While the fashion week landscape has evolved, out-of-pocket expenses remain constant—unless you have brand sponsorship.
If you’re a content creator and have secured invitations to Paris Fashion Week shows and presentations from some of the biggest brands in the industry (a challenge in itself), congratulations!
Another challenge begins, and best to be ready for it. Unless you manage to secure sponsorships for the bigger chunk of your costs (airfare, accommodations, ground transportation), be prepared to spend a significant amount of money for just a week of fashion-filled festivities.
While the fashion week landscape has evolved, out-of-pocket expenses remain constant. Here’s a general cost breakdown of what to expect when flying into the city for it. Keep in mind that these estimates do not include luxury shopping, which can substantially inflate your expenses. Most of these rates also fluctuate regularly (currency conversion: €1 = P63, $1 = P57), so these conservative estimates will vary based on your choices.
Schengen visa
For content creators traveling with a team of three (photographer, hair and makeup stylist, personal assistant), prepare for the following:
Schengen Visa: The price for a short-stay tourist visa for France is approximately P12,000 per person, processed through TLS Contact. Premium services for visa processing may increase the price.
Total visas for four (including yourself): P48,000.
Travel insurance: This is mandatory for all travelers entering France and the rest of the Schengen countries. Insurance coverage for you and your team during fashion week will cost approximately P2,500 per person.
Total travel insurance for four: P10,000.
Airfare
Long-haul flights tend to go up in price as the travel date approaches. These rates are also heavily influenced by high or low seasons. The spring-summer womenswear Fashion Week in Paris happens during the tail end of September, while the fall-winter womenswear Fashion Week falls around the end of February, making airfare during these periods relatively higher than normal.
For business class, expect rates between P190,000 and P225,000 from Middle Eastern airlines, with prices potentially doubling with top Asian carriers. Economy class tickets will range from P65,000 to P85,000 per person. For budgeting purposes, the higher estimates will be used.
Total for airfare: P450,000.
• Business Class: P225,000 x 1 = P225,000
• Economy Class: P85,000 x 3 = P255,000
Ground transportation
With multiple confirmed invitations and brand loans for clothing, you’ll need a private van for convenience. A private chauffeur and van can serve as your base, offering you and your team comfort and a space for preparation between shows.
Average rates in Paris range from EUR 60 to 80 per hour, with a minimum of 6 hours. Adding a 20% tip brings the daily total to approximately 960 EUR. Based on an average conversion rate of €1/ PhP63, your daily cost will be around P60,480.
Total for ground transportation: P60,480 x 7 days = P423,360.
Accommodations
Traveling with a team makes renting a local Paris flat economical, but staying in a hotel is more convenient, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the city. You will need two rooms to accommodate your team. Hotels in Paris, especially during fashion week, can be pricey.
A four-star hotel averages between $550 and $650 per room per night, while a five-star hotel costs no less than $2,000 per night and easily increases in price according to the hotel brand and location.
Total for accommodation: P518,700.
• 4-star hotel stay: ($650 x 2 rooms) x 7 days = $9,100 or P518,700
• Optional 5-star hotel stay: ($2,000 x 2 rooms) x 7 days = $28,000 or P1,596,000
Meals
If you have a hectic schedule during fashion week, it’s a stretch to say that you’ll have time daily for leisurely meals around the city. Breakfast in Paris typically includes a croissant, yogurt, and coffee, averaging around €10 per person. Lunch takeaway options like a ham and cheese baguette or salad cost about €6-8.
A fast and inexpensive 3-course meal at big-chain restaurants like the Bouillon brasseries starts from €25 up. Dinners are pricier, but again, it will all depend on the type of restaurant you visit.
Here’s a very conservative estimate for each meal:
• Breakfast: €10 x 4 = €40/day
• Lunch (including chauffeur’s): €15 x 5 = €60/day
• Dinner: €30 x 4 = €120/day
Total for meals: €220 x 7 days = €1,540 or P97,020.
Team salaries
Salary arrangements will vary, but if you bring a team to work with you and for you in Paris, you are legally required to adhere to French labor laws which entail paying your team the minimum wage at the very least, even if they are not French citizens. The current minimum wage rate hovers around €12 or P756/hour (rounded off to P800). Assuming 12-hour workdays, the amount per day will be about P9,600 per person. Also bear in mind that some of your team members are experts in their fields, so they may require wages above minimum.
Total for salaries: (P9,600 x 3) x 7 days = P201,600.
Additionally, there are many professional photographers and videographers in France that can be contracted for between $600-$800 per day, while hair and makeup artists range from $250-$400.
Incidentals:
Always set aside extra funds for incidentals or emergencies. A loose budget of $3,000 is advisable. This amount is also not to be confused with your “shopping” budget. For that, you can set aside whatever amount you think will work for you, and will be dependent on whether you are frugal or extravagant!
Total for incidentals: $3,000 x P57 = P171,000.
In total, expect to spend upwards of P1.95 million, or between $30,000 to $35,000 (again, depending on how you allocate your funds) for each fashion week you attend in Paris. It is definitely expensive to attend Paris Fashion Weeks and entails a lot of behind-the-scenes preparations.
Hopefully, you will be able to monetize your fashion week attendance in many ways, so your expenses become your image/brand-building “investments” which will eventually yield you handsome returns.
