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

[MizBlue]

sorry if this is a stupid question, but if you don't need a degree in journalism to become a fashion editior, what type of degree do you need? j/w

No question is ever stupid IMO!!

we all learn one way or the other and by networking through sites such as this one.

 

[fashionistasista]

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!

Hey NYC,

the artistic side of mags is just as tricky to figure out exactly how to get into it than the fashion or editorial side...

I would go with a graphic design degree - you will have to (in different stages of your job) research photos, fit text onto pages, design pages in a magazine, design ads for the advertising department and be involved on still life photoshoots for those images in the mag that have a girl looking stressed when there is '101 ways to combat stress' (well that theme will depend on what mag you end up working for but you get the gist!), or plates and things the fashion dept dont look after.

For all this you will need ALOT of insight into Adobe Indesign, skills in Photoshop etc and the like. A degree always impresses publishing houses for some reason and if you get one in graphic design then at least you will be learning the basics of these programs. Alot you will learn on the job, and can i suggest freelancing as much as possible (even if its your parents business cards or a friends party invite) all the work you can show people the better.

 

[shoppingirl89]

Some great advice in this thread.

 

[clarex]

I think the key thing to getting any job in an industry as competitive as this, is standing out. More and more people go to university these days, and there are more and more universities developing fashion programmes - and that's great. I doubt it any degree is going to hinder your chances of getting a job. After all it shows you can stick at something, work hard, make deadlines etc etc.
Personally though I think employers are increasingly going to be looking for something extra. You can say you love fashion, but you need to prove it and stand out by..say, helping to organise a charity fashion show, getting a part-time job in fashion retail etc Same goes for saying you want to write - wellll, so then, write! You need to show them that you wrote for your school newspaper or took an extra writing class or started a fashion blog.
It's all about taking the initative and giving them something extra to prove how motivated and passionate you are. A degree alone is not going to get anyone anywhere I'm afraid!

 

[pinksatin]

nyc_art_style- I had to look at the username when I read your post b/c it looks *exactly* like something I would post and I didn't remember writing that. I want the exact same career. Something in fashion publications doing the creative, artistic side of it and the job titles you mentioned are exactly what I want too. Which I think is pretty cool but it was weird seeing that post.

If you were curious I'm a visual communication major at an art school. And yes we need internships! I'm looking now for the summer. Good luck to you too btw.

 

[nyc_art_style]

thank you so so much fashionistasista! karma! and pinksatin we're in this together!

 

[nyc_art_style]

another question. i love to do art, but i'm afraid i might not feel the passion with computers. i have used photoshop before and enjoyed, but i'm just wondering if anyone where has been a visual art major and switched to computer design, and how did they like it?

 

[Cicciolina]

Great post clarex!

nyc_art_style I'm not in touch with magazine art direction but maybe something like a graphic design diploma on top of a general liberal arts/fine arts degree could help? A lot of magazine/newspaper jobs on the editorial side - journalists, styllists, etc, there's no a specific degree to study for it. I've said it before, but this sort of industry isn't like medicine or law, where you need to study medicine to become a doctor, or you need to study law to become a lawyer. If you're naturally good at it or at least work hard at it, then you're in with a shot. There's no formal qualification.

 

[lilmissbee]

I don't know if what I'll say has already been shared, but I can say having worked in media for a long time, that networking is a big, big part. Networking, and proof - so work as much as you can (proof) and network as much as you can. Be bold enough to find who can make the decision to bring you into a magazine and ask them for lunch. Contact people, make the effort - I'm proof that you can do that and it can work, as I've achieved a lot of goals this way.

It IS tough, but only because there are only so many positions out there, and, more importantly, there are only so many people who go about doing so the right way.

PM me if you have any questions or need ideas. I'm happy to help anybody become successful!

 

[Cicciolina]

How can one network without seeming too um.... with a certain agenda? I mean I love talking and socialising and will do it with my peers, but where do you draw the line with people who are far above you in the work hierarchy?

