Just Accepted Merchandise Marketing Student Co-Owns OC Boutique

Full Name: Kailee Hardy

Age: 17

Hometown: Placentia, CA

FIDM Major: Merchandise Marketing

FIDM Campus and Start Date: Orange County, Summer 2012

Admissions Advisor: Tina Takahashi

Tell us a bit about yourself. I am a very enthusiastic individual who loves to laugh, loves to dance, and really loves to shop. I am also a self-described perfectionist who has big dreams and I am set to achieve all of them. I enjoy volunteering with various organizations within my community, as well as competing in pageants. Who knows, I could possibly be a future Miss America! Which also happens to be, just one of my many goals.

At the young age of 17, I am proud to say that I already co-own a business with my mom. The Dress Exchange is a prom and pageant consignment boutique located in Yorba Linda, California. We carry formal and casual dresses, bling jewelry, accesories, shoes, and much more!

What are your proudest accomplishments so far? I am very proud of the fact that I was able to finish my high school academic requirements early so I could focus on other areas of my life. I was a student in an independent study program and am very thankful that I was given the option of finishing early. This allowed me to get a head start on my career and is giving me a little break before I start at FIDM this summer.

What made FIDM right for you? Ever since my freshman year of high school, I knew that I was going to have a career in an industry that expressed creativity. I excelled in my art classes and instantly found my niche. I love that FIDM not only has a pretty pink interior, but that they are so accepting of your background and understand that the fashion industry is for anyone who has an eye for it. Another quality that sets FIDM apart from any other school is that there is nothing else like it! It really is the Harvard of fashion and is a perfect fit for me!

Describe your entrance project. For my entrance project I was asked to create five different looks for a store that fit a certain demographic. I did a little trend prediction and based this project off of what I think I would personally wear when I become a fashion student, living and working in a fast-paced environment. My fully accessorized outfits were inspired by the glamorous, independent, and free-spirited people that thrive in the big city.

What are your career goals? My ultimate goal is to become a fashion buyer. Although I am very interested in styling and being a personal wardrobe shopper for women, becoming a buyer for a well-known store and traveling the world is what I really want to do with my life. And after getting a little taste of what a career in fashion buying would be like from choosing dresses to feature in my own store, I honestly can't wait to be able to say that I get paid to go shopping everyday!

What do you expect to learn at FIDM? I am extremely excited to learn more about the merchandising side of my major, what it really takes to make it in the world of fashion, as well as all to gain more insight into my dream career in order to become successful. Being able to learn from teachers who are active in the industry is another one of the great advantages that FIDM gives its students.