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Career Girl Answers: How To Become A Top-Notch Fashion Writer (With FIDM's Help!)

Dear Career Girl:

I love fashion and I love writing, therefore I would LOVE to have a job writing for a fashion magazine.

In order to pursue that career, what school should I go to? And what should I major in?

Camerynn 

Career Girl Answers:

Dear Camerynn:

Writing for a fashion mag or being a Fashion Editor seems the job everyone wants these days.

A really creative way to do it would be to attend FIDM for two years and get your Associates of Arts degree in a fashion-related subject, such as Merchandise Marketing, Visual Communications, or any one of FIDM's many fashion-related majors.

Then you would have great familiarity with the fashion industry and really understand how it works.

There’s much insider knowledge to be gained at a specialized fashion college such as FIDM!

Then you might want to transfer to a college that has a Journalism or English program and finish up your Bachelor’s of Arts degree in a writing-related major.

That would qualify you to write or work for a magazine.

Then you would have background in both fashion and writing, something that others competing for the same career opportunities wouldn’t have.

To employers, you would be a fashion/writing gem!

While you are at FIDM you could write for FIDM’s The Mode campus magazine, and when you were studying Journalism or English, you could contribute fashion articles to the school paper.

FIDM has arrangements with many schools so that FIDM units will transfer to various four-year colleges, which means you won’t have to take classes over again and you’ll have extraordinary fashion insights under your belt as well, something of which other Journalism students could only dream.

Keep FIDM in mind for your specialized fashion Associates Degree!

Fashionably,

Career Girl

And The Winner Is...

The winner of our 3rd MySpace Exclusive Contest: FIDM "Cover Look" Creation is none other than the young and talented Maryssa Stumpf! Maryssa's Cover Look for Canadian singer Skye Sweetnam was clever, clear, and creative! Maryssa will receive a one year subscription to the ultra-sweet and stylish Lula Magazine!

However, because we received so many fantastic entries, we have decided to award Four Honorable Mentions as well! A big congratulations to Jayme Coca from Laguna Niguel, CA, Ruth K. Sanchez from Moreno Valley, CA, Rosey Goodrich from Delta, UT, and Shantelle Amigable from Pasadena, CA! These four ladies will receive a small thought from us, their friends at FIDM and FashionClub!

I'd like to send a big thank you to everyone who entered, and to let you all know to keep your eyes peeled, as another fantastic contest is right around the corner...

Until then,

Stay Tuned and Stay Fashionable,

-- Alaythia

Just Six Days Left...

To enter our latest and most fabulous MySpace Exclusive Contest! It's a ton of fun, and you could win a one year subscription to Lula Magazine!

What are you waiting for??! Submit your entry today!

Just in case you missed it, here are all the juicy details...

       

We are giving away a one year subscription to our new favorite obsession, Lula Magazine. Lula is created for the real girls of the world who love fashion, music, art, and make believe. Lula is gentle, whimsical, and ethereal in tone, mixing high fashion to fall in love with and interviews that feel like late night chats with people you wish you knew. International stylists, photographers, musicians, artists, illustrators, and journalists work towards creating a gorgeous magazine that is not only a forum for beautiful work and fresh ideas, but that reads like the honest, funny, and aspirational best friend you dream of.

To Enter to Win this Awesome Subscription, Simply:

1.) Imagine that you are the Editor of your favorite magazine, (real or fictional) and that the Fall Edition of your magazine has just hit stores.

2.) Who is on the cover of the magazine? Put together a "Cover Look" Page for your readers, complete with pictures, that describes what your cover star is wearing. We don't want to see actual outfits that celebrities have worn, we want to see how you would put their look together!

(Below, is the perfect example of a "Cover Look" Page. There is a blurb about the cover shoot, a shot of the cover star, and pictures of the various components of the cover star's look. Make sure you tell us where to find the various pieces and how much they cost! Feel free to be as creative as you like! You can focus on the cover star's clothing and accessories, but you can also describe the various beauty products that your cover star is wearing!)

3.) Send your "Cover Look" Page along with your name, age, mailing address, and MySpace URL to FIDMPublicationSF@yahoo.com. That's it! You will be entered to win the amazing subscription to Lula Magazine!

ELIGIBILITY: This contest is open to anyone who is a legal resident of the continental United States and is aged 14 or older. Contest is void in Puerto Rico, U.S. territories and possessions, and where restricted or prohibited by law.

JUDGING CRITERIA: Submissions will be judged by Sponsor based on the following criteria: 50% creativity, 25% clarity, and 25% quality.

DEADLINE: Friday, October 31st, 2008

Good Luck and Stay Fashionable!

-- Alaythia

Harry Potter-Themed Spread in Bazaar

Love the magical Harry Potter-themed photo shoot featuring actress Emma Watson in the new issue of Harper's Bazaar. --Kim

MySpace Exclusive Contest 3: FIDM "Cover Look" Creation

Hey there, Fashionistas! If you have a MySpace page and want to win an awesome prize from your friends at FIDM: The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, then we've got a contest for you!

Because you helped make our first two MySpace Exclusive Contests, FIDM Gear Giveaway, and FIDM Color Creation, such huge successes, we are pleased to be bringing you yet another fabulous and fun MySpace Exclusive!

       

This time, we are giving away a one year subscription to our new favorite obsession, Lula Magazine. Lula is created for the real girls of the world who love fashion, music, art, and make believe. Lula is gentle, whimsical, and ethereal in tone, mixing high fashion to fall in love with and interviews that feel like late night chats with people you wish you knew. International stylists, photographers, musicians, artists, illustrators, and journalists work towards creating a gorgeous magazine that is not only a forum for beautiful work and fresh ideas, but that reads like the honest, funny, and aspirational best friend you dream of.

