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

[prosperk]

i don't mean market editor in the business sense. Market Editors work with Fashion Editors to get the clothing and accessories they need for the editorials. Market editors go to shows too to be on the look out for peices for editorials.

There is amarketing department at magazines though. They handles ads...etc. But that is not my interest.

The idea for looking for stylist in Paris and assisting them is a good one.

How would I go about finding out stylists based in Paris who speak english? lol.

I'm not sure we called them "Marketing Editors". Can't remember what the title was, offhand, but I'd advise you to go for styling and, hopefully, from there to being a Fashion Editor. I think we referred to them as "shopping people". Whatever... It's not a job for anyone on the up and up. It's really the last stop before the boneyard. Marketing Managers don't have anything to do with advertising. That's Advertising Managers or Directors...or salespeople. Marketing Managers deal with promotional strategies. Ad people flog space in the magazines. Or claim to do so. Many stylists based in Paris speak English but you said you speak conversational French. And you'll need French, my dear, to deal with all the natives who can't or won't speak English while you're stepping'n'fetching it for the stylist who takes you on.
PK

 

[jiji7]

Thanks for your help guys!

Prosperk: They are called Marketing Editors in the US for sure. You can see it in byline's of all the fashion mags under the Fashion Section. There is a Marketing/Accessories Director at Vogue and a Marketing Editor at Elle.

Also, I of course am going to be brushing up and taking French classes before I go in September.

To Anyone:

How would I go about volunteering at fashion week in Paris?

 

[prosperk]

I'm sure you're right. I haven't looked at any US Vogue or Elle mastheads recently but I wouldn't be at all surprised. Everyone gets a feel-good title in a functioning democracy.

Regarding your stated ambitions, have you done any in-depth research into what the jobs you cite respectively entail? One involves creativity, particularly if you work with photographers with whom you have a rapport, while the other is about as creative as shelf-stacking, Big Titles notwithstanding.

Some people have made the transition from Accessories Editor to Beauty Editor and one or two have even been elevated to Fashion Editor but becoming a stylist is probably a more interesting way of getting to the top of the Fashion Section on the masthead. Stylists have even made it to the top job, Karine Roitfeld being a case in point, although I don't think this would happen at US Vogue as long as S I Newhouse, who is quite an intellectual, remains at the helm.

I suppose that my point is that you need to be very clear about your aims and goals before you start putting yourself about where magazines are concerned. Internships are a really good way of finding out what really happens behind the gilt façade.

As for volunteering at Paris Fashion Week, it depends on what you want to do or are prepared to do. There are quite a few magazines that take on interns to cover in offices during the whole Milan/Paris/New York merry-go-round. If you want to see how shows work, plenty of fashion houses take on interns for showtime. So do the firms involved in the organisational side of Fashion Week.

Have you thought of trying Spain? It's a pretty exciting place in terms of Fashion and fashion media at the moment and fluency in Spanish and English would be quite an asset. You could even approach the Paris or NYC bureaux of magazines like Spanish Vogue, Elle and so on. That's yet another avenue for anyone wanting to get a foot in the door at a fashion title.

PK

 

[jiji7]

I appreciate you taking the time. Your ideas are spot on! I just have to start interning asap to really decide. I am though more interested in the Fashion styling aspect of the job.

I had orginally been toying with the idea of going to law school to specialize in intellectual property and entertainment law to represent people in the fashion industry. That was my original plan and to do freelance styling on the side. I have worked as a intern for my mom's law office for 6 years now and have a lot of experience as an administrative assitant. I knew that law school would give me something to fall back on.

I figured that maybe styling would take off and I would let go of the law career or vice versa. Then I realized that people who have become fashion editors started at magazines from very early on. If I went with my law plan I would lose time and experience that others totally dedicated to styling would get.

Am I right? Law school is 3 years long and I could intern for Design houses or fashion magazines while in Lawschool. So, I potentially see being able to do both.

What do you think about that plan? I know it sounds scattered but the truth is I have decided on becoming a fashion editor as my goal. I have researched the job and know that is what I am set on. I have 2 plans to get there. I just think the law school plan would give me something to fall back on and make connections in the style world to finally get to my dream position.

On a side note, The Spanish Vogue is an amazing idea. I will have to look into it.I do have other qualities for a magazine as well such as being a good writer. (don't look at my writing here of course,lol.) I will just need to play around with my options.

 

[Lena]

merged with original discussion

PLEASE use tFS search feature before starting up ANY NEW THREAD in the forums, i's the best way to find existing replies to your questions

 

[prosperk]

Interesting questions from Jiji7. Specialising in IP and Copyright Law, along with related areas like employment and contractural Law, would certainly guarantee you a lot of work, particularly if you were prepared to represent 'artistic' people like writers, photographers, art directors and stylists on the basis of a percentage of the take in relation to compensation you might win for them.

