Interview with Fashion Designer and FIDM Alumna Claudia Chioda

Claudia Chioda graduated from FIDM with a Fashion Design degree in 2006, and is currently working as a designer at one of the best and biggest intimate apparel companies in Los Angeles, Honeydew Intimates.

"FIDM gave me a foundation of skills to take into the real world. Simply put, without them I would not have been prepared. Without the technical and computer program classes, I would have been at a huge disadvantage. It is absolutely necessary to have technical, Illustrator/Photoshop, sketching, and color knowledge to get a job. FIDM also instills a fantastic work ethic. Trust me, you’ll need it to be successful in this industry."

Read the entire interview with Claudia on FashionClub.com.

Career Girl: Interview Checklist

Congrats on getting the job interview! Now, for the prep work—research the company, get your questions ready, and know what you want to tell them about your qualifications.

But, what about picking out what you're going to wear?

We've put together some clothing guidelines to keep in mind for your job interview.

For Women:
Neckline: Make sure your neckline is not too low-cut.
Hemline: Make sure your hemline is no higher than two inches above the knee.
Fabric: Check the sheerness of the fabric. Make sure nothing is too sheer or translucent.
Proper Fit: Interview clothing should fit properly—not too small and tight, or too big and loose.
Hygiene: Be freshly showered, with neat hair and clean looking makeup.
Nails: Keep nails short. Make sure nail polish is pale or a neutral color.
Hosiery: Depending on the job, tights or pantyhose may be expected.

For Men:
Tie: A tie is expected for corporate job interviews.
Shoes: Wear dress shoes. Be sure they are clean, polished, and un-scuffed.
Belt: Select a belt to match your shoes.
Socks: Make sure your socks match your shoes or pants.
Proper Fit: Everything should fit properly—not too small and tight, or too big and loose.
Fabric: Traditional fabrics for suits and trousers work best for job interviews.
Hygiene: Be freshly showered with clean, combed hair.

Looking for more styling ideas? Don't miss Fashion Club's article on Job-Ready Dress!

FIDM Grad Lands Job as Assistant Buyer for Ross Stores

Rebecca Choi graduated from FIDM with a Merchandise Product Development degree in 2008, and as a result of her tenacity and perseverance, she is now an Assistant Buyer for Ross Stores!

"As somebody who wanted to learn about the industry, but was clueless as to the different careers possible, I knew FIDM was the best place to start. After visiting FIDM for the first time and learning about my major, I was instantly sold. During my time at Fashion Design College, I had an opportunity to learn about careers within the fashion industry. I knew that I wanted to eventually become a buyer."

Read the entire interview on FashionClub.com.

Interview With Leadman Ron Shulem of CBS's "How I Met Your Mother"

Ron Shulem, Leadman for CBS show How I Met Your Mother, participated as a panelist in the Set Decorators Society of America (SDSA) Education Symposium held at FIDM last fall. He's worked on feature films, TV movies, hour dramas, and every other kind of filmed entertainment (check out his IMDB profile), and we got the chance to catch up with him for an inside look as the job of a leadman.

What is one of the most important skills necessary to be successful as a Leadman? Believe it or not, I think the most important skill is being able to tolerate being interrupted as you are trying to accomplish your every task on a show. Every minute of the day seems like a "flag on the play." It's a completely kinetic atmosphere, and as someone once told me, "stay fluid." Of course, being organized helps too. Every week, I issue purchase order numbers, tack the budget, hire the set dressing daily crew and manage their tasks at hand, schedule all trucking needs regarding pick ups and returns of all of the set dressing, and most of all, be there for the Set Decorator to plan the daily events according to his or her priorities. My photo library is up to 45,000 continuity pictures.

