A Girls Guide to Fashion WeekFebruary 2011 marked my first season at London Fashion Week. As a first timer I made certain to research as much l could about what to expect and what to do during Fashion Week. I read articles on 'How To..', 'the Do's and Don'ts', 'Everything you need to know', a plethora of material on ways to maintain the right Fashion Etiquette when mingling with the fashion world's elite. However as organised and equipped as I thought I was, nothing prepared me for the exhaustion, dehydration and chaos that lay ahead and before the sun rose on day three I was already wearing bags under my eyes as an accessory.Fashion Week can be the 3 E's, Exhilirating, Exciting and Enjoyable. Whether you're new to the game or a season veteran it should be a pleasurable experience. I collated a few tips that can turn a brutal week into a triumph. This guide is as essential as a muzzle on John Galliano in a room full of Jews, enjoy:PLAN, PLAN, PLAN - Fashion Week is all about Preparation. If you intend on going to a show, the schedules are up on the BFC website weeks in advance so make sure to request invites as early as is allowed, but don't get carried away PR company's will have a field day at your expense if they get Fashion Week invites months before a show. Put together your own schedule once you get confirmations if necessary so you know where you need to be and when. Don't Be a Bag Lady, PACK LIGHT - As a female you are tempted to carry everything necessary to be equipped with anything that may come your way, but the best thing you could do for yourself and your sanity is to carry the bare minimums. I packed my netbook, netbook charger, my blackberry charger, make up bag, perfume, spare shoes, diary, head phones, a note book and my invites. Before midday the combination of rushing around in high heeled shoes and carrying around a potatoe sack of a bag gave me a hunch back and I had to lean on anything stationary. Not only did I not need my netbook, but by the second day I had more than halved my overall load. The British Fashion Council, provide a Press Lounge and various different facilities are located around Somerset House that allow you to use computers and high speed internet for free. If all else Fails, EAT - Carry Water, carry snacks and make sure you take the time to eat. If nothing else this is the most important tip I could give. It is extremely easy to prioritise everything else but yourself while in the midst of the Fashion Week frenzy and forget that your body needs food to function and your mind needs nutrients to keep working. The great thing this year was that Vitamin Water was readily available and when the Press Lounge isn't packed you can get at least some soup and other food to keep you going. If it's there take it and stuff some fruit in your bag!Get your seat in Advance - this ties in with the first point about Planning. Make sure you get your invite! Even if you have standing tickets, as long as you have a place that's all that matters. If there are free seats when the standing invitees are being ushered in, you could probably bag yourself a seat. The last thing you want is to be the girl waiting in line without a ticket to a show, hoping to get in. Depressing!Fashion DON'T - Do not by any means ask if a seat is taken! By the time standing invitees are being ushered in, a free seat is then fair game (but that doesn't make it secure), as the show will start soon after. If you ask if a seat is taken then you might as well wear a sign saying 'I do not belong' and either get ignored or told its being held for somebody else. Confidently purch your derriere, look busy, look important and its yours. I had a standing ticket to John Rocha but ended up on the second rowTime Management - Not all shows are on site, most off site shows are not too far away from the main venues however some presenations are. I did not think I would find myself hailing a black cab to get to a venue but before I realised it started to be come a regular occurance. After getting lost trying to find the venue for Belle Sauvage's catwalk show and ending up backstage where House of Holland were setting up, it became easier to get a cab to off site destinations. Better management of my schedule, could have avoided such mishaps. Pay close attention to venues for events to make sure you to accomodate for the time it will take to get thereSleeping Beauty - You can not make it to every show and every party because by day three you'll end up feeling like a zombie. Fashion Week can be very overwhelming decipher what's of necessity to you, but early starts and late nights require sleep. Give your body time to relaxNo Invite? .. Don't worry - I felt it neccessary to try and get an invite to every show that would let me. In my NOT so finest hour I did make it into a few that had refused my invite. After attending said shows I'd write raving reviews, but soon came to the realsation that they didn't invite me to they're show and yet I'm giving them free press. Don't be disheartened if you don't get the invite you wanted, information and photographs from shows will be available on the web before the models have time to take they're shoes offNetworking - Fashion Week is not the easiest place to network as people at the top tend to fratenize with their own. However I found the most flow of communication came while standing in line for a show and met wonderful people that have great jobs. I found myself exchanging business cards with a contributing Editor for the Korean Edition of Harper's Bazaar in between whining about how tired I was. The ability to network is what you make it, but do not expect everyone to be friendlyGirls Just Want to Have Fun - Fashion Week can be full of contradictions, its draining yet exhilirating, tough yet enjoyable and daunting but also exciting. Don't forget that it's all about being in the presence of great clothing and you're invited to a unique satorial party, Enjoy It!