3 Business Lessons Learned At Pitti Uomo 87

People always think that fashion bloggers go to fashion events to show off their wardrobe and appear in magazines. Although, for some, this is totally true, most of the time, fashion events are the best place for creating new partnerships, meeting new people, that can later become your clients, and learn from others – not just how to dress, but how to act and how to do business.

You might like: Pitti Uomo 87 Street Style Photos

This year, it was our second time when someone from our team got to go to Pitti Uomo, first time was in June 2014, when the Editor-in-Chief (Andrada), represented Male Extravaganza at Lardini + Nick Wooster Collection Launching. (Read all about it HERE). This time, me and Mihai (the owners of both websites) decided to go together, since we had a few invitations and also wanted to combine business with pleasure and spend a few days, as a couple, in beautiful Florence. If this is not a perk of owning a fashion business than I don’t know what else is. (I actually got to write a nice article about our Florence experience: 8 Of The Best Kept Secrets Of Florence)

You can read all about the trends we spotted at Pitti Uomo 87: 8 Trends You Can Start Using NOW!

As I said, we knew Pitti was approaching, and hoped for invitations, but with our busiest month of all (December 2014), you can read about it in our 69 Things You Did Not Know About Our 2014: A Year In Review article, and Holidays approaching, we actually made no plans regarding going for sure or not. With all the postponing, we got to lose not only money, but also precious time.

#1. Business Lesson Learned at Pitti Uomo 87

When you want something, pretend you already have it. – Click to Tweet

The reason why we did not buy the airfare, train tickets or accommodation, with at least 2-3 weeks before the event (if not a month) was because we were not sure we will have enough money to spend on such a trip (don’t forget we are both freelancers, self sustained) and we kept postponing making the decision, until money will come. Due to this fear of not having the money, we not only spent double on train tickets, but we we also payed other unpredictable fees. So, from a total of 155 euros, we easily got to 260 euros. Only because we waited so long to make all the arrangements.

Money and opportunities will always come, if you know what you want and when you want it! Don’t wait until you know for sure, because that waiting might cost you double. Faith is always cheaper! So, learn to have faith and believe that no matter what, you will make it!

#2. Business Lesson Learned at Pitti Uomo 87

Business is not about working all day long, it is about what you know and who you know.- Click to Tweet

When we arrived to Pitti Uomo 87, we already knew some PRs, who gave us invitations, so it was easy to blend in and feel like *at home*. Once you are in, you are in. The first thing you need to do is open the first door, because afterwards you can easily open all other. We got to interact with brands we worked with (and it is awesome to meet in person the people you emailed a year ago) and get to know new ones, who got to invite us to other events or brainstorm about new ways of partnerships: from a Capsule Collection to work on a digital product. Everything is possible when you know your worth and you go out to get what you are worth!

#3. Business Lesson Learned at Pitti Uomo 87

Successful people look fabulous all the time, not just when they go out. – Click to Tweet

We tend to think that how you look and act is not so important if you are just going grocery shopping, because we see it as something we add to ourselves, not something we already are. When I say fashionable, I don’t mean only latest trends, I mean confidence, cleanliness, looking gorgeous, like from a magazine – because looking like that will make you seem successful. The reason why most of the wealthiest people alive, are always impeccably dressed and go to the gym and walk like they own the world, is because this is who they are, not who they want to be.