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

[KhaoticKharma]

Question: I hope it hasn't been mentioned or discussed before, but even though I live in the States (and NYC, it seems, is where everyone wants to do magazine work), my dream is to one day be the fashion director of British Vogue.

What are some of the major differences of working at a magazine in NYC versus working at a magazine in London?

 

[frieda]

^ Good question! I look forward to hearing some responses to it.

Would this be the place to ask for cover letter help?

 

[homeboy]

Question: I hope it hasn't been mentioned or discussed before, but even though I live in the States (and NYC, it seems, is where everyone wants to do magazine work), my dream is to one day be the fashion director of British Vogue.

What are some of the major differences of working at a magazine in NYC versus working at a magazine in London?

Read the latest issue of both US and UK GQ and you'll easily see the difference. America and Europe are very different and that's something you can see reflected in both versions of GQ. From my perspective GQ UK is more editorials, has much more emphasis on high fashion and I find it to be more sophisticated than GQ US which frankly isn't on the same level as the UK version.

 

[BetteT]

frieda,

There's a thead about cover letters and resumes .... use the advance search and select C&E, search by thread titles and ask for results as threads and it should pop up for you.

 

[SnejanaIsMyMuse]

What's the best way to get into backstage/runway photography for magazines?Is it just basically getting a portfolio together and taking it to various offices?

 

[Cicciolina]

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

Just wanted to bump this up because this was such a great post

SnejanaIsMyMuse, maybe see which photographers work backstage/runways - many of them are on contract to specific publishing houses/magazines, or associated with Getty, other companies, etc, and maybe ask if they need an assistant/intern/just to shadow them and help them out a bit, then go on from there?

 

[princessaud]

what does editor-in-chief of a fashion magazine do? sorry if it's a stupid question.

 

[homeboy]

what does editor-in-chief of a fashion magazine do? sorry if it's a stupid question.

Basically makes all decisions regarding who's going to be on the front cover, what features and what articles make it into the issue. Similar to how a director pieces a movie together deciding if a scene should be scrapped.

 

[gius]

thanks cicciolina for reposting that !

for portfolios of writers...
has anyone seen online portfolios of this?
i assume it would be harder to use in an interview, like it would take time for the interviewer to read and review the articles in the portfolio the writer wrote...

 

[Cicciolina]

Welcome gius!

I've seen and have often read that it is suggested to have an online portfolio, for a writer at least. I can see how this is a good idea - when you apply for jobs, instead of attaching articles or pasting them in the body of an email, which can be messy (and some email addresses don't even let you send attachments), you can just paste the website of your portfolio so they can look at it at their own pace. Is that what you mean?

 

[gius]

yes i've just never seen one before
especially a non-'art' portfolio
i guess you could also mail a digital portfolio as a CD

maybe after the portfolio is checked, that is when the interview process (in person) begins

 

[Cicciolina]

I don't know of any portfolios of writers who are just starting out off the top of my head... for more established writers, there's something like www.ianfraser.org It really functions more as a website about himself, and can double as a CV too.

 

[princessaud]

Basically makes all decisions regarding who's going to be on the front cover, what features and what articles make it into the issue. Similar to how a director pieces a movie together deciding if a scene should be scrapped.

ohh, okay thanks!

 

[Cicciolina]

yes i've just never seen one before
especially a non-'art' portfolio
i guess you could also mail a digital portfolio as a CD

maybe after the portfolio is checked, that is when the interview process (in person) begins

Here are some other online written portfolios gius that I found from another forum, Australian based
http://www.jennycooney.com/home.html
http://emilymaguire.typepad.com/

 

[roisin]

Ok, so I'm sure this question has been asked before, but I was trying to read through the previous posts on this thread, and to be honest...it made me quite dizzy. So maybe some one could be so kind and answer a few of my questions?

1. Okay, so the goal is to become a fashion writer. Not an editor...I'm currently an English major at my college, Am I on the right track? Or are majors like journalism or more specifically, fashion journalism better?

2. I live in Los Angeles. Definitely not the fashion capital of the world ( but I'm sure it could be worse) Eventually I want to live/work in England. Would it be best to go straight there to work after I graduate or would I be better off going to New York and trying to make it out there first?

3. Honestly, is it really that difficult? Do I have a chance of making it???

 

[BetteT]

Here's a thread about Fashion Jounalism ... specifically about writing for fashion magazines, including the ways to get there (various). It's got some specfic ideas for you about whether or not a "fashion" jounalism degree is needed, if I remember it correctly.

 

[Chanel_Ivan]

This thread has been absolutely helpful. One day I would love to be a fashion director for a major magazine and I am now trying to find my path there. The suggestions, comments, and advice given in this thread have been priceless. Keep them coming!

I am going into my Senior year in college and have not done an internship, but I do plan to do one once I get back to school as well as work backstage at our fall and spring fashion shows(which are big deals in Atlanta). How many internships, experience, would I need to acquire before applying to assistant editor positions? After graduation I plan to move straight to New York!

 

[homeboy]

This thread has been absolutely helpful. One day I would love to be a fashion director for a major magazine and I am now trying to find my path there. The suggestions, comments, and advice given in this thread have been priceless. Keep them coming!

I am going into my Senior year in college and have not done an internship, but I do plan to do one once I get back to school as well as work backstage at our fall and spring fashion shows(which are big deals in Atlanta). How many internships, experience, would I need to acquire before applying to assistant editor positions? After graduation I plan to move straight to New York!

You would need 6-24 months of experience of pure editing plus a nice little portfolio of articles you've had published.

 

[shirleebee]

It's probably best to follow this path:

intern --> editorial assistant --> associate editor/contributing writer/etc --> senior staff --> EIC/EAL

Sometimes you can get lucky and jump a few rungs on the ladder. But interning and maybe freelancing are essential maneuvers in getting ahead!

 

[angelfish]

wow this thread is REALLY helpful.
my goal is to write for a fashion magazine like elle or W.
my problem is i was only in new york for brief period of time last year, i interned for one mag, for like a DAY. i met some really influential people and they were great but we cant really keep in touch (besides like, facebook) because i am now back in TEXAS to finish school! i may be wrong but it seems like there are no real opportunities here for the kind of career i want. like i cant find any fashion magazines here to intern for..
ugh im beyond frustrated.
anyone know of any good, credible telecommute internships for fashion journalism?
or any other ideas?