What is the most rewarding part of your work? It's interesting, even though I am not responsible for the overall look of the show, I work directly with the person who's job it is, so I take great pride in being the undercurrent of the process. I can help Susan Eschelbach [Set Decorator for How I Met Your Mother] with the process, line up all the factors at play, and watch the set unfold before my eyes.  The saying, 'You are only as good as the people you work with,' is very true here. I hire the team in place to make sure Susan's goals are executed correctly. It's not always easy, and we are always trying to beat the clock! My goal is to make sure that when the Director yells, "ACTION," the set is dressed, cleaned, and ready to shoot. After that, we deconstruct the dressing, organize it by prop house and purchases, and then load it on trucks in a particular way regarding its route. Every five days, we shoot a new episode here on How I Met Your Mother. Our average swing sets per week is 11, plus a day of shooting on location on the back lot. Six sets are dressed on a Monday, shot out on Wednesday, stuck, new sets put in their place, then we dress six more for a Friday shoot. See what I mean about staying fluid?!?!?

Any advice for someone thinking about studying Entertainment Set Design & Decoration? Yes, go to a LOT of parties, and meet people. You really need to network in the industry, and do a lot of self promotion. The only one who is looking out for my career is me. Your reputation in the industry is always two blocks a head of you. If you get a phone call from a decorator looking to hire you, you can bet she's called a couple people to find out about you first.

Interested in a career in Entertainment set Design & Decoration? Don't miss our feature story this month on FashionClub.com.

Careers: Entertainment Set Design & Decoration

Do you sometimes feel the need to see a new movie twice—once to take in the set design and once for the story? Get ready because a career in Entertainment Set Design and Decoration could just be your destiny! Find out the shows where FIDM Grads and Instructors are working.

Read the article on FIDM's FashionClub.com!

High School Student Kelsey Spends Day at FC Prom Shoot

Fashion Club was recently contacted by local high school student Kelsey Nguyen. She asked if she could job-shadow a fashion writer for a school assignment, so we invited her to spend the day at FIDM with Fashion Club Writer Gigi and to attend our Glee-inspired prom shoot at a Downtown L.A. studio!

Here's what Kelsey had to say about her experience:

The moment the words project and career melodiously sang from my English teacher’s glossed pout, I only thought of one word: fashion. Did I want to hop onto the class bandwagon and job-shadow a lawyer or a doctor like everyone else? The answer glorifies as a no; this project to venture into the (couture-clad) steps of a mentor in our dream career only consumed me with an appetite for fashion journalism. Years from now, I can only envision myself working as a fashion journalist in Manhattan. Who knew that it would be the wonderland of FIDM that would invite me to experience the fashion industry first.

My safari would begin at the Los Angeles campus where I would meet my mentor, Gigi, who works as a fashion writer for the Fashion Club website. This was the day of firsts for me, as it would be my inaugural FIDM visit and the first time I got to witness the aesthetic realm of fashion journalism. I learned the difference between online and print magazine publishing and even some journalism lingo! We ended my first job-shadow with a heavenly dessert: a visit to the FIDM Museum & Galleries to see FABULOUS! Ten Years of FIDM Museum Acquisitions, featuring mannequins clad in everything from authentic eighteenth-century gowns to Versace nineties leather jackets.

The backdrop of my last job-shadowing day with Gigi took place at a photoshoot for Glee-inspired prom outfits. Enamored by the coterie of makeup-artists, hair bon vivants, stylists, photographers, directors, and models, I couldn’t believe that I was actually experiencing the birth of a family of photos that would soon be showcased on the Fashion Club website!

My adventure to FIDM definitely turned out to be a memorable experience and hopefully this will not be the last time I will get to experience Fashion Design College!

Check out Kelsey's behind-the-scenes shots at the Fashion Club prom shoot!

Kelsey with Fashion Stylist Chriselle Lim

 
Shoes in Wardrobe

Hair and Makeup

The Making of the Behind-the-Scenes Video

Our Finn Hudson in Makeup

Chriselle Lim Styling our Rachel Berry

Kelsey with FC Fashion Editor Gigi

FYI, Kelsey scored 400/400 on her assignment! Congrats on a job well done. -Gigi

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

Dear Career Girl:

My name is Megan and within the past couple of years or so, I have been HOOKED on fashion. I was wondering if you had any information you could give me about being a fashion writer, for a magazine preferably, and what it takes to be one and how to get there.

