Searching for My Perfect Fashion Career - HELP!!

[Cado]

When you try to get in to these schools, is it the high-school grades that count?

 

[Dydiva]

Well, obviously if you are coming in as a freshmen straight after high school with no college credit, only your high school grades will count. And if you are in a design/art major, you will most likely need to show a portfolio or project depending on your major. Since I will already have my B.A. before I enter, my college grades will count. I will probably need to submit my high school transcripts, as well, since all schools usually need that too. The program I want to be getting into is Fashion Marketing, so no project or portfolio is usually needed. Only FIDM requires on, but I'm not so sure I even want to go there. The degree will just be an A.A.S degree, which I don't really need, and its also for those who want a different concentration in a certain area after getting a B.A. But I really want to learn more about this industry and get more technical and creative background so I will be able to have more time to gain experience in the industry outside of school. I hope this helps!

 

[Cado]

oh, ok, im confused I thought all the diff. schools mentioned in this thread is colleges? Going to college is the same thing as studying one special area right? So.. college first and then these fashionschools?

 

[Dydiva]

oh, ok, im confused I thought all the diff. schools mentioned in this thread is colleges? Going to college is the same thing as studying one special area right? So.. college first and then these fashions chools?

Yes all the different schools like FIT, Parsons, etc. are 4-years colleges (offer B.A.). Only FIDM offers A.A (2-year degree). I am just going to school to get another B.A. in Fashion marketing because I would like to complement my English and writing background (since I want to get into fashion writing). You probably want to go straight into one of these fashion schools as a freshman. Everyone's educational path is different.

 

[Cado]

OK, I think I understand. So it's "normal" to go to these colleges (the first you mentioned) after high-school? Sorry, but I don't know much about it.

 

[FashionMaganista]

Well from my experience... I graduate hs with a 2.2 gpa... got accepted to Academy of art in san fran & FIDM. but i decided both werent for me... thought I would do a bit of life self searching around so I went to a local Junior College and after going through a pre-law stage and deciding not to go to UC Berkeley or UPenn I decided to go to Central Saint Martins in London. When I went there for an interview they just looked at my portfolio and I was accepted on the spot.

OK, I think I understand. So it's "normal" to go to these colleges (the first you mentioned) after high-school? Sorry, but I don't know much about it.

 

[Aaliah326]

Careers at a fashion mag

I was just wondering what are some positions/careers at a fashion magazine that does not involve writing...I have a few interviews for some internships coming up and I am not interested in writing or becoming a editorial intern so I was just wondering what other career paths I can follow in that industry.

 

[BetteT]

Merged with this existing thread about asking for help to find various careers. Please do a search for your topic before starting new topics. If you need help doing seaches, because there are so many threads, there's a pinned thread about Searching at the top of the Member Support Forum.

You may also be interested in these threads, about Magazine careers, which I found doing an advanced search:

Careers / Jobs / Positions in Magazine Publishing

How to Get Work at a Fashion Magazine & Get to the Top

What education you need to do to get into magazines??

You might consider the business side of magazines ... accounting, printing, distribution, sales, advertising, etc. if you like business. Or graphic arts if you like that sort of thing ... the actual magazine layout. Fashion Editor (there are threads on this) who's job is usually not to write, but to style the shoots. Just a few ideas.

 

[Aaliah326]

I am sorry about that, but thanx

 

[FashionMaganista]

It is quite true alot of people get the misconception that a Fashion Editor does the copy (writing) in the magazine. Usually the copy is doing by a copy editor and the styling that occurs ala fashion spreads.. photoshoots etc etc.

I was just wondering what are some positions/careers at a fashion magazine that does not involve writing...I have a few interviews for some internships coming up and I am not interested in writing or becoming a editorial intern so I was just wondering what other career paths I can follow in that industry.

 

[ShuggaStiletto]

Could somebody tell me more about the job of a market editor? I know it's their duty to go to all the shows and know about young up-and-coming designers that are "coming down the pipeline" so to speak, but what else? How do they "learn" trend forecasting- is it mostly from experience? I feel like this is the job I'd like most in the magazine world because it's what I love now- researching different designers, recognizing their styles, trying to determine who will be the next big thing, etc. How would you even get on the path to doing this? Is it the same thing as most magazine jobs where it's really about networking/connections/getting your foot in the door first, and then working your way up & determining which areas you'd work best in?

I wonder how Meredith Melling Burke got her start?

 

[BetteT]

There's a thread on M. M. Burke in the Behind the Lens forum ... might have some good info in there. and here's a thread about the Market Editor at Teen Vogue, Taylor Tomasi.

 

[Aaliah326]

It is quite true alot of people get the misconception that a Fashion Editor does the copy (writing) in the magazine. Usually the copy is doing by a copy editor and the styling that occurs ala fashion spreads.. photoshoots etc etc.

