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

[Besame]

thank you.

 

[Lena]

you need to start from the bottom (fashion styling assistand) and simply work your way up to fashion stylist, fashion editor in chief and end up as fashion director

 

[pinksatin]

Can someone please discern the difference between "fashion director", "fashion editor", "art director", etc. as positions in a fashion magazine? I think this thread is appropriate for the question (I hope ).

Just wondering because I am an undergrad apparel design major right now but when I grow up, I want to be someone who chooses and arranges the pictures for a fashion magazine. I am not sure what you'd call that but my goal is to be whoever is in charge of that part of creating a magazine. I always thought that would be the coolest job. I LOVE looking at and admiring great editorials. I am not sure if I'd like to be someone who styles the photoshoots or arranges the photos or both but I want to be the one who organizes those "great editorials" . I am taking art compostition classes along with fashion ones so I can learn what makes those pages so visually appealing. I just want to know if anyone knows what this job is called. Or if this *is* your job, how did you get there? Thanks in advance!

 

[pinksatin]

I found this thread: http://www.thefashionspot.com/forums/f90/fashion-mag-editor-how-30458.html .

Hopefully it's what I'm looking for. . . .

 

[Lena]

^^ thanks for bringing up this thread, merged

 

[JJohnson]

Wow what a nice topic! I wish i could be a fashion editor, but what kinda of education do I need? Journalism or fashion experience?

 

[softgrey]

you need to start from the bottom (fashion styling assistand) and simply work your way up to fashion stylist, fashion editor in chief and end up as fashion director

at a magazine...a fashion director is below the editor in chief...
EVERYONE works for the ed in chief...

that 's why they are the chief.....
everyone else is an indian...

 

[ultramarine]

Ok ... I'm not quite in the bussiness but I've learned a thing or two in this forum ... I guess for fashion journalism you just have to get your degree from college (journalism) and start doing PR from day one .... ANY job in fashion is all about connections ... so starting even during studies or just after graduating as an intern would be the best ... I think that mags like Nylon do use freelance writers for their articles ... so you may think submitting articles to indie mags ... if you'd freeleance, I guess that attending art openings / fashion weeks, concerts and all types of events are mandatory ...

Whoa! I feel like I'm giving a lecture ...

Errmm .. we need more tFS-ers who do this for a living!

 

[receptionista]

You don't need any specific degree to be a fashion editor. Anna Wintour never went to university, and Andre Leon Talley studied French Literature at Brown. However, the former was born into publishing and ALT was in with Warhol and Diana Vreeland among others.

Honestly, any job in fashion journalism is going to be tough if you aren't already really wealthy and/or well-connected. Most editorial assistants in New York make around $18-22,000 a year, which is practically impossible to live on in the city. AW picks up most of her interns and assistants at Barnard and isn't particularly nice to them either.

None of this should stop you from pursuing your dream, though. A great degree in journalism from maybe Columbia or the London College of Fashion coupled with some impressive internships would be a great start.

 

[jennifer716]

If you're not born into wealth or don't have connections, you DO NEED to be able to write to make it as editor because hard work and excellent writing is the only way you're going to make it to the top.... you don't NECESSARILY need a degree in journalism to be an editor but it would be extremely useful if you had one....

 

[sullen_femme]

Will a degree in communications help at all?

 

[sullen_femme]

Anna Wintour did not get a degree. Anyone interested in this area should read her very unauthorized biography.

 

[skirtgirl]

Aspiring Fashion Journalist

My name is Melissa Hayes, I'm currently a college student, and in the future I plan to pursue a career in Fashion Journalism. I'd be very interested in learning more about this career. If it would be possible, could you please take the time to answer a few questions? It would be greatly appreciated.

1. What are some of the qualifications/requirements that are expected in this line of work?
2. Is there a demand for people in this field?
3. How did you go about obtaining your position?
4. How would you describe your working environment?
5. What are the duties/responsibilites?
6. How large is the company you work for?
7. Does your job require re-location or travelling?
8. Can you provide any advice for aspiring journalists?

Thank you for your time.

 

[JJohnson]

Could one get into journalism with a business degree?

 

[Lena]

its not the ideal degree jj

 

[JJohnson]

its not the ideal degree jj

but like out here its really interesting...ppl get jobs, but dont have the degree behind that particlular job. Like my friend was telling me her friend has a job as a VP a branch in SBC, but he has a phycholgy degree and not a business degree...very odd, but this happens alot

 

[cloaked]

yea but as a fashion mag editor you would need to major in journalism or english for the education, taking business courses isnt going to help you be a good editor. there are some fields where major doesntmatter but in this case it most likely does.

 

[momoiro pescii]

do you need some kind of a portfolio to be a fashion mag editor?

 

[Stylebites]

You will need solid examples of your (published) work, along with your CV/resume.

I might add that in the end, as long as you can write, it's all about personality. If you don't click with the editor-in-chief you won't get the job (or will soon be miserable if you do manage to squeak in!).

 

[JJohnson]

sounds scary.....