Currently, I am only a freshman in high school and my ambitions may change, but for right now I would love to learn as much as I can about this! Thanks so much and please get back to me soon! :)
-Megan

 

Dear Megan:

There's nothing quite like a career as a fashion writer for someone who LOVES fashion. How wonderful that you're considering it. Are you in a Fashion Club at your school? If not, start one. That's a great way to begin your career in fashion.

Now, if you write, offer to cover fashion for your school's newspaper or blog. And if you don't write, start writing, and then offer to cover fashion for your school's newspaper or blog. :) You could pitch story ideas to the paper's editor, such as "Spring 2012 Fashion Trends" and "What's Hot and What's Not." Offer to interview managers at the major department stores and local boutiques for quotes. You could research local fashion designers to write about their stories. You could even pitch your local newspaper's editor to cover a fashion story about the students on your campus.

And when you're getting ready to go to fashion college in a few years, you will be way ahead of the rest! Did you know that FIDM publishes a student magazine? It's called Mode, and it's written by FIDM Students for FIDM Students. You would be the perfect candidate to work on it.

A good fashion writer is someone who adores fashion and follows it closely, and loves to write.

If you find that you have a change of heart later, and you're not exactly sure what part of the fashion industry you'd like to pursue, take a Career Quiz. FIDM offers 20 creative majors in the fashion, entertainment, and interior design industries.

Keep me posted on what you decide, and all the best to you.

Fashionably Yours,

Career Girl

FIDM Fashion Design Grad Loves Job as Assistant Sportswear Designer

Allison Teicher

Major: Fashion Design

Campus: Downtown LA

Grad Year: December 2010

Job Title: Assistant Designer/ Cee Sportswear

How did you find FIDM? After high school I went to San Francisco State University to study design. After about a semester, I realized that the curriculum was not as design-oriented as I had wished, and I discovered FIDM through a friend who was also looking at going to fashion design school. She told me she was going to an orientation and thought it was something I would be interested in. Turns out it was! 

Did you do an internship when you were at school? Yes! When I was in school I had an internship at LA Vintage, a vintage online store. I worked in the warehouse as a stylist assistant. I loved it. I did everything from assisting the photo shoots, to pulling clothes from the warehouse to add to the website. It was a really great experience; I met my first group of young working designers with whom I am still friends. 

How did you know Fashion Design was right for you? I always wanted a career in the arts. As I grew older I explored different aspects and found I was happiest as a Fashion Designer. It incorporates all the creativity I love. 

What were the FIDM classes like? I had an amazing time at FIDM. The class work was hard! At first I felt like there was no way I would be able to do all the homework. But after my first quarter there, I got the hang of it. I realized I needed a schedule, and I needed to work on homework as if it was for the industry, and put my all into it. This really paid off for me. My favorite course was CAD. I could sit for hours drawing flats and illustrations on the computer! 

Tell us about your current job. I work for a company called Cee Sportswear as the assistant designer. We design for other big companies such as Lucky Brand, Joe's Jeans, and True Religion. I do a wide range of tasks. I draw flats, I source fabric, I cost garments, I research trends, I do anything and everything the designer needs me to do.

How did you find your job? I found it on the FIDM website! I went on two interviews and was hired to start right away. It is an amazing job, I feel so lucky to have such a great team to work with everyday. 

How does working in the industry compare to being in school? There are a lot of things that are similar, and a lot that are different. The skills I learned at FIDM were an amazing base for me to feel confident in my workplace. I have the same kinds of projects and deadlines, but at work I have money and my job on the line, not a grade. I know I will continue learning every day at Cee.

What is your dream next step? My next step will be to start my own line. After I gain the experience I need, I will start working on that. I hope to start out with an online store, then move my clothes into other stores and boutiques. I will also continue to do costume work for short films.

Career Girl Answers: What FIDM Major Prepares For a Career in Fashion Publicity?

Dear Career Girl:

I have always been interested in fashion, since day one. I read blogs and research new fashion designers all the time. I adore writing, and would love a Kelly Cutrone type of job someday. My dream is to be a fashion editor.

