Fashion Industry Careers - Options (See individual threads for specific careers.)

[sweet_x3]

i am interested in being something where i can review fashions, attend shows ect. so is that like fashion journalism? also, i think a fashion buyer would be amazing. any suggestions?

 

[fairy]

do you guys think it's possible to get a work placement in that field without any experience? like at a magazine agency etc?

 

[Avant Garde]

from about.com

Accessory Editor is a commercial pattern company employee who obtains the latest accessories to be used in creating finished ensembles for illustration and photography

Account Executive is an advertising agency employee who is responsible for handling specific client's accounts

Art Director is an advertising agency employee who conceptualizes ads for various media and designs collateral materials

Fashion Designer is a person who creates new ideas for garments & accessories

Fashion Illustrator is a promotion artist who makes drawings of garments that have been designed and produced by others

Fashion Photographer is a person who takes pictures which show fashionable apparel and accessories looking their best

Research Scientist is a technical employee, usually with an advanced degree who works in laboratories to discover, develop & improve products

Sketcher is a fashion house employee who makes illustration quality drawings of the ideas that a designer has draped in fabric onto a dressmaker's form

Sketching Assistant is an employee of an apparel manufacturing firm or pattern company who records a season's line of designs in precise technical illustrations for the company's records

Textile Colorist is a textile industry employee who decides which color combinations in textile designs are most likely to appeal to customers

Textile Designer is a textile industry employee who creates new patterns & designs, or redesigns existing ones, to be used in the making of fabrics

Textile Stylist is a textile industry employee who is responsible for a fabric line from its beginning stages to completion, including long-range fashion planning of fabric colors, weight, & texture

Wardrobe Helper is a theatrical worker who helps to obtain, make, and organize costumes, and accessories by character and scene and to help the actors dress for the production

Wardrobe Consultant is a person who shows consumers how to combine fashion items to enhance personal or professional images and helps them plan and manage their wardrobes and purchases

 

[Ideology]

Canadian Fashion School

Okanagan Fashion Institute Inc

www.okanaganfashioninstitute.ca

offers combination of the technical side of design (detailed pattern making and sewing) to the artsy, fartsy, funky, creative side of fashion. No don't think you need to spend years in school. Need a good foundation, combined with the passion and the dream. It's whats "inside you" that is going to make or break you in the fashion world

 

[shoexgal]

my good girl friend just got a job at blue cult in santa monica and she loves it. it suits her personality very well

 

[shoexgal]

she graduated from UC Irvine too, not a fashion college

 

[glittergrrrrl]

she graduated from UC Irvine too, not a fashion college

What does she do at Blue Cult?

 

[northern_song]

I'm a junior in high school and I'm looking at a possible career in fashion. I'm not interested in the design aspect or anything like that but possibly in the business aspect like buying or marketing. I looked at Parson's marketing program and it sounds really good, but I don't really know what the business aspects of fashion entails. I am also interested in attending shows and then reviewing them. Is anyone in any of these careers or at least know more about them? How different are the fashion schools from regular colleges? I also don't know if I want to deal with all of the cattyness and gossip or w/e but that seems like a given in any kind of business career...is it really that much worse in fashion?

 

[Runway Scene]

Okay. So I want to go into SOMETHING fashion related. I've always wanted to do fashion, but at the same time I've loved music as well. So in the beginning of the year when I applied for colleges I just applied to a University here in Michigan. Now I've come to realize that I don't think music is my thing really and that Fashion Design might just be for me. So next year Im going to Eastern Michigan University. They do have a fashion design program which I'm sure is fine...but if I want to make it...I'm going to have to go to a more specific school, like FIT, Parsons or FIDM. So i'm going to have to transfer like my second year of college. I like all three school. But I think I'm leaning toward FIT. So I need opinions on these schools. I've hear FIT is a good affordable school, Parsons is great but expensive(does any one know HOW expensive??), and I've heard alot of bad things about FIDM. So I'm really confused. Please someone shed some light! :/

P.S. Sorry for typing a novel. :X

 

[le hotel]

I know you can get a degree in different fashion things like Fashion Merchandising, Fashion Design, at U.S. regular old 4 year colleges.

 

[Belle Princesse]

I just want to say that this whole forum is great for career advice! I've read through ALL 15 pages so most of questions have already been answered, but I just wanted to ask do have to be at least 16 do an internship and should I just write to/approach magazines etc?

