Searching for My Perfect Fashion Career - HELP!!

[young_princess]

Merchandising and also Buying both deal with number crunching and an accounting background is beneficial.

Here are threads about both of those professions:

http://www.thefashionspot.com/forums/f90/fashion-merchandising-58558.html

http://www.thefashionspot.com/forums/f90/all-about-buyers-4943.html

thanks so much for that info. Would I be able to make it in that world if I don't have retail experience? How bout being in the corporate department of a fashion house or fashion magazine or department store? does anyone one have any info on that? thanks again

 

[Cicciolina]

With a gift of numbers, you can work in the logistics department as well, working with distribution, or production, supply chain - how to get item x from A to B in a certain amount of time, within a budget, etc. Pay is not bad, it's not as well known as the more creative side, and business people in fashion are definitely in demand.

To work in the corporate side of a fashion house or magazine, it's like going into any other financial firm. They would prefer to see a degree I would think, or some sort of accreditation and not necessarily any fashion or retail experience. Of course it depends case by case. I've heard of people going straight from graduation into an assistant accountant role for a large fashion house and working their way up and becoming the head (with perks - travelling, etc) and then even being involved in the sales department eventually, because they have the skill of numbers behind them as well as the appreciation of fashion and the industry.

 

[BetteT]

There's a thread on Public Relations ... there might be some answers in there. Look it up ... if you can't see it on the first couple of pages.

Hello, i worked for a month exp within a top model agency which i loved however i would also enjoy to apply for work exp in a fashion Pr/event company as eventually realistically id like to own my own company so want to experience different areas of the industry which i find interesting i can't seem to find many large just fashion event companies. I don't suppose any one can give me any help, or pm me some names of companies. Thanks

 

[KhaoticKharma]

Does anyone here work at a modeling agency? If so, what is it like?


I don't want to be a model scout EVER, as it seems like a terrible job (and I couldn't bring myself to be so cold), but I would love to work as a receptionist or in the office of an agency while in college. It would be a great way to pay the bills and network for a future in fashion magazines (not to mention a great place to meet hot model guys). How is the pay? How difficult is it to get a job?

 

[picnmix]

I'm a final year History student at the University of Manchester (UK), and next year I'm taking a year out to make my French and Spanish fluent.

Anyway, I'm really not sure what I want to do about my longer term careers plan.

My degree is all about presenting an argument; in essays, in presentations, in discussions.
Aside from my degree I've got experience in charity work (project management) and working with children, but the charity sector isn't something I want to do straight away.
I've also done office work for a few companies, and worked in a library.

So, to my point, does anyone know of any jobs in the fashion industry that I could do with my qualifications? I like working in busy team environments and I also like being a bit creative. I also like facts and stats.

I'm just trying to find as many ideas as possible.

 

[BetteT]

Hmm ... maybe writing for a fashion magazine ... which could work into an editors job, where you would steer the editorial content and manage a staff. Or perhaps Public Relations in the fashion industry .... you have to be able to write catch press releases, make conections and network with a lot of people, find ways to get your clients mentioned in the right media.

We have threads on both PR and several about journalism and working for magazines.

 

[young_princess]

just curious, how do people from outside US make it in this industry? When I was at BG in Bergdorf I sat next to three women one of them, I couldn't help but eavesdrop, was an intern in some fashion magazine, can't remember what, who is from France. I mean I wouldn't really think as the fashion industry as a place where the companies would sponsor working visas or is it? I know you don't need one to be an intern but what about when they graduate?

 

[Cicciolina]

From what I know, most if not all companies will definitely not be sponsoring visas for internships. The poor foreign intern would have to pay their own way there - there are internships around for foreign interns, students can apply to them most often, like the J1 or the B1 from what I've heard. In some countries like Australia, their citizens can apply for other visas to work in the US for 12 months and I think up to 18 months. You just need to research your own country's visa relations with the US.

 

[Judith121]

A Fashion Events Organizer sounds like a really good job for me. Do you know what kind of schooling I would need to take? Does it pay well?

 

[Fashionturnip]

Help! Career conundrum...

Afternoon!

I wondered if you seasoned pros could assist me with my latest conundrum....

I really want to change careers and work in something fashion/trend/creative orientated.

I kinda fell into my current job (media related but a bit ) & I really don't like it anymore. It doesnt help that most people are a bit homophobic so anyway...I just want a change.

I wondered if a few of you could suggest something that I might look to for a career. Im realistic & know if its worth doing i'll have to start at the bottom....it's not like I expect to be handed it on a plate. No point in me saying "oh I want to work at Vogue" cos I have no experience there. I'll give you a brief update of my experience to date;

Retail based (Arcadia) from 16-21.
Boutique from dec 04 -Sept 05.
Degree (Media Comms) 2:1
Intern @ music PR company sept 05-Jan 06.
Media job (predominantly buying) Jan 06 - June 07
Course in Buying & Merchandising @ LCF (evenings)
Current role from 07 to present day (again, buying).

I really don't know where to take my career. Im not on bad money (its not great) but I dont know if I want to go backwards and step into a graduate job (can I even do that if Im no longer a grad?).

Its a catch 22 situation.