I have always aspired to attend fashion college at FIDM, but I don’t know what major would incorporate all that I want. Any advice?

Thanks,
Maddy

Hi Maddy:

If you'd like a career in the fashion industry, FIDM is the place for you. As a student, you will have built-in networking opportunities with fashion professionals of all disciplines. FIDM Instructors are industry leaders. If you aspire to a Kelly Cutrone type of career, then you'll want to intern for a fashion publicist, and Los Angeles is a haven for that. FIDM Career Advisors work with students to let them know about all types of fashion industry internships and work opportunities. The entertainment industry is based in Los Angeles, and fashion publicists work closely with celebrity stylists, fashion editors, and industry trendsetters.

When you start at FIDM you will enroll in General Studies courses such as Effective Speaking and Critical Thinking, which will definitely be great for a career in publicity or fashion editing.

Promotion in the Merchandising Environment and Marketing Communications are part of the Merchandise Marketing curriculum, and explore various messages of targeted media.

I'm going to also suggest to you, Maddy, that you make an appointment with an advisor at FIDM. They can speak with you about your interests and find out which exact path is right for you.

Good luck to you! Your future is full of possibilities in the fashion industry!

- Career Girl

What I Did During My 1st Quarter Break (Hint: Work!) by FIDM Student Blogger Jonathan Soto

Hello everyone! Well I'm so glad many of you tuned in to read my first blog post last week. Thank you all so much for the love and support. I want to and will try to post weekly to keep you all up to date with my FIDM life. 

Last week I mention that I was on my first quarter break. Yeah, I'm not on  a break really. I've been working everyday making that money at the FIDM Library and, unexpectably, I landed a two day job that was amazing. Once again, thanks to the FIDM Portal I was able to land this incredible job as a dresser for Style Firm Los Angeles with Marissa Mills and Lisa Present. I got to work for Macy's Annual Glamorama Fashion Show as a dresser backstage, obviously. I was full of excitement that I got hired for it not only because they were paying me, but because the opportunity itself was  amazing. The job was a two day job only but in those two days so many things happened and I am gonna tell you all everything.

So Macy's is known for throwing this Glamorama Fahion Show every year in like four different cities and I had never heard of this show before, but I was ready to work. Thursday was the first day of work from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and I got there just in time thanks to the daily morning traffic on the 60 freeway. Just like the first week of school I was alone because I did not know anyone, but hey, this is why I do them because it gives me an opportunity to connect with people, and being a FIDM Student it is all about connections.

Entering, I met Marissa Mills and she assigned me to a model. I immediately introduced myself to the girl next to me since we were sharing the same rack for our models clothing. Rebekah was also a Visual Communications major at FIDM so we clicked right away. The models arrived and it was rehearsal time. All these models all look so familiar; my model was Nathan Owens who I had never heard of before. Nathan had four outfits to change into in just seconds. Friday was the day of the actual show so this time it was for real and not rehearsal. Being a part of this fashion show I got to see Far East Movement backstage which was awesome since I love their music. After the show my new friends that I had made in just a day headed to the after party which to place at the California Market Place. It was an amazing after party: free food, dessert, and music, and we got to bump into celebrities as well. I later found out that Nathan, my model, is, like, famous; he had made his debut in one of Rihannas music videos and has big billboards of himself modeling in Times Square New York. 

 On Monday, I caught up with my friend Karina Copado, the designer I intern for, and she asked for my assistance. I got to meet and assist Mr. Bradshaw, one of Hollywoods famous celebrity stylist, at his showroom in Downtown L.A. It was a pleasure meeting an actual celebrity stylist who happens to also be a FIDM Fashion Design College Alumnus; connections are everywhere!

So my break went from being all work work, but with a fun twist. When my friends ask me what I did over the break once school starts I'm gonna say, " I met Nathan Owens, Mr. Bradshaw, and I got to go to an after party with Far East Movement, what did you do?" That pretty much says it all.

Well I'm excited to start my second quarter this week on Wednesday, don't be shy and say hi if you see me around. And to all you new quarter students: GET CONNECTED! AND GET INVOLVED!