How to get into fashion business?

SCS · #1 (**permalink**) 09-06-2007, 11:22 PM

I'm gona be 18 next year and I should be thinkin what i really want in life by now. I did child care and Education at college, and I'm lookin 4 jobs in field, but to be honnest what I really like to do is work with fashion. I'm so obssed with fashion. All my friends and familly says that I can dress up, that I'm very stylish. I don;t wana be a designer because I'm not very patient, I'm kinda good at drawing but I dnon't became a fashion designer, I just wana work in fashion business. Like magazine or becaoming a fashion expert. But how?? Any ideas?? Any part time course?? Wha should I do to be get into fashion business??

bolatovich · #2 (**permalink**) 09-06-2007, 11:51 PM

Fashion is a very hard industry to get into. Especially without qualifications. Honours Degree is a minimum requirement nowadays whether it is a designer job you are looking for or work in retail as a buyer, merchandiser etc. etc or a fashion writer. There are a lot of courses out there where you can study any subject in fashion but most of them are 3 yrs but you seem to be an inpatient type so I'd suggest you start networking with various people from the industry (it's a pretty much "who you know or sleep with" industry) and do some volunteer work don't expect to be paid for it for at least 6 months fashion is a very demanding and unforgiving Mistress she takes a lot but does not give back much. Degree will definitely will open the gate into the industry as most colleges/universities have connections this way you can get that essential work experience.But on the other hand it is your charisma, passion, determination and 100% commitment to the industry will get you a job of your dream.

Venus! · #3 (**permalink**) 09-06-2007, 11:58 PM

Well to be honest,i want to do the same thing in my life!!I know it is really hard.Everybody tells me that and they really try to make me understand that i am not going to be near DSqueard when i finish my BA Honors Degree.Coz that's what i hope and think it will happen....It is a very competitive business and it requires lots of nerves.Now as for a college with such courses.Try FIT(Fashion Institute of Technology) or Middlesex University(UK) or London College of Fashion.Tuition fees are around 4,000 $ per year for UK/EU students.Also Italy is a good place to study fashion styling or fashion promotion.I wish you good luck....

italian_princess_oc · #4 (**permalink**) 09-07-2007, 12:20 AM

Well it looks like we are in the same boat. I LOVE fashion too, but I'm not creative enough to design clothes, I just know what looks good & what goes together, ect. Also, being a designer is sort of un-realistic because there is so much competition & very few make it to the top. Well first you need to decide what part you want to get into. I can give you an example of what I'm doing. I'm going to get into Fashion Merchandising & study to be a buyer. You will have to go to college & either get an Associates of Arts degree or a Bachelor of Arts degree. I'm going to go for the BA degree just because with more schooling you'll have an easier time getting hired & in the end you will be paid a higher salary. At first I was like you, I didn't know which direction to go, so I read a book called "Career Opportunities in the Fashion Industry". It basically lists every single job there is in the fashion industry & gives you a description about each one, tells you about schooling & how much you will get paid, ect. This book helped me make my decision, so it really is useful. If you want to get into the magazine end, you will have to take journalisim because you will basically be a writer. Or if you want to be a stylist, you would have to know exactly what clothing goes with each persons individual body shape. If you decided to get into that part of the fashion industry try reading a book by Stacy London & Clinton Kelly from TLC's "What Not to Wear", the book is called "Dress Your Best: The Complete Guide To Finding The Style That's Right For Your Body". It's basically a book for people to learn how to dress their body shape, but being a stylist you would have to know how to dress everyone's body shape, so it would be wise to get a head start & study this. It also teaches you about textiles too! I plan on working at Bebe or working as a personal shopper for a high end department store while I'm in college just to gain some more knowledge & to put some sort of experience on my resume. So that is another thing to consider. I also have a subscribion to Vogue & W magazine that I read religiously each month to learn all about each designer (big or small). It's good to know what each designer is known for & keep up with the trends for each season. Well I hope I've been some help & I wish you the best of luck with everything!

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