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

[janginhwa]

I really want to be this!

 

[jiji7]

mishahoi: Thank you for the response. I am glad to know that you are doing both successfully, it gives me a lot of hope. As for the gifts, I can't wait!

 

[manolocraver]

You're not the only one who has that dream.. me too...
But as a kickstart, try to run a fashion blog first... it's a sort of magazine but it can be your stepping stone as well...
Tell me if you succeed and I'll follow suit

 

[rangerrick14]

If oyu want some exoerience email an internet fashion magizine or an internet branch of a popular mag; start a column for a school newspaper, mag, or yearbook. Also TRy starting your own and look at less well known mags and newpapers. Anything to put into your portfolio is good as long as it is of good quality. If you don't have the connections you have to be like Andre and take and bear any writing job or fashion job you can get to rise. Be ontop of your A game so as to give no excuse why you shouldn't get an internship or job. Also get bios of any unorthodox editor, or writer Like Andre A.L.T.

 

[homeboy]

You're not the only one who has that dream.. me too...
But as a kickstart, try to run a fashion blog first... it's a sort of magazine but it can be your stepping stone as well...
Tell me if you succeed and I'll follow suit

Yeah. A blog is a very good start, not only can it serve as a part of your portfolio but it gives you tons of practice. A blog is in my opinion a big must for people who don't have experience in journalism. If you really want to become a fasion critic or writer you are in my opinion already heavily engaged in it in the form of begin very active on fashion forums, or running your own blog. If you're not doing either of them, then you're one of those who would like to work for a fashion magazine but really don't burn for it.

 

[libertyjaen]

fashionistasista, how exactly did you get offers to intern when you were still in highschool? did you have any real experience before that, or just an interest in fashion? what exactly were you expected to do while at that magazine?
i'm in my last year of hs and i haven't got any clue about what to do, where to apply, or what kind of experience i should have!

 

[homeboy]

fashionistasista, how exactly did you get offers to intern when you were still in highschool? did you have any real experience before that, or just an interest in fashion? what exactly were you expected to do while at that magazine?
i'm in my last year of hs and i haven't got any clue about what to do, where to apply, or what kind of experience i should have!

The latest months I've been working my *** of to get a job or intern at a fashion magazine and it has been extremely tough, but I managed to get a positive reply from one magazine and I'm still in the process of securing a spot at the magazine. I'm fairly young too and in fact graduated from high school last year.
You're a bit late to apply for most summer internship programs. Applying to them is without a doubt the best way to get your foot into the door as a young girl with no experience what so ever.
The fashion business is all about contacts and experience, therefore it is very very difficult to get a job if you lack either of them. If you send in a resumé it will most likely be tossed in the bin. That is if you apply to the more prestigious magazines. Try national fashion magazines instead of dreaming about starting your career off at Vogue or Elle. Focus on getting experience even though you might have to get it from a local paper with a couple of pages on fashion every week.
Most importantly you should first of all figure out what exactly you want to be doing at a fashion magazine, so that you can start marketing yourself for that specific profession.

 

[libertyjaen]

thanks so much for replying, homeboy. because i'm in australia, i'm thinking about 2008, since i don't finish school until the end of this year. however, i don't even know where to find out about internship programs here... i suppose calling them up can't hurt.

Focus on getting experience even though you might have to get it from a local paper with a couple of pages on fashion every week.

i'll definitely look into other options besides major publications... though the sad fact is that there are only so many smaller publications around that have anything to do with fashion! i'll keep looking.

i'm most interested in fashion journalism- and i know that a journalism degree will definitely help there, but i'd love to get some real experience before throwing myself into it.

 

[homeboy]

^^
2008 is just over half a year away. That gives you plenty of time to think this through, research and find out more about fashion journalism. Since you often don't get an internship right away I'd suggest you get started with contacting magazines after summer, in September.
Fashion journalism is essentially about writing. Therefor you should only opt for a job as a fashion journalism if you enjoy writing. You don't need to be an expert since you'll learn as time goes on, but writing about fashion as a hobby is a must. Most magazines will want you to give them a a few writing samples, which you should be able to write with no struggle or hassle at all. With that being said, you should start practicing writing.

 

[chocolatestain]

This thread has been so informative for me. In the past month, I've been busy sending out my resumes and cover letters to Singapore's fashion magazines to apply for the position as intern. I realise that to succeed in this business, I've got to be assertive. I was just wondering exactly how assertive I'd have to be. If the person you emailed doesn't reply you within a week, I usaully follow-up with another email. I was just wondering how many emails one should send before it gets infuriating for both parties.

What about calls? Should I make telephone calls at all the the magazine office?

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[Rach01]

Yes, definetely call.

I also want to work in a magazine however acerbating I not only live in Australia but in Perth. (aka the most isolated city on earth)

Like most of you I have done work experience, at Cleo when I went to Sydney, Perth Woman and I have recently secured a position at another even smaller WA magazine Flourish.