 

[fairy]

^^I'm 19 (turning 20 in July) and I have the same question. I'm moving to London in summer and I would like to apply for a internship/work placement at a mag agency...do you guys think that's possible? I don't have any experience with fashion, I'm just very interested. I would do anything! it wouldn't have to be a "major" thing, I just want to get a foot in the door...if someone's here from London and working/knowing how I can do that, pleaaaase pm me!

 

[sullen_femme]

help me

I want a career in fashion, shocking I know. But I feel pressure from my family so I am going to school to be a teacher (blah). I really want to be a stylist or a fashion editor. I would change majors and go to a different school if I wasn't already a senior, so nevermind. Is there any hope for me, besides going through even MORE school? I don't even know where to start because I am the only person I know even remotely interested in fashion. Any advise would be helpful!

 

[mme]

Fashion career, or not?

By now, all of you are probably bored or overwhelmed with all these questions. But I could really use some advice

I'm 14, a freshman in highschool, and I've recently just discovered my strong passion for fashion. When I think about it, I think that I've always known I would be interested in a fashion career, but just never looked into it. When I think about careers now... the only thing I can imagine myself being happy with is something fashion-related, design mostly.

My big question- should I follow this? I finally feel like I belong somewhere, and have found something that makes me happy. But what if it's just a phase? How can I tell "this is it?" What if I'm NOT really into fashion, maybe I just like the thought of it. Maybe I just like playing dress-up. Maybe I only like fashion so I can be the 14-year-old who actually knows who Karl Lagerfeld is, or the one that can spot the designer brands while walking down a street. Maybe "fashion" is just another way of saying "materialism" in my brain? Because I've certainly become more materialistic.

But then again, the fashion industry is tough. I'm not sure if I am, and I'm pretty sensitive too. It's full of arrogant people, and b*tches. Can I take that? Plus, I don't think I can draw very well. Eventhough my art teacher said that uni's and colleges would rather have you creative than with talent, I don't even know if I'm creative. How are you supposed to know if you're creative or not?! Whatever, I have still always loveeed art.

Please help give me some insight on this. ANY advice would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks for reading my boring story down to here!
(And do you guys have advice on drawing fashion sketches, or just drawing in general? )

Thankyouthankyouthankyou!

 

[.francesca]

welcome, sullen_femme! the careers & education forum has a lot of information regarding your questions - check out:

fashion industry careers http://www.thefashionspot.com/forums/f90/fashion-industry-careers-2680.html

and/or

how to become a fashion stylist http://www.thefashionspot.com/forums/f90/how-become-fashion-stylist-10408.html

for some good ideas and advice! good luck!

 

[aznstarlette]

wow i just want to say thank you to everyone who has contributed to this post...i've learned a lot! thanks!!

 

[Belle Princesse]

@Electric

To me it sounds like fashion is something you love but unlike some people here you aren't 100% sure of the route you want to take and seem to not want to actually design. Maybe you should look into all fashion careers ie; fashion writer, stylist you know the ones other than design. For me I know it's 'it' because whilst I've had other ideas of a profession this is what I continously come back to.

 

[sullen_femme]

@Electric

For me I know it's 'it' because whilst I've had other ideas of a profession this is what I continously come back to.

I'm the same way. I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place though because I am so close to my degree in education. I think when I'm though I'll try to go to FIT. I should have gone there in 2001 when I graduated from high school (coulda, woulda, shoulda right?). If I get a second bachelors in merchandising or something, would I have a decent shot at getting a job? Considering I'll be almost 27 when this can finally happen, I don't want to have to waste a long time. Also, I am pretty willing to relocate anywhere in the world, with a few exceptions, would this open up some oppurtunities?

 

[lessavyfav]

electric, you're only 14 and you don't have to worry about a career yet! don't stress, it'll come to you. if fashion is what you really want to do, the 'b#tches' and arrogant people will only be a minor part to put up with. no job is perfect!

 

[Niralee30]

Hey! I know some of you are probably designers or designers in the making, i was wondering how did you go about starting off your careers? Im in college at the moment and will soon have to decide what i want to do at Uni. I really want to go into fashion but im scared i wont be good enough with all the competition. Also what kind of stuff and how much do you need to do in your portfolio to impress?

Thanks!