The fashion elite and high profile celebrities that have historically occupied the front row at the shows now have new neighbors. With the rising influence of the internet and social media, some designers are granting  fashion bloggers a status upgrade to their seating assignments (the  industry’s most coveted status indicator).

Fashion’s New Fever (via WWD)

The shift began last year. For the first time, bloggers were seated in the front row, and Jacobs named an ostrich bag the BB after blogger Bryanboy — and sent him the sample. Gevinson inspired Rodarte’s collection for Target. Dolce & Gabbana last September put major retailers, including Burt Tansky of Neiman Marcus, in the second row to make room for six bloggers. A mini uproar, at least in the press, broke out in Paris at the couture shows in January when an editor at Grazia tweeted Tavi’s hat was blocking the view at Dior. The press declared it was war between editors and bloggers, and revisited the controversy about bloggers accepting gifts (a standard practice at fashion magazines, although the Federal Communications Commission now requires bloggers to admit when they’ve received gifts or been paid to write about something)

“You are Where You Sit”-The Wall Street Journal breaks down the seating hierarchy

Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and other V.I.P.s will almost always sit near the end of the front row in the section to the left of the runway—sometimes known as the “A” section. This is considered the best vantage point because it is the first place where the models turn. It is also close to the doors—ideal for making a quick exit and getting on to the next show. Celebrities usually sit in the middle of the front row, so the photographers can see them without creating a traffic jam. Retail executives usually are sprinkled between rival editors, to avoid awkward situations: Bergdorf’s for example, doesn’t want Saks knowing which looks it is circling in the program.

The worst seats are those adjacent to the back end of the runway—even though some are technically in the front row, says Kelly Cutrone, founder of People’s Revolution, which produces shows for designers such as Davi Delfin and Toni Francesc. “They are usually given to sponsors who don’t really understand the language of seating,” Ms. Cutrone says. A seat in rows one to rows three mean you are “still in the game.”

The Wanted

While all of this goes on you have the A list Celeb that is not only Invited to sit front row, but for obvious reasons, paid to do so.   Huffington Post breaks down the spoils of being a face that can bring the media light to a show.

A-List
Rihanna ($100,000 or more)
Beyonce ($80,000-$100,000)
Chloe Sevigny ($60,000 or more)
Jennifer Lopez (circa 2005: $80,000; circa 2010: $30,000)
Lindsay Lohan (circa 2006: $60,000; circa 2010: UNINVITED)

B-List
Blake Lively ($50,000)
Leighton Meester ($40,000)
Hillary Duff ($40,000)
Other Gossip Girl cast members ($25,000 a piece)
Kristen Bell (unpaid, but airfare, makeup and clothing are taken care of)

C-List
Kim Kardashian ($35,000-$50,000)

D-List
Paris Hilton (free or UNINVITED)
Jersey Shore cast (UNINVITED)