I have a friend in New York who pulls strings to get into different venues and have gone along with her. At first I didn't get it when I only got to see what happened in mags and stuff, but it is totally different when you are there.
I have been to the small Chicago show the last couple of years. Chicago fashion week is nothing like that of NY or anywhere else but we are trying. Gotta hand it to the mayor to try and bring our city into the game. Since they started doing fashion week here several big things have happened for local designers.