Obviously you would go after solvent clients too in order to pay the rent but if you also acquired a reputation for helping less-moneyed clients - who could well become tomorrow's wealthy clients. You could quickly build up an enviable client list consisting of all sorts of interesting people. You could also expand it to include indy filmmakers and so on. In short, anyone artistic without the ready funds to protect their intellectual property when some shark decides to try to rip them off. This is what my attorney in Paris is doing. She's so lethal that one major fashion publishing house's lawyers, having been demolished some seventeen times by her, offered her a partnership! She turned them down because she isn't predisposed to wh*ring. The publishers in question, for example, tried to fire an editor who had to take time off because of breast cancer. Not only that, but they tried to do her out of her sick pay and other benefits, to which she was entitled by dint of having paid into not just the government social security fund but that of the publishing firm too. The publishers' attorneys were most creative in trying to bend the Law for their clients. The editor in question was an iconic stylist and fashion editor who had put in more than twenty years for these publishers. I don't wish to sound an unnecessarily bum note in this thread but I hope this little anecdote serves as a warning to all of you bright-eyed young girls reading this that beneath all the glitz and glitter, there is a cesspool into which it is horribly easy to fall.

Here endeth the sermon for today. Back to Jiji7: whilst qualifying in Law, you could intern for indy fashion magazines as well as the established titles. Remember that today's indy talent will be on tomorrow's Vogue and Bazaar mastheads. You could also intern for up and coming designers. All of the people you encountered in Fashion would be your potential clients when you got out of the fashion media to set up as an attorney protecting "the talent" from "the parasites". As an attorney, you could still keep your hand in. I know several attorneys who contribute to newspapers and magazines, although I don't know any who style fashion shoots! LOL!

Food for thought, isn't it? Apart from anything else, you would know how to protect your own work from rip-off merchants!

PK

 

[prosperk]

This 10-minute limit on corrections is irritating. I was typing so fast that a couple of typos got through. Hope the above is clear, nonetheless.

PK

 

[jeweledvixen]

I want to pursue a career as a fashion magazine editor and will be attending college next year. I've been admitted to USC (Annenberg School for Communication) and NYU (Gallatin); which would be the better option?

 

[homeboy]

My apologies if I'm off topic but I need help with names of fashion magazines with a great amount of focus on men's fashion. Later during the week I will be sending in application to fashion magazines and the only ones I know which covers men's fashion are Vanity Fair, Vogue and GQ magazines.
Mind that the magazines should have their head office in europe.

 

[fashionistasista]

you should probably look at Dazed and Confused and Another as well as Another Man. .... but er they will probably appreciate it if you have HEARD of them before and know the magazine before shooting off a resume to them. They have a pretty full on cult follwing worldwide and some established people in the industry work for them for peanuts just to be featured. so do your research!

good luck though and let us know how about the response you get!!

 

[homeboy]

Thank you darling. Just the type of magazines I want to send my resumé too. Small intimate and perfect for a publication novice who wants to learn and grow. Surprisingly I've never heard of them before and will do most likely do some homework if I get called for an interview. I've sent my resumé to a handful of magazines already and since I believe in myself and my resumé I'm confident that one I will get at least one response.

 

[mkfan]

Hi! I need some advice. I have a couple fashion interviews coming up with SOHO based magazines in NY. I've never been to a magazine interview and need some advice on what to wear. I've been told to dress pretty casually, so I was thinking a nice pair of dark simple jeans and a light colored v-neck T. Thoughts? Thank you!

 

[fashionistasista]

hmm i don't know about US specifically as im based in Australia but girls that go to fashion interviews here basically dress up rather than going casual. I mean, it depends what role you are going for of course, but its a visual industry your going to relay your fashion 'know how' by the way you id dress as well as whats in your CV. Id say pick an outfit you like in the models street wear thread and alternate it to make it your own but thats what they'll be looking for - as trite as it sounds sorry hahah.

Good luck though!!! Id love to see how you go also!!

 

[mkfan]

Thanks for your input fashionistasista! Also, I forgot to mention that I'm a guy...so...yea, haha.

 

[homeboy]

Wear the best outfit you've got. Remember that the fashion world is very superficial. Great outfits = Increased respect. Tie or suit is a big no, but in some cases it is okey to wear a tie to an interview for a fashion magazine if you manage to make yourself look edgy and sophisticated.

 

[shoexgal]

Love or a practical career?

Jiji,

I'm pretty much in the same position as you. I'm 23 and I've got 2 years of law. I'm on my way to school but I'm hesitating. I want to know that this is what I really want. Or is law what I really want? Its so HARD. I know what you are going through. I probably have less time tho

I appreciate you taking the time. Your ideas are spot on! I just have to start interning asap to really decide. I am though more interested in the Fashion styling aspect of the job.

