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

[BetteT]

I would think that interning for any magazine would be helpful... even a small local publication. Often local magazines have sections on life style and fashion too. Having any magazine experience under your belt could be helpful in landing a job at a fashion magazine, if you return to NY later.

 

[rangerrick14]

I recently researched the salaries being payed to assistants and my jaw dropped. In NY a salary of 30-40 thousand will barely cover rent. How do assisants make it work and stay fashionable? Not all of them have rich parents. Do they keep side jobs for extra money? Does being an assisant permit time for a side job?

 

[PrettyInPinkO21]

My biggest advice? Never EVER listen to buzz-kill, wannabe's who tell you "keep dreamin, honey"...

They just want to keep you down, and you are obviously not one to settle comfortably at the bottom.

 

[shirleebee]

30-40k sounds amazing. I know some EAs who make in the 20s :-x

 

[cygnenoir]

Yeah, you have to really love it and be willing to make the sacrifice. I have a few friends who are essentially working for free trying to prove their worth.

Similarly, in some biography of Anna Wintour, it mentioned that because she was financially independent (i.e., her family) she had the luxury of being able to take very low-paying editorial jobs when she was starting out.

 

[shirleebee]

I'm probably going to have to follow Miss Wintour's legacy in that regard.
But I really want to move into NYC ASAP. Right now, I live just outside of it in an affluent NJ suburb, but psychologically, it's a world away, and just distant enough geographically to be an inconvenience.

 

[cygnenoir]

Heh. Well, it's quite helpful to have the family funds to help finance one's ambitions in the lean early years. I have a good friend with a EA job and a fab Fifth Avenue apartment - I used to think she was just really good with her money. I've now learned that she really is, in that her parents own it!

The other route Anna chose was to erm, hook up with wealthy and powerful men. That reminds me, I must work on my eyelash batting.

 

[shirleebee]

I read her bio, too!

I remember reading about the pranks they used to play on her in the workplace. And how she'd cry! Aw, poor Anna .

 

[rangerrick14]

I might need to find me rick man too I could have a nice apartment and a great wardrobe

 

[Fashiongirl1]

Hello, I have a few questions. This thread is saying so many things I am sooo confused lol. What is the difference between a fashion editor and a fashion stylist? It seems like they are very similar from what I have been reading so far. Also, can someone start out as a stylist and work their way up to becoming a fashion editor? It seems so from what I have been reading.

What is an in-house stylist? How does one become an in-house stylist?
How much do they get paid (from what I have read in other threads, stylist don't get paid well... I think or does it depend). How does one work their way into this? I have the same question with a fashion editor?

These also seems pretty interesting careers paths.

Of course my next question is going to be:

I am very concerned with the internship part, because I am finished with school. So I was just guessing that I could do that instead, atleast I will be able to make a living. If I were to pursue this, since I won't be able to get an internship (seems so), can I just pursue an administrative position at a magazine company do some stylist jobs on the side and work my way up to a fashion editor from there? If I were to pursue it? How does that sound? If so, how could I balance a full time job and moonlight as a stylist? Ahhhh... I so confused...

If I did this, I would go with the one year AAS degree in Advertising and Communications at FIT, or a certificate in fashion styling.

Obviously, I am a lost soul.

Can someone with experience give me some clarity on this.

 

[BetteT]

The answers to your question about editors and stylists (and the difference) there's some good info in this thread ... Jobs/Positions at Fashion Magazines.

Don't think that there's info about the pay scale for in house fashion editors/stylists ... but I'm pretty sure it depends on the magazine. The more important the magazine ... the better the pay and the more responsibilty you would have.

A freelance stylist can work for magazines but it's just here and there and there's not much pay ... since it's for marketing purposes, mainly. Most freelance stylists in the print world do catalog and ad work and are paid by the designers ... not magazines. See the Stylist's thread for info about that and how to get into freelancing.

You can't moonlight as a freelance stylist while holding down a full time job ... unless you are working at night or can just not show up on your regular job whenever and even that could be a conflict at times. Most gigs are during regular working hours.

