As veterans of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim, we've noticed a pattern forming: The same kinds of people are at every. Single. Show. How about a little variety, people? We love you, but we're always spotting the same faces.
We've compiled a list of the 10 personalities you'll spot all week during MBFWS. We love some of them. We love to hate others. (Reality stars are everywhere!)
Take a look: Do you fall under one of these categories?
The editrix
Okay, so you won't spot Anna Wintour on South Beach. But that doesn't mean that fashion editor heavyweights (or their minions who won the fashion department pool to fly to fashion week) aren't in attendance at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim. You'll spot them in the front row; they're characterized by either their head-to-toe black ensembles or their attempts at styling themselves like the pages of the glossy they work for. They're usually flying solo ... or huddled over their phones taking notes.
Fashion Bloggers
Why did that famous fashion editor get front row seating? Don't the organizers of these shows know that fashion blogs are where it's at these days? Totally tons of people re-pin bloggers' Pinterest pins and RT their gushing tweets, like, all the time. It's the future. Or something. You'll be able to spot them by their pristinely applied makeup and head-to-toe matching ensemble.
C- and D-List Celebs (Hello, Louis Aguirre!)
You know exactly who we're talking about. They're an anchor on a local TV show ... or they were on that one reality show. What was it called? (Umm, Basketball Wives?) Sometimes you'll even see a Kardashian. You'll spot them by the crowd of photographers snapping their photo, and the fact that they're usually in the front row.
Real Housewives of Miami
These women deserve their own category, because they've been sprouting up everywhere: Front row at shows, designing pieces, hell, they've even been on the runway. You can spot them by, well, looking at that photo.
Ladies Who Lunch
These women are a little older, but still love their daily dose of fashion (along with their botox shots). They've been going to these shows for years, and you'll spot them by their fancy suits and fascinator hats.
Fashionable Gay Men
Let's face it: There aren't a lot of straight men attending MBFWS. The ones who do attend are at the forefront of fashion -- and they just so happen to be gay. Street style photographers are stopping them constantly to take their picture. They're sporting some sort of major accessory (like a larger-than-life flower pin on their lapel, or a bowtie). Their shoes make you look twice. You'll spot them by their love for wearing color -- and they'll usually have a woman on their arm to chat with during the shows.
Models
We don't only see models on the runway. A lot of fashion's biggest heavyweights (retired, just starting out, and still very much in it) like to sit front row from time to time. Exhibit A: Kate Upton. Last year she was at a bunch of major shows during MBFWS, and ended up in a bunch of Terry Richardson videos. Hey, models have fun, too.
Musicians
We're not entirely sure why, but musicians love fashion shows. Yesterday we spotted Christina Milian. This year we're supposed to spot Craig David and Russell Simmons at some shows (as per press releases), but you'll be hard-pressed to find a show without at least one musician sitting front row, whether it be a hip-hop artist, a rock musician, or a rapper supporting his child's burgeoning modeling career.
Families
We're not entirely sure why, but we do see a lot of children at fashion week. The free booze makes it far from a family affair, but that doesn't stop mom from bringing her 11-year-old daughter with her -- fully decked out in makeup, short shorts, heels and a crop top.
Freeloaders
We've all seen them: Those people who don't really have a reason to be at fashion week. They keep to themselves. They're snapping photos of every single look on the runway. They're usually friends of someone (Mercedes-Benz employees, PR agencies, the designer), but manage to snag a coveted seat in the tents. You'll spot them waiting in line at the bar or munching on the catered light bites.
-- Winnie Wood
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