I had orginally been toying with the idea of going to law school to specialize in intellectual property and entertainment law to represent people in the fashion industry. That was my original plan and to do freelance styling on the side. I have worked as a intern for my mom's law office for 6 years now and have a lot of experience as an administrative assitant. I knew that law school would give me something to fall back on.

I figured that maybe styling would take off and I would let go of the law career or vice versa. Then I realized that people who have become fashion editors started at magazines from very early on. If I went with my law plan I would lose time and experience that others totally dedicated to styling would get.

Am I right? Law school is 3 years long and I could intern for Design houses or fashion magazines while in Lawschool. So, I potentially see being able to do both.

What do you think about that plan? I know it sounds scattered but the truth is I have decided on becoming a fashion editor as my goal. I have researched the job and know that is what I am set on. I have 2 plans to get there. I just think the law school plan would give me something to fall back on and make connections in the style world to finally get to my dream position.

On a side note, The Spanish Vogue is an amazing idea. I will have to look into it.I do have other qualities for a magazine as well such as being a good writer. (don't look at my writing here of course,lol.) I will just need to play around with my options.

 

[shoexgal]

A major good piece of advice

After replying to jiji, I read what you wrote and i sincerely thank you for your imput. this was helpful in my career more than you will ever know.

Interesting questions from Jiji7. Specialising in IP and Copyright Law, along with related areas like employment and contractural Law, would certainly guarantee you a lot of work, particularly if you were prepared to represent 'artistic' people like writers, photographers, art directors and stylists on the basis of a percentage of the take in relation to compensation you might win for them.

Obviously you would go after solvent clients too in order to pay the rent but if you also acquired a reputation for helping less-moneyed clients - who could well become tomorrow's wealthy clients. You could quickly build up an enviable client list consisting of all sorts of interesting people. You could also expand it to include indy filmmakers and so on. In short, anyone artistic without the ready funds to protect their intellectual property when some shark decides to try to rip them off. This is what my attorney in Paris is doing. She's so lethal that one major fashion publishing house's lawyers, having been demolished some seventeen times by her, offered her a partnership! She turned them down because she isn't predisposed to wh*ring. The publishers in question, for example, tried to fire an editor who had to take time off because of breast cancer. Not only that, but they tried to do her out of her sick pay and other benefits, to which she was entitled by dint of having paid into not just the government social security fund but that of the publishing firm too. The publishers' attorneys were most creative in trying to bend the Law for their clients. The editor in question was an iconic stylist and fashion editor who had put in more than twenty years for these publishers. I don't wish to sound an unnecessarily bum note in this thread but I hope this little anecdote serves as a warning to all of you bright-eyed young girls reading this that beneath all the glitz and glitter, there is a cesspool into which it is horribly easy to fall.

Here endeth the sermon for today. Back to Jiji7: whilst qualifying in Law, you could intern for indy fashion magazines as well as the established titles. Remember that today's indy talent will be on tomorrow's Vogue and Bazaar mastheads. You could also intern for up and coming designers. All of the people you encountered in Fashion would be your potential clients when you got out of the fashion media to set up as an attorney protecting "the talent" from "the parasites". As an attorney, you could still keep your hand in. I know several attorneys who contribute to newspapers and magazines, although I don't know any who style fashion shoots! LOL!

Food for thought, isn't it? Apart from anything else, you would know how to protect your own work from rip-off merchants!

PK

 

[prosperk]

What a very nice thing to say, Shoexgal! We all need help with focus from time to time so if I was able to help you, that's made my morning.

Cheers from Paris...

PK

 

[jiji7]

shoexgal:

I am glad to know I am not the only one out there. Good luck to you. I am still weighing my options. I am pretty convinced though that I will be mixing the two.

I am seriously thinking about going to law school and at the same time interning or volunteering for stylists, magazines and the legal departments of major fashion houses. Also, I would be developing a portfolio in the mean time as much as I can.

When I graduate I will pursue both careers and hopefully my connections through a law career focused in the fashion industry will put me on the map as a stylist.

I know this is an ambitious plan, but I really think this will work.

 

[mishahoi]

I think one of the huge misconceptions is that there is only a few positions available in fashion- the big names ie photographer, stylist, designer, editor, etc. However, the possibilities are endless and I really believe it is possible to take two (seemingly) different career paths and merge them together eventually to be successful.
Me, for example, thought I was going to have a healthy career and die only a stylist. But now I am learning a new job and styling on the side. Funnily enough, an opportunity may come through that could allow me to use both areas of expertise and still stay in the industry I want to be.

It`s completely doable and such a niche position- copyright lawyer sounds like an amazing position! And just think of all the thankyou gifts you may get from it as opposed to interning at a magazine!