I have been into fashion for longer than I can remember. However, it wasn’t until recently I realized that I can actually have a career that involves my passion for fashion. I specifically want to do something in fashion media or business. The thing is, I want to get more involved in fashion before college, but there aren’t many opportunities at my school, so I have to get creative. If you are in the same boat, here is a list of five ways to get more involved and educated in the fashion world.
- Summer Program
Doing a summer program is the best way to get involved in fashion. You get to meet leaders in the fashion world and take classes/hear lectures from important figures. There are loads of options out there, but I thought I would share four amazing opportunities. Vogue offers a two week long summer program in New York City for high school students. You get the chance to learn from top employees about the world of fashion. NSLC offers a nine day pre-college summer program at Columbia University for fashion management and design. Again, you will get to hear from top people in the fashion world to expand your knowledge. The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) hosts a four day summer workshop for high school students. Lastly, LIM College offers multiple summer programs for high school students within their school of business of fashion and lifestyle.
- Staying Tuned In
The most Important part of becoming knowledgeable in any subject is keeping up with the current news on the topic. There are hundreds of sources out tehre for reading about fashion. My two favorites are The Cut and Vogue. Reading these once a week can help keep you caught up on the latest fashion news.
- Influencers
The lifestyle now revolves heavily around social media. So, while you doom scroll, attempt to fill your feed with fashion content creators who will give you knowledge or inspiration. This is a simple adjustment in an everyday activity that can help you become more connected with the fashion world.
- Weekend/Summer Job
Working in the industry can be so helpful for getting a feel for your future. Obviously working in retail when you are young does not mean you will forever workin retail, but there are definitely some aspects of the job that can be similar to a future job you may have. Getting a job within the realm of fashion can also show how committed you are to fashion on an application to a college, a program, or a future job.
- Pair With Another Topic
Most careers involve multiple areas of interests, and jobs in fashion are not exceptions. Fashion business or media jobs involve knowledge in other areas such as marketing or journalism. What I recommend is attempting to build your skills in those other areas. While there may not be a fashion marketing or fashion journalism class at your school, there could be a marketing or a journalism class, so take it. It never hurts to gain more experience. On that topic, if you are interested in fashion media, writing for your school newspaper can be a great way to gain experience in media even if it’s not exactly what you want to do in the future.
Till next Sunday,
Daisy
Dear Daisy 