How to Get Work in Fashion Magazine Publishing (see Post #1 for related threads)

[Lucy_Birkin]

cravat rouge- what is it?

 

[xPedro]

Try Vogue Mexico

 

[BetteT]

In additon to the threads the Berlin pointed aout about internships (which include magazines) and fashion styling ... here is a thread about jounalism (working for magazines, perhaps eventually as a copywriter, an editor for features, accessories, makeup, fashion it goes on and on).

In magaizines there are just as many starting types of jobs as any company ... receptionist, accounting, billing, mail room, clerical (filing and things), data input, assistant to a lower level editor, administrative assistant (what use to be called a secretary). Any job at any magazine is a beginning, and if you can get into any magazine that has some fashion, you are headed in the right direction.... then you learn what's what and make your plans from there. Sometimes these higher jobs require a college education, but not always... sometimes a sharp employee works his way up to one of the better jobs and they you have some experience (and maybe contacts) to apply at Vogue.

 

[~Gina~]

She wants to work for Vogue some day, but she was also very happy with her practical training in the Süddeutsche ( so she considers that one too).

I mean assistants on fashion shows. Like someone who helps the models to get better in their clothes, someone who looks after every silly/crazy desire of the designer to be fulfied, someone who is just there for everything. It´s the undermost alcove, but you have to start with something & if you have no idea in my opinion this is an marbellous way to get started and look “behind the scenes”, naturally most of those assistans don`t aim to be an assistant.
They are like you and me, people who dream to become something there. It`s also a good way to get to know some people. It´ nothing special so far.

To become an assistant in Vogue is similar to really be something & work there I`d say. So you need to have a full education on what they need you for ( you start as an assistant) .

Or you can try to “come our” on your own, be the talent in person and a darling of fortune. Like Path did ( oh I feel so ashamed I don`t remember her name anymore…- but you have to know her, she is black a bit chubby and the make up director of nearly every show, as far as I know). But again she had contacts ( Mario Testino?.. oh this is really too much for my memory)

Do you mean working for a model agency? ( well that`s something I have no gleam about, sorry!)

This sounds like a lot unreachable stuff, but keep in mind that you can do anything!
Really anything. NO matter how things may seem. Just get started!


And to Lucy Birkin: cravate rouge ( sorry if I spelled it wrong! ) are some young guys that work on the fashion shows in Paris. They wear red cravats and check the arrivals at a fashion show. (& throw out not invited guests) It`s a job that every guy can do there, so usually fashion interested Parisian boys write there

 

[BetteT]

I'm always thinking about working in the fashion industry because that would be something that interets me (I could do other things though)
but I have no clue what jobs there are

Here's a thread where you may read about and ask about various careers in fashion. To find out more ... ask there.

 

[tocceve]

thanks

 

[jeffrey0806]

How to Get Work at a Fashion Magazine

Any ideas and what would be the best school for this. In Devil Wears Prada doesn't the girl come from Brown with an english major?

 

[titania]

i guess it depends on which part of the magazine you want to work in.

i think a major in journalism or media communications would be beneficial... but magazines also look for someone with experience so, acquiring work experience or an internship at an established magazine (usually unpaid) would be highly advantageous. maybe even doing some of your own freelance work on the side...

a marketing major could also be useful, if you wanted to do the marketing aspect of the magazine... a management major could possibly work too. i'm a management major at the moment; we could use our knowledge, in the future, to decide the magazine's strategic direction, recommend appropriate strategic options, assist in identifying and resolving issues, etc etc... i think it really depends on which area you're interested in covering.

other times, jobs are through referral or knowing someone in the business... i applied for a job at a local magazine here once (just as a junior assistant). basically, it was like anne's role in devil wears prada; answering the phone, managing the editor's schedule, general office-type duties... and even assisting in photo shoots! unfortunately, i didn't get it 'cos i couldn't dedicate three working days to the job (thanks to having three days of uni). but had i gotten the job it's very possible that, after getting my degree, i could move on to another area of the magazine...

anyway, i hope this helps, somehow.

 

[ptowngal]

Any ideas and what would be the best school for this. In Devil Wears Prada doesn't the girl come from Brown with an english major?

Anne's character had a journalism degree from Northwestern University's Medill School which is arguably the best in the U.S... I agree with titania- work experience and a journalism degree seem like what you need to get a job like that. Some universities like Northwestern have really good connections and you can obtain work study jobs or internships that way as you work towards your degree.