Ohhhh I think I get it now, but does that only apply to fashion mags..what about non-fashion mags what does the editor do there?

 

[Cicciolina]

Market Editors also source out new designers or labels or products in general - ie Virginia Smith at Vogue also, who is above Meredith, and they'll pick it up on the job often enough so to speak. Market Editor Assistants will be the one helping out, calling for product or having some say in requesting what product. A lot of the purely product only pages in magazines are done by Market Editors, like in Vogue/Teen Vogue where the last few pages are just product based around editorials (eg Need it Now/Index).

The writing in magazines is done by Features or Fashion News - eg Jane Keltner at Teen Vogue, and Sally Singer at Vogue.

 

[young_princess]

how do u get into a planner position of department stores? and can you transition from planning to buying?

 

[C Devin]

Career Change - Interning/Volunteering???

I live in Manhattan, and work at a "white collar" desk job, after accumulating bachelors and graduate degrees that have nothing to do with fashion. Uninspired by the work that I currently do, and foresee doing as I move up the corporate ladder, I am beginning to entertain the idea, that has lingered in the back of my head for the past year, of pursuing my long-held interest in fashion.

The problem, however, is that I have no experience working in the fashion industry. My quantitative, analytical, and writing skills are excellent (based on my education and work experience), which I think would translate to some career in the fashion industry, however, I'm not sure to the exact job position at this point. In order to learn more about the fashion industry and find the job that best fits my skills, interests and strengths, it makes sense for me to seek experience in the industry itself.

I think working for a small fashion boutique or start-up would give me a chance to gain a lot of hands-up experience in a short amount of time. Might positions such as these be available to me on a part-time (perhaps weekends only) basis, even without pay?

Does anyone have any advice as to how else I might begin transitioning into a fashion career?

Thanks!

-- CD

 

[BetteT]

I merged this thread into the ongoing thread about trying to figure out what fashion career might be best for you. Maybe someone can aswer your questions directly.

I don't see working in a boutique as much of a chance to learn about the fashion biz in general ... it's mostly learning about retail ... which just happens to sell clothing. Unless, of course, your goal is to open your own shop. But, if you seek to hold down a real job in the fashion world in the business side of it, your writing and analytical skills (and math if you are skilled in that) can be used at some of the bigger fashion companies. And there is always publishing and advertising ... which can also relate to the fashion world, if you get in the right company.

Here are some threads with information that also might help give you some ideas of some other things to explore and how you can use your degree and your experience in the fashion world:
Business Graduates in the Fashion Industry?
All about PR = Public Relations
Fashion Merchandising
Becoming a Buyer?
How to Get Work at a Fashion Magazine & Get to the Top
Fashion Journalism

For internship opportunities:
'Wanted' - Post Unpaid Internship Opportunities Here

 

[C Devin]

I thought a boutique would be a good place to learn, because I thought I would be able to see all aspect of the business, from production, to sales, to advertising, to marketing, etc. I'm thinking that any experience I would get with a larger company would be in one isolated department. Am I misunderstanding?

Ultimately, however, I have to find a way to get experience in the industry on my spare time. I have to learn the "ins and outs" of the industry to see where my skills will be most applicable. Only when I have a plan can I quit my current job and seriously begin pursuing a career in the fashion industry. Weekends are the only days I can spare right now. Do you have any suggestions on how I might find some experience during that time? I'm totally willing to work without pay, since getting experience is my number one priority.

By the way, thanks for the thread references. I had actually read all those already... just hoping to solicit some more advice particular to my situation.

I merged this thread into the ongoing thread about trying to figure out what fashion career might be best for you. Maybe someone can aswer your questions directly.

I don't see working in a boutique as much of a chance to learn about the fashion biz in general ... it's mostly learning about retail ... which just happens to sell clothing. Unless, of course, your goal is to open your own shop. But, if you seek to hold down a real job in the fashion world in the business side of it, your writing and analytical skills (and math if you are skilled in that) can be used at some of the bigger fashion companies. And there is always publishing and advertising ... which can also relate to the fashion world, if you get in the right company.

Here are some threads with information that also might help give you some ideas of some other things to explore and how you can use your degree and your experience in the fashion world:
Business Graduates in the Fashion Industry?
All about PR = Public Relations
Fashion Merchandising
Becoming a Buyer?
How to Get Work at a Fashion Magazine & Get to the Top
Fashion Journalism

For internship opportunities:
'Wanted' - Post Unpaid Internship Opportunities Here

 

[young_princess]

I was also wondering if there is a part-time thing you could do. I'm graduating soon and want a job that pays. But I wanna part-time on the weekends. Hopefully something that would help me learn about being a buyer. I wonder if there's such a thing.

 

[C Devin]

A part-time position on the weekend is exactly what I'm looking for, even if it's non-paid. Has anyone heard of such a thing?