To Enter to Win this Awesome Subscription, Simply:

1.) Imagine that you are the Editor of your favorite magazine, (real or fictional) and that the Fall Edition of your magazine has just hit stores.

2.) Who is on the cover of the magazine? Put together a "Cover Look" Page for your readers, complete with pictures, that describes what your cover star is wearing. We don't want to see actual outfits that celebrities have worn, we want to see how you would put their look together!

(Below, is the perfect example of a "Cover Look" Page. There is a blurb about the cover shoot, a shot of the cover star, and pictures of the various components of the cover star's look. Make sure you tell us where to find the various pieces and how much they cost! Feel free to be as creative as you like! You can focus on the cover star's clothing and accessories, but you can also describe the various beauty products that your cover star is wearing!)

3.) Send your "Cover Look" Page along with your name, age, mailing address, and MySpace URL to FIDMPublicationSF@yahoo.com. That's it! You will be entered to win the amazing subscription to Lula Magazine!

ELIGIBILITY: This contest is open to anyone who is a legal resident of the continental United States and is aged 14 or older. Contest is void in Puerto Rico, U.S. territories and possessions, and where restricted or prohibited by law.

JUDGING CRITERIA: Submissions will be judged by Sponsor based on the following criteria: 50% creativity, 25% clarity, and 25% quality.

DEADLINE: Friday, October 31st, 2008

Good Luck and Stay Fashionable!

-- Alaythia    

P.S. If this contest seems right up your alley, then why not apply to FIDM's Merchandise Marketing Program? I did, and my entrance project was a lot like this!!

Wear Your Fave Spring Dress And Win A Trip To New York!

Here's the deal: The website Kaboodle has partnered with Marie Claire mag to give you a chance to show off your favorite spring dress …

and enter to win $1,000 and a trip for 2 to New York!

Just upload a pic of yourself in your fave spring dress here.

Eight “weekly favorites” will be featured on the contest homepage and in the Kaboodle blog. One lucky grand prize winner will be selected by Marie Claire editors and number of votes.

It could be YOU!

For inspiration, here's the photo gallery of your sister entrants. --Belissa

L.A. Fashion Week - FIDM Grad Lands in British Vogue

As if debuting his Fall 2008 collection at L.A. Fashion Week wasn't exciting enough, FIDM grad Yotam Solomon's eponymous line landed on the pages of the British Vogue website after his show on Monday night.  Dubbed a "Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising whiz kid" by the mag, 20-year-old Solomon showed off a bold, artistic ready-to-wear collection at L.A.'s trendy Nuni Gallery.

"My inspiration and colourstory come from the beauty of the total Universe," the young designer told British Vogue.

 

The line had a futuristic vibe, with lots of metallic fabrics as well as cut outs and stiff, pointed shoulder pads.  We were mesmerized by the rich colors used, especially an insanely chic, aubergine minidress with a cut out detail on the hips, and a floaty, yellow and pink tunic with white trim around the waist and neck.  --Angel



Yotam Solomon is just one of the many people living their dream after graduating FIDM.  Click here to take a fun career quiz and learn how you could be next!

Career Girl Answers: How To Become A Fashion Editor

I get many questions about becoming a Fashion Editor for a magazine. I came across this article on the 'net that gives a little of the inside scoop to that career path.

One course of action that would up your fashion quotient in the eyes of your future employers is to get your Associate of Arts degree at FIDM in Merchandise Marketing, Visual Communications, or another major before transferring to an East Coast college to finish your B.A. in English or Journalism.

Then you would have a fashion education behind you which would look great on a resume for a fabulous internship.

Most fashion mags are based in New York, so being in that area would be a plus. With fashion and journalism on your resume, you would demonstrate that you're dedicated to fashion, and have what it takes to excel. --Career Girl

The Ultimate Project Runway Sweepstakes

My excitement for Project Runway Season 4 has just grown exponentially thanks to Bluefly and Elle Magazine's Ultimate Project Runway Sweepstakes! 

Bluefly and Elle.com will award one incredibly lucky fashionista a fabulous trip for 2 to NYC to check out the Season Finale of Project Runway!  Oh, but they haven't stopped there - you'll also get a $5000 shopping spree on Bluefly.com where you can score designer duds at incredible discounts PLUS a makeover from Beauty.com!   So much good stuff and all you have to do is click here to enter!  --Angel

Lucky Loves Mandy!

 

Let's kick off the fall season in style, with tips from your favorite girl-next-door, Mandy Moore!

"I woke up one morning and realized I'd become totally stuck in a rut," says Mandy in the October 2007 issue of Lucky Magazine.

"I was always too nervous to experiment with different looks, and also to try out super-feminine styles."

So what is she doing?

"I'm challenging myself to try more glamorous, girly things with a lot of bright color."

Great job, Mandy!  We absolutely love the cover--it's classy and sophisticated, yet oh-so-feminine.  The tweed looks great on her curves, while the silk chiffon gives her a soft, sophisticated look.  We also adore the simple cardigan--isn't it about time that we get back to basics!

"This is exactly the kind of unusual and striking outfit I'm going for these days.  The jacket has just the right amount of flash."

We agree the outfit is right on.  This Fall we love this shade of purple, and we're all about how this dress rocks out her legs. We agree with her on the jacket too--the Tevrow+Chase cotton/linen jacket adds insulation with just enough edge to complete the top.  And don't get us started on the shoes...  If you can find sexier Peep-Toe T-straps, we want to know about it!

We love you Mandy!  Stay Fashionable,

--Alaythia

Related Major: Fashion Design