FashionClub.com Daily

Dear FIDM Femme: I Want to Work Behind-the-Scenes at Fashion Shows!

Dear FIDM Femme: 

I am going to be a sophomore this coming year, and I know what I want to do with my career. But I don't really know what it's called. I want to work behind the scenes at fashion shows, helping to get the outfits together and getting the girls in line. What would you label this as? Thanks for the help,

Samantha A.
Oxford, NC

Dear Samantha: 

To answer your question, there are a number of different jobs encompassing each of those responsibilities. For example, someone who organizes the pieces and helps the models get dressed would be called a model dresser. Moreover, the person who is responsible for organizing the models could be called a model coordinator, runway coordinator, or even event coordinator. The connective thread is that everyone involved in the dressing/styling/coordinating process operates under strict guidance from the designer. 

If you're interested in doing this type of work, I recommend becoming a fashion stylist. Someone in this position would work under a designer, and yet have the responsibility of organizing the looks in such a way that you succeed in producing the designer's vision. 

To become a stylist, I would recommend one of two majors at FIDM. The first is Fashion Design and the second is Visual Communications. Either would sufficiently prepare you to work behind the scenes at any runway event. 

Since FIDM has 18 Exciting Majors, I would encourage you take our Career Quiz! By taking all of your interests into consideration, the Quiz will either validate your intended career path or offer insight into a talent you never knew you had!

Good Luck!!

xo
The FIDM Femme

Career Girl Answers: What Path Should I Take To Become A Fashion Editor?

Dear Career Girl:

I would like to know what I should major in at FIDM if I want to become a Fashion Editor?

Faith

 

Dear Faith:

One path to becoming a Fashion Editor is to get your Associate of Arts degree from FIDM in a fashion-related major such as Merchandise Marketing or Visual Communications, then transfer to a school that accepts FIDM units for credit and finish your Bachelor’s degree in Journalism or English. Then you would have both fashion knowledge and writing skills.

Good luck!

Fashion Girl

Career Girl Answers: Do I Need To Take French?

Dear Career Girl:

Do I need to take French as a General Education class to get into FIDM and top fashion schools? What General Education classes would you recommend I take in high school?

Ell

 

Dear Ell:

You don't need to take any special classes in order to apply to FIDM. You just need to take the classes that you need to graduate at your high school. FIDM also does not require the ACT or SATs.

French is good to know, of course, but Spanish is probably used more in the fashion world on a day-to-day basis, communicating with workers and with factories in Spanish-speaking countries.

You can learn some Spanish at FIDM, but the stronger background you have in it the better off you will be. Also, English class is very important for future business communication, and math is important if you plan to become a Buyer.

Fashionably academic,

Career Girl

 

 

Career Girl Answers: Do I Need To Know How To Draw?

Dear Career Girl:

I want to be a Fashion Designer, but some of the ideas I have for clothes I don't know how to draw. Does FIDM help me to put my ideas on paper?

Torie

 

Dear Torie:

Yes, definitely. You don't need to know how to draw before coming to FIDM. Our Admissions Staff and Instructors know that most students are absolute beginners at drawing and sewing.

At FIDM you will have beginning drawing classes right from the start, and you will learn how to draw specifically for the fashion industry.

By the time you graduate and are ready to launch your career, which takes only two years, you will be able to get all your fashion inspirations down on paper.

From one fashion fan to another,

Career Girl

 

Career Girl Answers: Getting Your General Education Requirements

Dear Career Girl:

I know I want to be in the fashion business, but after high school I plan to get my General Education requirements out of the way first. Where do I go then and how do I transfer to FIDM?

Kaitlyn

 

Dear Kaitlyn:

FIDM's curriculum covers all the General Education requirements you need to get an Associate of Arts degree in just two years.

FIDM is a regular college along with being a specialized fashion college, so your FIDM Associate of Arts degree covers the same material as you would learn at a non-fashion college, yet it is geared to those who love fashion and want a career in the fashion industry.

You can enter FIDM right out of high school. We teach math and English and history, all the General Education classes you’d take elsewhere.

It’s a good idea to take these classes at FIDM, because if you take them somewhere else all your credits might not transfer to FIDM, and you’d have to repeat them.

Also, after you get you’re A.A. degree, you are eligible to stay on and get your Bachelors'degree at FIDM as well.