 

[lilmissbee]

How can one network without seeming too um.... with a certain agenda? I mean I love talking and socialising and will do it with my peers, but where do you draw the line with people who are far above you in the work hierarchy?

the main thing is to not to. go with the intent of simply wanting to meet people. keep yourself open to everybody and count everyone with value. some of my contacts i've made first started out seeming to have nothing to gain from but later on did, and vice versa. down the road, it might also be for somebody else that you know a person. it's good to also be someone who can make introductions.

every industry has an inner working to it and you just need to learn where that comes together and insert yourself in. always aim to network with decision makers and higher level people. put your ear to the rail enough and you'll learn where to find them.

 

[Cicciolina]

lilmissbee thank you for your advice! Karma to you, really great post. Welcome to tFS by the way, I hope you will be posting more

 

[Stamoholic]

This is such a fantastic thread!! So much great knowledge and advice here! Thanks guys! xxx

 

[jadoreyoumore]

I found the best way to network is to be sure to keep in touch with every publicist, every designer, every anybody you meet as you go along. Get everyone's card, send a follow-up email, and write to them every month or so to see what's new - with their clients/line/work etc. Also, be sure to talk about things other than business - everyone in this industry is networking all the time, so don't be worried about sounding like you have an "agenda" as long as you're interested in them as a person as well. Personalities are the same as they are in any industry - so be prepared for the best and worst! Also - when meeting editors/fellow writers, be sure to find out what they're working on and offer any input you might have. If an editor seems interested in your ideas, e-mail them later in the week and find out if they need any helping putting together the story - or mention that if they ever do a follow-up, you'd love to be involved. Also - it's not unusual to ask if they would be open to accepting freelance pitches. -- Finally! - I'm not sure if this has been mentioned, but if you want to be a journalist - write, write, write! Internships in the closet and doing the dirty work for editors are great and give you a lot of insight - but don't underestimate the importance of a fantastic portfolio! Get a diverse set of clips - and you're golden

 

[shirleebee]

great thread! I really am curious on tips on turning your internship at a design house into a fulltime position...without WAITING to graduate. They seem to really like me, and the company is expanding & I think the question might be asked sooner than later. I want to write about/analyse/context & concept-ualize fashion, not necessarily sew clothes or market them. I'd love to work at a magazine some day, but I believe sometimes fashion houses like to have their own writers on staff for PR & beyond. We'll see. I just want to really stand out amongst other interns & ask for writing assignments and such - and I have already & they liked them! - but how can I make it clear, without being pushy, that I'd to be challenged this way more often?

 

[jadoreyoumore]

how can I make it clear, without being pushy, that I'd to be challenged this way more often?

there's nothing wrong with always pitching but editors are always ridiculously busy and when they're not interested, they'll never respond. so don't feel discouraged, just keep pitching. also - ask to do some fact checking - that way you'll get to know the other writers and what their writing styles are and what the publication is looking for.

 

[frieda]

I wish I'd found this thread sooner!

I am a journalism major, with my sight set on doing fashion journalism. However, my school doesn't have any specialized courses deaing with both fashion and journalism. But my Aunt has contacts within Reuters, CNBC, and Nylon so I'm not too terribly worried. I may be in the city this summer doing an unpaid internship.

 

[jadoreyoumore]

I took classes at a local art school - basic fashion design and fashion sketching - just to become familiar with terminology and learn more about production and sewing/tailoring/couture techniques - it really strengthened my writing

 

[klaxod pels]

I'm getting a degree that covers visual communication, specializing in print creative direction. It's perfect for me and will bring me loads of career options as far as mags go, but how does one score an internship/externship in the art department of a fashion magazine? I'd even love to assist the creative director. Any tips or advice?

 

[fashionistasista]

I took classes at a local art school - basic fashion design and fashion sketching - just to become familiar with terminology and learn more about production and sewing/tailoring/couture techniques - it really strengthened my writing

this is true... ive always loved fashion... and therefore i love writing about it, but i almost think i will take a short course on this (I did it every year in High School and even did my major work on it, but in HS there is only a certain degree of difficulty that is addressed and it is more about functionality rather than aesthetics/ indepth lessons about techniques).