You can work up through the magazine hierarchy if you want to be an in-house stylist/fashion editor (same thing, in most cases) at a magazine. Intern at first (if possible), then assistant to an editor, work in the styling closet, even the mail room, things like that. You learn by being there and you get promoted. Pay would be minimal the first few years, of course.

I don't think that the FIT certificate in styling is very important to a magazine nor will it help much in learning skills for the job. Magazine work is different ... only having the eye for style is the same. I beleive the course is geared to give you some of the basics of freelance styling to start your own business, to learn how to source, about pull letters, building relationships, doing your paperwork, ... all freelance skills you need to learn. It won't hurt to learn it ... but it won't be a lot of help and I don't think it will impress anyone hiring at the magazine.

 

[Fashiongirl1]

Hello BetteT, thanks very much for answering my questions.

 

[TrendTherapist]

Not sure where this should go but I'm a fashion stylist and would love to get involved with a magazine and work in the fashion closet to pull great looks together. Besides my signature style..educational wise I dont know hwats needed..I did not go to Parsons or any other fashion affiliated school-I do have a great set of eyes that see style and know what to do to achieve the look I hope that should not have to come with a diploma...so the question is whats really needed to get into the fashion closet in "the magazine world" as a stylist?

 

[Cicciolina]

TrendTherapist I think you start to make some contacts. If you're already a stylist, I'm sure you'll be able to get in contact with some people who know the right people/could introduce you/help you out/etc, or research which freelance stylists are based around you and offer to shadow them through work experience/interning (yes, probably for free) or if they have an assistant position available if you have the right amount of experience.

Have a look at this thread too about becoming a stylist:
http://www.thefashionspot.com/forums/f90/all-about-becoming-fashion-wardrobe-stylist-25956.html
I'll merge your post with that soon because it's probably more suited to there

 

[BetteT]

Actually, Cicciolina ... I already merged this post with this thread when I moved it from the Networking & Opportunites Thread ... because she specifically said she wants to work for a magazine (as in being a salaried employee, I'm assuming). And she says she's already a stylist ... and I took that to mean freelance.

The stylist thread is more about freelance styling, so I moved it here so she can find out how to get a job or internship at a magazine. I also clarified that if she wanted to be employed by a fashion magazine and actually do the styling, the job she would want is to be the Fashion Editor which is basically the stylist for the magazine.

But when I PM'd her, I referred her to the stylist thread too ... so we are thinking alike.

Maybe I'm wrong .. maybe she just want's to freelance for magazines ... and then it would belong in the Stylist thread.

So, TrendTherapist, if you are talking about freelancing and not actually working for the magazine ... I made a mistake moving it here. Otherwise ... I think it belongs here. Either way ... there's lots of information in both threads.

 

[shotguntolove]

I recently researched the salaries being payed to assistants and my jaw dropped. In NY a salary of 30-40 thousand will barely cover rent. How do assisants make it work and stay fashionable? Not all of them have rich parents. Do they keep side jobs for extra money? Does being an assisant permit time for a side job?

i'm curious about this too...after reading this (incredibly helpful!) thread,i'm planning to try and get an internship soon!

 

[Chanel_Ivan]

Would enrolling in an FIT's certification program qualify me for internships that require school credit?

I'll be graduating next year from a liberal arts college...but i know most of the good internships are for credit g

 

[BetteT]

Only if the certification program includes an internship class or program ... you'd have to check with FIT.

Schools will provide you with information about their internship programs when you enroll, which you then submit to the employer to fill out and return to the school. This proves that you are doing it for credit. No formal program at the school = no credit, even if you are in school.

 

[Miss Laura]

I really want to get into Fashion Journalism......

This thread has helped alot. Its spurred me on to look for placements!

 

[Sensibility]

How to Become a Fashion Editor?

What´s the best way to work like fashion "chef" or simply editor in a great magazine like VOGUE?