I was thinking about buying....but i'd have to start as a BAA....and im not sure id even enjoy it? At arcadia you have to have a Degree in Fashion--which I don't have. Can any of you offer some insight into the realities of the job? & I know its really hard to get into so I would start at the bottom (which I have no problem with...you need to crawl before you can walk).

Then I thought with my previous retail experience maybe I could go back into that....but I dunno....I never invisaged that as my career?

Does anyone know of any companies that really encourage growth and push their employies onto bigger things within the company?

My point is I don't want to step into a career I dont enjoy...like i'm currently in....tut *sigh*

Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions...?

 

[PrettyInPinkO21]

You have PR in your background... most fashion companies (like Gucci Group, LVMH brands) have in-house PR (as you probably know.) Since you also have an understanding for fashion consumer behavior, you would be a nice candidate for this fast-pased industry.

 

[BetteT]

Merged into ongoing thread about this subject. Please do an advanced search before starting a new thread.

After people here give you some ideas here, I suggest that you do a search to find info on each specific career. There is information, in the Member Support forum pinned near the top, about how to do an advanced search.

We have threads about Buying, Retail, Public Relations, Merchandising, Journalism, Marketing, Trend Forcasting, Magazines ... just to name a few. So try some of those keywords for anything that might interest you and you should find the threads. Just dont put in the word "Fashion" ... you will get too many results. That is where you can find some good information about each occupation and ask there for specifics about what it takes.

 

[Fashionturnip]

Apologies! I didn't realise there was a thread already started that would be so similar to mine.

Thats great! Thnx BetteT!

 

[Crazy7784]

Hi everyone!!!!! I wanna ask a question, you see, I'm 23 and I didn't go to college, I've been working in shops (Zara, Sisley, Accesorize, Burberry) since I was 17 as an assistant, then as a visual merchaindainsing an now as a supervisor at ladys section, I love fashion, and I like working in shops cuz I help the customer whith their outfit, I do the outfit for the windows, etc. but I just realized I dont want to be my whole life working in a shop, not like that,I would like to work as an Stylist but a real one, but I don't know what to do,I dont know if start college or maybe is better study some courses at London College of Fashion or Central St Martin (I'm Spanish but I lived 1 year in London and I'm looking forward to go back next year) so what do you think, College or courses? do you know any other colleges, courses... ideas???? hahaha, Some help please!!!! Thank so much!!!!

 

[C Devin]

Career Changes and Pursuing Interest in Fashion

Does anyone know of any ways that one might get some exposure/experience in the fashion industry during one's spare time? I've always had an interest in fashion, but never pursued it from a career standpoint. I have two degrees and currently work for a large corporation in New York, tied to my desk for most of the day. While the salary is decent based on the inflated New York standards, lately, it has not been compensating for the lack of passion I feel for my work. And while I cannot simply quit my job, I would like to get some experience in the fashion industry to see if it's something I can pursue as a career. I have no contacts in the industry and, like I said, no prior experience in the fashion industry. Can anyone suggest some ways that I might gain some exposure/experience during my spare time, perhaps on the weekends?

-- CD

 

[katherine]

Have you looked into internships? There are some good ones that you're able to do with little to no experience which is good because that's the point of them.

What aspect of fashion are you interested in? Design? PR? Writing? Etc.

 

[C Devin]

It's good to hear I won't need any experience. I don't even have to be paid, as long as I get some experience. But, where would I find such an internship?

I'm not sure what aspect I'm interested in yet, but most likely the business side or the editorial/writing side, since I have good writing skills.

Have you looked into internships? There are some good ones that you're able to do with little to no experience which is good because that's the point of them.

What aspect of fashion are you interested in? Design? PR? Writing? Etc.

 

[katherine]

You should check out freefashioninternships.com which is really helpful for all sorts of fashion related internships. And I see you live in NYC which is a plus because that's where most of them are located, you'll be off to a good start.

Another site you should check out is ed2010.com, they have a link for internships and they're editorial based to prepare you for a magazine job. Most of them are unpaid but if you're lucky you can find a paid one as well. Both sites have been really helpful for me and my friends so I highly recommend them when searching for the right internship!

Also don't be so nervous because everybody starts somewhere. These people know you're there for experience so they normally don't expect you to have any. It's generally hard to go straight to a fashion job without internships under your belt and I think doing one would be the perfect opportunity to test the waters and see if you'd like to continue.

Good luck! Hopefully this helped!

 

[C Devin]

Thanks for the links! The ins and outs of the fashion industry are definitely not as well documented and researchable as traditional career fields such as law and medicine, so this helps immensely. I'll definitely check these out!

 

[Dydiva]

If you would like to produce and organize fashion shows, I recommend studying fashion marketing. It is a well rounded major where you learn both the creative and business sides of fashion. You learn about trends and how to translate fashion into advertising material for its audience or buyers. This is what I would like to get into. I would also like to go into fashion writing. I am an American Literature & Culture major at UCLA and I am really good at writing. I am interning at Teen Magazine in the fall which will be great experience. After Teen Magazine, I would like to get an intern ship at a bigger magazine in New York, or at a major fashion label (on the marketing/pr side). So I will be getting an associates in fashion marketing after I get my B.A. in American Lit. This will look good on a resume and show that you are really dedicated to being the best you can education-wise, which will translate to how much effort you are willing to but in professionally.