Sincerely,

Career Girl

 

Career Girl Answers: How Hard Is It To Get Into The Fashion Industry?

Dear Career Girl:

How hard is it to get into the fashion industry?

Jennifer

 

Dear Jennifer:

It is not hard at all to get into the fashion industry. It’s just a matter of the proper preparation.

If you attend a good fashion college after high school, you should be able to get into the industry with your training and help from your school’s Career Center.

But not all schools will help you find a job. FIDM, for instance, has a fully staffed, pro-active Career Center that helps you with resumes, interviewing skills, and job leads, and has a 24/7 online job database you can access as a graduate of FIDM.

So make sure you attend a really good fashion college such as FIDM in order to get a great start in your chosen fashion career.

Stay fashionable!

Career Girl

 

 

Career Girl Answers: How Do I Get Started On My Fashion Career?

Dear Career Girl:

How do i get started on my fashion career?

Hoda

 

Dear Hoda:

Your first move might be to attend a good fashion college after high school.

At FIDM, you can be out and working in a fashion career in just two years, and we have a huge variety of majors. That would put you at approximately 20 years old, while your friends still had two years to go at a university.

Meanwhile, if you can get a job at a clothing store during high school you can start learning about the fashion biz on the job, and get paid for learning “on someone else’s dime!” Your early career years should be spent learning all you can on the job.

Fashiontastically,

Career Girl

 

Career Girl Answers: Steps To Becoming A Fashion Writer

Dear Career Girl:

I would like to do a little fashion writing for magazines or websites but also I want to help plan events like photo shoots and fashion shows. Which degree is right for me?

Alesia

Dear Alesia:

The two careers you've chosen actually go well together. It's just a matter of gaining the knowledge you need to do both.

First, you could get your AA degree from FIDM in Visual Communications, the major that leads to becoming a Stylist or Event Planner.

 After you earn your Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree from FIDM, which takes two years, you could then transfer to a university that accepts FIDM credit and earn your B.A. in English or Journalism in order to develop stellar writing skills.

With degrees in both fashion and writing, you'd be well prepared to do Fashion Writing in addition to Styling and Event Planning.

You’ve got a very workable dream. Now go out and make it happen!

Sincerely,

Career Girl

Career Girl Answers: Can I Get A Fashion Internship At 17?

 

Dear Career Girl:

I am interested in doing a summer internship. However, I am only 17. Any suggestions of where to apply?

Bailey

Dear Bailey:

A fashion internship sounds like a dream come true, but they’re hard to get when you have no experience,no fashion education, and none of the connections you would get through FIDM’s Career Center as a student or a grad.

Rather than a summer internship, for which I don’t have any special advice for you (even FIDM students generally do their internships in their last quarter of college, after they’ve had nearly two years of fashion education), I do have an idea for you.

I suggest you try to get a job in a clothing store and learn the fashion biz from the ground up.

Having retail experience looks great on a post-college fashion career resume, and will help you in your future career in fashion. I guarantee you. 

It's great experience to learn the retail side and you'll learn a lot. Plus, you'll get paid to learn!

Practically,

Fashion Girl

Career Girl Answers: What Does An Interior Designer Do, Anyway?

Dear Career Girl:

I really love design for houses, and I figured that Interior Design might be a good career choice.

But I'm not really sure if I should get into that because I don't really know the specifics of what Interior Designers do. Could you give me an idea of that? Thanks!

Christine

Dear Christine:

Interior Design is a great career to pursue because you can work in residential design, commercial design, or in creating the products used in projects by other Interior Designers.

There are a lot of different ways you can go within Interior Design itself.

Interior Design is about:

• Creativity

• Searching for images of inspiration

• Customer service

• Being able to understand your client’s needs

• The ability to foresee what the finished product will look like

• Being able to network with other industry people

• A large majority of the industry is being able to control your business, so business skills are important.

• It’s about accounting, purchasing, and project management and coordination

• Computer knowledge is a huge part of being a successful Interior Designer

Then comes the creative portion of the career which involves sketching, detailing, drafting, and selecting colors and materials.

But the best thing about becoming an Interior Designer is, you don't need to know how to do ANY of these things before you come to FIDM.

You learn all these skills in FIDM’s Interior Design program. So don't worry if you don't have these skills now.

You will have instructors who are professionals in the field of Interior Design who will help you develop them … from scratch!

Loving your ambition!

Career Girl