A lot of the girls I met along the way also on work experience or internships got their position by calling the magazine and by chance the right person was available and answered. So ringing is certainly a sensible move, if you havn't gotten a reply to your email.

Fashionistasista, I am curious to know how your work experience is going for you at the moment, I'm sure you have done your research but I have talked with a few interns at ACP if you would like me to explain how they got their positions.

I am planning to move to Sydney next year and am unsure about the availability of placements at smaller magazines there.

x.

 

[jeffrey0806]

can anyone list magazines based out of los angeles that would have some type of fashion in them that i may be able to intern with.

 

[cric-croc]

and what about permanent and temporary positions? where do fashion magazines usually advertise their vacancies??i cannot seem to find any over the internet and when I rang them up the people I spoke to where not the nicest...

Also, since I am a fashion pr assistant, I get to deal with stylists, fashion writeers, editors and so forth...i feel tempted to ask them, but I do not want to piss my boss off....any advice?thanks

 

[homeboy]

Very few magazines advertise their vacancies, especially the major magazines. They usually only advertise their summer internships.

In the fashion industry it is very important to try and network while at work but it could also get your *** fired since some people classify networking as unfaithfulness and dishonesty. If you do it, you should be very careful and discrete about it in. Meaning that are talk to people, have normal conversations, exchange number but leave the job talk to after work.

 

[prosperk]

Also, since I am a fashion pr assistant, I get to deal with stylists, fashion writeers, editors and so forth...i feel tempted to ask them, but I do not want to piss my boss off....any advice?thanks

Sounds as if you already have a good "in"! Of course you must be discreet, especially if your boss is paranoid, but it is perfectly alright to ask fashion editors if they ever accept freelance contributions.

Of course they do! The point of the question is not to establish the obvious but to signal that you're in the market for a bit of freelancing. If they like you, which is important, they will pick up on it quite quickly. Then you suggest a drink out of work hours. You can also ask for advice, mentioning that you are trying to get into freelancing to see if you are any good. In this way, you avoid "cornering" or "crowding" your friendly editor, thereby preventing any embarrassment. They will like you all the more for not crowding them and will be more inclined to help you. An out of hours meeting will either result in their passing you some contacts, along with some good advice, or provisionally commissioning something from you themselves, to see if you're useable.

As for the rudeness you encountered, don't let it discourage you. Doubtless some of the people with whom you spoke were arseholes - every office has a few - but even the nicest people in the world tend to develop a hard shell against the avalanche of unsolicited calls from dreamers, losers and tossers. I know it's not nice to be rude and one shouldn't be but people are only human. Sometimes the people you're calling forget about the 10% of potentially worthwhile newbies and also what it was like for them when they were starting out. Anyway, try a bit of subtle manoeuvering as suggested. If professional and intelligent, the editors you approach will appreciate your discretion and your approach and will give you some time.

In the meantime, follow the advice to write. Just sit down and write some short front-of-book pieces about people in fashion, accessories etc. Write about some new shops you have seen. Think of the stuff salaried editorial staff see as a pain in the **** to write and be the freelance at the end of phoneline who can provide intelligible filler for those pages nobody thinks about until the day before deadline!

PK

 

[rangerrick14]

Hey guys what about stylyst like jobs. The kind Isabella Blow or Andre Talley have. I don't exactly wanna write; I want to style shoots.

 

[fashionistasista]

Yes, definetely call.

I also want to work in a magazine however acerbating I not only live in Australia but in Perth. (aka the most isolated city on earth)

Like most of you I have done work experience, at Cleo when I went to Sydney, Perth Woman and I have recently secured a position at another even smaller WA magazine Flourish.

A lot of the girls I met along the way also on work experience or internships got their position by calling the magazine and by chance the right person was available and answered. So ringing is certainly a sensible move, if you havn't gotten a reply to your email.

Fashionistasista, I am curious to know how your work experience is going for you at the moment, I'm sure you have done your research but I have talked with a few interns at ACP if you would like me to explain how they got their positions.

I am planning to move to Sydney next year and am unsure about the availability of placements at smaller magazines there.

x.

Hey Rach,

Good on you for moving to Syd! Definitely the best place in aust for mainstream mags.

All my work experiences etc were back in 05 when i started this thread - and now (thankfully!!!) i work at a magazine publishing house here in syd.

My advice to you is to opt for work experience, then when you are there see if they have any openings for an internship. Basically you come into the mag once or more a week . Unfortunatly you work for free, and you can be working there (free) for up to a year - but if an entry level position comes up - such as coordinator, picture editor, even junior reporter or fashion assistant depending on other background experience - the interns usually have a good chance of getting that job!

Good luck with the move!

F

 

[chocolatestain]

I've got great news! I went for an interview on Wednesday at a major fashion mag in Singapore and they offrered me an internship position. They also want me to write for them. I was so floored! The lady was really nice too.

 

[kissmesweet]

^^ Good luck!

I kind of want to be a fashion magazine editor... I may need to do internship first though.

 

[afriyie]

any tips or advice on how to pursue careers as a fashion stylist or a fashion editor from oklahoma, USA??