Career Girl: What Does It Take To Become a Fashion Stylist?

Dear Career Girl,

I think I finally know what I want to do with my life. I want to be a fashion stylist. Well, really I want to be some kind of fashion stylist/fashion mogul, so basically the Ryan Seacrest of the fashion world. I honestly just don't know what I'm getting myself into! I decided that in the case I do go to FIDM I would major in Visual Communications, then get my Bachelor of Science in Business Management. While that all sounds wonderful in theory, I don't know how it would work in practice.

My questions to you are:
1. Is it difficult to get into the Bachelors program at FIDM?
2. What exactly do fashion stylists do?
3. Is my goal completely unrealistic?

Thanks,
Melia

Dear Melia,

First off, I'd like to address question #3. Umm, heck no! Your goal is absolutely realistic. Not only that, you're on the right track with your educational goals. With talent and drive, there is no reason why you can't do whatever you want.

As far as the job of a fashion stylist, there are quite a number of different careers you can pursue:  celebrity fashion stylist, film and television wardrobe stylist, magazine editorial stylist, a stylist for a fashion brand or website where you style the looks for the shoot, and many other types of styling careers.

Fashion Club interviewed FIDM Grad Cassey Sawhill on what it's like being a stylist. She works on magazine shoots, advertising campaigns, and she's even styled celebs. Read it! It's fascinating! We also talked to Assistant Stylist Tammie Jeon, who styles 130 looks a day for her job at the trendy online retailer Love Culture. Don't miss her story and her amazing advice.

And finally, about your first question on the Bachelors in Business program. It depends on what you mean by difficult. The most important thing is to keep your grades up in high school and commit yourself to what you want to pursue. Nothing will stand in your way. My best advice is to contact an Admissions Advisor at FIDM. Just call 213.624-1201. They are an invaluable resource when it comes to admissions requirements for FIDM. They will mentor you through the process.

All the best to you, Melia!

—Career Girl

Do you have a question for Career Girl? Please send an email with your career related questions to fashionclub@fidm.com. Be sure to read questions answered from other readers, too!

Dress for Less: Travel Size Cosmetics

Planning a vacay? Pack your bags with travel size cosmetics. I'm feeling quite partial to Bumble and bumble's Surf Spray. It's amazing and it truly brings me happiness. Happy Memorial Day Weekend, pals! Summer has unofficially arrived.

1. Three Little Soaps With Travel Dish, Clinique, $16.50, nordstrom.com
2. They're Real Mini Mascara, Benefit Cosmetics, $10, ulta.com
3. Bite Size Discovery Set of Lipsticks, Bite Beauty, $20, sephora.com
4. Triple Threat Travel Set 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils, $19, urbandecay.com
5. Surf Travel Set, $28, bumbleandbumble.com

FIDM Alumna Tammie Jeon Tells FC What It's Like Being a Fashion Stylist

Love Culture is amazing, right? Such cute clothes as such good prices! Well, guess what. Two FIDM Grads are currently working at the Los Angeles headquarters of the trendy online retailer. Tammie Jeon (at right in photo above) is an Assistant Stylist and Anne Kitagawa (on left) is an Assistant Buyer. They both visited FIDM recently to talk with the students about their jobs and the industry.

We caught up with Tammie to find out more about what's it like being a fashion stylist!

"I book models and schedule e-commerce photo shoots, arrange the makeup/hair artist and come up with shoot concepts. I usually push out 130-150 items a day. I steam clothes, and style the model head to toe."

Read the entire interview with Tammie on FashionClub.com.

FC Link Love -- May 24, 2013

Meet the design duo behind this chic space over on Pretty Pink Tulips.

Corn on the Cob cupcakes on Cupcakes and Cashmere--have you ever seen anything so cute?!

Ooh la la! Trust Your Style has pics of Raf Simmons' Dior Cruise collection.

We're totally inspired by this stylish work space on Made By Girl.

Check out five drugstore must-haves from The Savvy Girl's Guide to Life.

Head to Stripes & Sequins for tips on making a blowout last an entire week.

I Spy DIY has such a cute white and gold mani!

Go see looks from Christie Brown's resort collection over on Fly Girls. We want every piece!

Before you head out into the sun this weekend, check out this summer skin care guide from Fabulous on a Budget.

Pursuit of Shoes is introducing you to a new fashion label called Tildon...it's really cool.