 

[BetteT]

The question is ... what do you want to do at a fashion magazine? You education should prepare you for the work. The skills needed for each job is different ... so your education should be geared to develop those skills.

Do you want to write?
Do you want to become a managing editor?
Are you interested in being a fashion editor (a stylist)?
Are you interested in graphics ... doing to page layouts and artwork?

Of course, many,. many people get jobs in magazines because they know someone ... they are connected thought school or family. Some get in at the bottom with minimal schooling but have the talent and drive and manage to work their way up. And some get in by having an impressive school record and are well qualified for a specific job. Ther is no one way to get a job at a fashion magazine.

 

[pinksatin]

Like others have said I think it really depends what you want to do.

I would love to to work on the visual part, editorials, layouts, design (fonts, colors, graphics, etc.). I think my dream job would be doing fashion editorials but I want to have a broader background so I can work with other aspects too. So I'm majoring in Visual Communications at an art school just so I have a strong knowledge and ability to use the concepts such as balance, color, gestalt principles, spatial principles, storytelling with imagery, as well as the Adobe creative suite, and be able to draw! My school doesn't have a fashion program but I think if your interest is strong enough and you keep up with it as much as you can, that won't be a problem.

Also like BetteT said there are many ways, but no one surefire way to get a job at a magazine, so I think interning is so important. To give you experience and contacts.

And also it's true (just from what I've heard from other tFSers) that you can make it without a degree if you are driven and ambitious and know the right people and are good at what you do. I just think I'd feel naked or have an insecurity if I tried to start a career without getting a degree. Plus education never hurts.

 

[Marie_Carmelle]

a lot of people always asks theses questions and it always goes down to the same thing; english literature, creative writing, journalism. If you go to ed2010.com and go on the career section you'll see the the education requriements

 

[Cicciolina]

Among others I believe this question is covered in a couple of threads which are useful:
Fashion Journalism
http://www.thefashionspot.com/forums/f90/fashion-journalism-34441-8.html

Internships and work experience
http://www.thefashionspot.com/forums/f90/all-about-internships-work-experience-placements-34819.html

 

[jf813]

A degree in connections....

 

[Ella Petrovsky]

so to be a stylist/ fashion editor what degree should you have?

 

[superbeautiful]

so to be a stylist/ fashion editor what degree should you have?

I would assume something in fashion. Fashion Design could help I imagine, since you would have more experience working with clothes, fabrics, etc, therefore you would be able to say you know much about cuts, feel, etc. But a degree in fashion marketing could do as well.

 

[BetteT]

Usually stylists do no go to school to learn their trade ... they learn by "doing" and get paid by knowing the right people. You should read the thread about How to Become a Fashion Stylist and there's other threads about interning. Becoming a stylist and/or a fashion editor is usually about working up to it ... connections, networking, some talent, lots of work experience. Interning at a magazine is a great way to start to make connections and to see what a fashion editor does.

 

[BooBah]

sorry, just subscribing here

 

[nyc_art_style]

hi everyone

i want to work for a fashion magazine. I would love to be an art director, or creative director, or art editor. someone who works with how the magazine looks, (like layouts, and visual effects of editorials).

i was under the impression I should study communications design. but after a few college interviews I had, they basically told me I should not. One said for me to go into business, and another said fashion illustration.

and now i'm thinking of majoring in fine arts and minoring in english.

any suggestions?

p.s. I know i need to do internships. I just don't know which major will hook me up with those internships. All the schools that i apply to are in new york and are well known for producing editors. I've research all these ediotrs and other workers of magazines, but they all have such a huge range of majors. i just want to know what to major in.

thanks!

 

[nyc_art_style]

Here is the job info to be an art director at conde nast. it doesn't say what major though.

Description
The Art Director is responsible for setting the visual direction, layout, design and production of the magazine; managing and supervising designers and freelancers; and directing illustrators and photographers.
The Art Director must have a definitive creative vision, a high level of design sophistication, a keen eye for photography, and strong typography skills. The position requires the ability to lead a design team, significant experience with InDesign, as well as broad knowledge of typography and color correction. Established contact with photographers and illustrators is preferred; strong organization and communication skills are essential.



there was also a descripton to be an assistant art director, but it basically said all you need to know is how to do is answer phones....