies in London and researching who they have on their books. Agencies tend to represent creative talent with a particular style or specialise in a unique sector. Find agencies who place talent at Fashion Weeks around the world and make an enquiry.

Insider Tip: don't approach creative agencies a week before an LFW season, they'll be up to their necks in work. Contact them around a month before the next show for the optimum time to get a reply. 

2. Contact PR Agencies

The other key players at London Fashion Week are PR agencies who represent the designers showing at LFW. They often require creative teams to work at their London Fashion Week shows and it's not uncommon for them to need help at the last minute. Don't just blitz PR firms with your portfolio, research who they are working with and personalise the email.

Save hours of time and increase your chances of landing work at London Fashion Week by watching our Masterclass with Portia Shaw, CEO of POP PR on 'How to Get Work at London Fashion Week.' Portia outlines the best ways to approach agencies and designers, when to contact them and what to say. 

See the schedule for LFW for a full line up of designers (the schedule for LFW can change - particularly in the current climate). Find out which agencies represent which designers by searching the official London Fashion Week site, clicking on the designer's site and checking if they are agency represented. Alternatively, search by designer and inquire directly if they are showing at LFW and whether they require your freelance services.

"My most memorable moment was working on a show for an Italian designer which was being covered by Vogue Italia - during the backstage madness of rushing models into dresses we found out that each piece was worth £50k - we soon slowed down!" - Jane Bellis, MUA @ New York Fashion Week"

3. Suss out the entire schedule, not just the big shows

Off-schedule shows during London Fashion Week are just as much fun as official on-schedule London Fashion Week shows. They may not have the same prestige that comes with certain brands (some would argue they are cooler) but they are still very established, respected labels who put on exceptional shows. Check out the schedule on Fashion Scout to see who's showing and start from there. They normally release their London Fashion Week schedule a couple of weeks before the show. Other notable shows are On|Off and Fashion Finest. Why not check out  Men's Fashion Week to satisfy those LFW urges in between seasons.

4. Have an excellent portfolio ready to go
 

Be prepared, well in advance. Working at LFW is very sought after so your portfolio must be exceptional. It's also an advantage to have fashion show experience. You don't need to fill your portfolio with backstage shots but if you think the employer is only going to look at your book and not meet you in person then include one. If there's an opportunity to tell them about your London Fashion Week experience, then mention it and leave those backstage shots out of your portfolio. Don't have a portfolio? Test Shoot and get professional images into your portfolio book pronto. To arrange a Test Shoot and add to your portfolio, click HERE. To apply for Test Shoots, click HERE and connect with other fashion-hungry creators. Fashion show experience can be found throughout the year. Most universities with a fashion department produce graduate shows and there are regular shows hosted by PR agencies every month. Research, reach out and repeat! 

5. Show your professionalism and be assertive
 

Working at London Fashion Week (or any fashion week show for that matter) is fast paced, full of high intensity and, quite frankly, insane! The phrase 'organised chaos' comes to mind. Make sure you show examples of your professionalism when applying for roles and if you have any show experience, highlight it in big, bold letters. Professionalism when applying is also essential. That means no misspellings, show examples of working under pressure, turning up to the interview on time and showing your ability to improvise are as important as your portfolio. Whether you're a photographer in the pit or a makeup artist backstage, sharpen your elbows, as you'll need to use them more than once.