Fashion Insiders - How to get Inside?!!

[Dorrian Gray]

Doday, like everyday, I visited TFS and fell into the world that I love, the world of fashion...HOWEVER...

There are so many talanted people visiting this site, sharing about ideas, things they notice about fashion, etc, etc... but how many of you are actually doing smth related to fashion in real life? INSIDERS HELP! How do the rest of us at least try to get in? For instance, I can draw, I am good in photography, I know loads about fashion and I would love to know even more! But where do I start? Is there anybody scouting for talents and not only the models?

Please help or I'm afraid, I will end my life infront of Microsoft Excel...

 

[Dorrian Gray]

Is there anyone out there who would simply be able to give an advice where to start?

 

[fashionicon]

Start with an internship/work experience....

Since you're in the UK, I've heard it's pretty easy to get work experience there. I've heard that all you have to do is call a studio a couple of weeks before Fashion Week and offer to help in anyway you can.

I think this thread would be better suited in the "Careers and Education" forum...

 

[mishahoi]

and yet there are loads of people who are fashion insiders who use excel
..... its called business

you cannot just expect to be `scouted`...it would be a good idea to seek positions for yourself, and interns are a great way to star as mentioned. that way you can try several different things to see what suits you.

 

[gius]

i agree.. you could intern or also market yourself.. is there something in particular you're really interested in? if your specialty is in photography or fashion illustration, you can create a portfolio and submit to magazines or just spread your work everywhere online
there are a lot of specific threads here on different jobs in fashion--just do a search for a particular job you might like to try.. the how to be a stylist thread is really informative

 

[Dorrian Gray]

Thank you so much for the advices!!! It's just that I would never have thought that it might be so easy to get a backstage pass for the shows. Just a call is enough?

 

[iximisspiggyixi]

^Err, well if you did that, like FashionIcon said, you should call and offer to help out, not just like...hang around backstage. Designers often need people to help keep things organized and dress the models and whatnot. Those are pretty easy jobs to get.

Other than that, just go to a fashion-related school for college, try and get an internship (at a magazine if you like writing, at an agency if you want to scout and work with the models, etc). It's not SO hard.

 

[BetteT]

Welcome to tFS!

No matter what you do in fashion, it will take years of hard work. And it's very competitive ... so you have to have the stamina to work hard and long.

Interning is just working for free in a business ... fashion house, photography studio, magazine, etc. ... so that you can start to see what is done there and how it is done and, most importantly, to make personal connections to land an entry level job somewhere. It's a very common way to break in to fashion but you must compete for unpaid internships, too. And you must work hard and smart, be descreet (don't put your interest in networking first ... the boss won't like it) and impress people around you ... you never know where your next opportunity will come from.

I suggest you focus on one or two areas that you'd like to work in and then find out everything you can about it. Things like ... whether or not it requires schooling, internships, knowing the right people ... whether or not taking an entry level job (assistant, mail clerk, receptionist, data entry clerk) can lead to eventual promotions within the company .... whether or not it's a regular salaried job or if you would have to work freelance (for yourself).

There is a lot of stuff already here on this Careers & Education forum about various types of work in the fashion industry and what it takes to make it plus lot's of good advice. Spend some serious time reading threads here ... it goes on for pages and pages, so it will take you a long time. Consider it homework ... and research.

 

[Dorrian Gray]

^ Thank You so much!!! I am new here, so probably I had to browse around a bit more, before starting my own thread But thank you sooooo much for the advices and I will do everything to reach my dream! Karma!

 

[Monkiwrensh]

I managed to get tickets to Allegra Hicks and Ann-Sofie Back at London Fashion week this september and for the rest of it I'm hoping to help out dressing models and organising and stuff. I'd suggest doing something like this.
I suppose the hardest part is finding the contact numbers in the first place to offer your time.

 

[Layla88]

I think the best thing is to start networking real hard. If you want to photograph, make shure you have a very strong portofolio.
Just like you I want to work in the fashion industry. I think I will do an internship with a PR agency specialized in fashion.

 

[Dorrian Gray]

I am thinking of creating a portfolio... but... the thing is, where do you get a model-like model? Where do you get the proper equipment and to create the needed lightning and the atmosphere in general? You know, all the props and everything... costs a bunch, doesn't it? Or of course the other option try to get an intership in a photography studio or smth, but then again, can I really afford not to work for money? Oh... sometimes it just brings me down... but one day the world will hear about me!

 

[fashionicon]

I am thinking of creating a portfolio... but... the thing is, where do you get a model-like model? Where do you get the proper equipment and to create the needed lightning and the atmosphere in general? You know, all the props and everything... costs a bunch, doesn't it? Or of course the other option try to get an intership in a photography studio or smth, but then again, can I really afford not to work for money? Oh... sometimes it just brings me down... but one day the world will hear about me!

Can you afford not to? Who will hire you without industry experience? :

An internship will/should answer all your questions.

 

[Dorrian Gray]

Thanks A bit of reality check there but you're right!

 

[ultramarine]

internship is the best choice ... I got my break recently by networking -and most of it as at gallery openings/bars/etc!- ... im this close to get a paid job a a stylist assistant ... so just dont give up!

 

[Yanka]

if you want to be a photographer, the first thing i'd do is go to an art school or at least take a course. It pays to be technically-savy, seriously. It's not something you can gain a professional level in from books.