New Fashion Series Hosted by Nick Verreos Premieres Today on Look TV

Today, Look TV launched The Nick Fix, a new series of five fashion videos hosted by Project Runway star and FIDM Grad & Instructor Nick Verreos.

In the first episode, Nick demonstrates to FIDM Fashion Design Student Madoka how to transform a plain leather jacket into rockstar glam. Check it out!

New episodes of The Nick Fix will post every other Wednesday on Look TV. Each will feature Nick showing a student shopping in the FIDM Scholarship Store how to turn cute fashion finds into a totally unique design that looks twice the price. Don't miss it!

Look TV is a YouTube-based fashion and beauty channel as part of Google and YouTube’s original programming initiative. With an evolving slate of original programming and a comprehensive collection of glam to practical curated content, the channel serves as the intersection of fashion and pop culture.

FIDM Street Style: Instagram

Aaliyah J. | Apparel Industry Management

Candace P. | Graphic Design

CJ E. | Merchandise Product Development

Jonathan J. | Visual Communications

Nicole Y. | Visual Communications

Be sure follow us on instagram @fidmstyleproject for the lastest street style finds! 

Must-Have Monday: Porcelain Owl Jewelry Bowl

This doesn't happen often, but occasionally we come across something so cute and so necessary that we actually shout "Yay!" This was absolutely the case when we spotted this Porcelain Owl Jewelry Bowl from Z Gallerie. For starters, we've been looking for something to house our rings and earrings when we take them off at the end of the day. Until now, they've been sitting on the bathroom sink, which is a totally unsafe place for precious jewelry. But also, have you ever seen anything so cute in your life?!  We've named him (Fredrik, thank you very much) and placed him on our bedside table, where he keeps a watchful eye on our most valuable jewelry. Yay!

What's New, What's Hot: Rooney Mara for Calvin Klein, Hunger Games Makeup,

After sporting Francisco Costa's designs on the red carpet for over a year, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo star Rooney Mara has just landed a deal as the new face of the Calvin Klein fragrance "Downtown," due out this July. Besides print ads, which will no doubt be seen in Vogue, for which the actress has graced the cover twice, there will be a set of television commercials directed by Mara's Dragon Tattoo director David Fincher.  As for the fragrance, Coty Senior VP Catherine Walsh says it's for women ages 25 to 35 "who see downtown as a place they want to be" and "identify it with youthfulness, edginess and cool."  Edgy and cool? We think Rooney Mara can pull that off.

Makeup giant Covergirl is launching The Capitol Collection,  an exclusive color collection for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire film.  No word yet on what products will be featured in the collection but we do know that Covergirl is the exclusive makeup partner for the movie and provided cosmetics for the makeup artists to use on set. This is the first time Covergirl has ventured into the movie merchandising arena. The brand has yet to confirm a release date, though The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is due out in about six months.

Fragrance Trends: Adidas Fun Sensation for Women

Fragrance designer and FIDM Instructor André Barnwell is our guest beauty blogger, reviewing fragrances and reporting on fragrance trends. André says...

This is definitely a fragrance for the summer it's light, soft, and great for your casual activities. Adidas Fun Sensation has top notes of raspberry, lemon, and pink pepper; middle notes of rose, violet, and litchi; and base notes of sandalwood and musk. Fun Sensation comes in a 30 and 50 ml eau de toilette, as well as a spray deodorant shower gel and a body spray. This fragrance is light and soft so I would also pick up the body spray to throw in your bag or purse for later in the day.

André Barnwell is a fragrance designer and instructor at FIDM who teaches Fundamentals of Fragrance in the Beauty Industry Merchandising & Marketing Program.

Dress for Less: Gatsby Style

"O Gatsby, Gatsby, wherefore art thou, Gatsby?" Oh, wait. I think I'm mixing up my literary references. Anywho, how awesome is all this '20s revival in fashion? So dying to slip on a beaded dress, an amazing headband, and dance the night away. Happy weekends, bright young things!

1. All That Jazz Dress, $40, pixiemarket.com
2. "Bright Young Things," by Alison Maloney, $12.99, modcloth.com
3. Buckled Faux Leather Sandals, $32.80, forever21.com
4. Bangles, $11.90, loveculture.com
5. Filigree Headwrap, $12, urbanoutfitters.com