Just Accepted Student Amanda Kaintz

Seventeen-year-old high school senior Amanda Kaintz was recently accepted early to FIDM to study Merchandise Marketing. The Lake Stevens, Washington resident will start her fashion career at FIDM’s Orange County campus in the fall of 2013.

"FIDM focuses on my interests and what I love, and will be a place that I look forward to attending. Fashion has always been a huge part of my life, and FIDM will equip me with the education I need to pursue my dreams."

Read the entire interview with Amanda on FashionClub.com.

Career Girl Answers: How Do I Become a Fashion Stylist?

Dear Career Girl:

I want to become a fashion stylist. Is it possible to major in Merchandise Marketing and minor in Visual Communications? Or can I only pick one? 

-Dena N.

Dear Dena:

It's awesome that you are interested in becoming a fashion stylist. Los Angeles is one of the best places in the nation for this career. Because of the entertainment industry and the fact that so many celebs make LA their home, there is a lot of opportunity in fashion styling just outside FIDM's door.

Students can layer degrees at FIDM by completing one degree at a time. This allows for cross marketable skills to be developed and a broader understanding of the fashion industry at large.

You will get definitely get styling experience in the Visual Communcations program at FIDM. Check out this interview with a recently accepted student whose goal is also to become a stylist.

I also recommend calling our Admissions office and speaking with an Advisor 1-800-624-1200. They could discuss all of your options, and help you with your decision as to what you want to major in and in what order. 

Best of everything to you, Dena!

-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!

New Interview with FIDM San Francisco Student Brittany Kilborn

Name: Brittany Kilborn

Major: Merchandise Marketing, Professional Designation

Campus: FIDM San Francisco

Hometown: Bloomington, IL

Tell us a little about yourself: I am from Central Illinois and I received my Bachelor of Science Degree in Business/Marketing from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. I took a couple of years off to figure out where I wanted to go with my life, living in Chicago and Fort Myers, FL. I decided I wanted to work in the fashion industry because fashion has been a part of my life and a big inspiration since I was young. I figured I could incorporate my business degree and fashion by becoming a buyer. Going back to school to get a fashion merchandising degree at an accredited fashion college was the best choice for my career path, so I moved to San Francisco on my own to reach my goals. 

What is one of your proudest accomplishments? My proudest accomplishment to date was becoming State champions my senior year of high school in girls golf. I took 11^th individually and it was our school's first year winning State.

What fashion sites do you love? I have several fashion blogs and websites I frequent every day. One of my favorite sites to see a variety of fashion and get ideas is Pinterest. I go to style.com to view the latest fashion shows that have hit the runway. I have recently become very into online shopping. I shop at ASOS.com, Nastygal.com, Tobi.com, Topshop.com, and a New York site called Pixiemarket.com.

How did you hear about FIDM and what made you decide to go here? I was going to the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and wasn’t happy at the school.  I didn’t feel like I was getting a good education and my money wasn’t being well spent on school. I started researching FIDM and visited the school. I instantly fell in love and wanted to transfer. I could get my Professional Designation degree faster than my Masters and have a better opportunity to find a career after school through FIDM.

How did you choose your major? I already had my Bachelors Degree in Marketing and knew that the business side of fashion was what I would be best at because I am better with numbers and statistics than the creativity of designing. I knew learning the business and marketing side of fashion would put my previous degree to get use. Also, Merchandise Marketing is the best major for learning to become a Buyer.

What's your favorite class so far? My favorite class so far has been Merchandise Math, because I am a little bit of a nerd and math has always been my favorite subject. I am currently taking Merchandise Buying where we create a 6-month buying plan for a store; I think this will end up being my favorite class.

What are your career goals and how is FIDM helping you get there? My career goal is to become a buyer. I am also interested in the PR side of fashion as well. Currently, in my internship I am in charge of social media and PR for the company, so I am getting good experience.

Tell us about your experience at the FIDM Career Connections event: I thought the FIDM Career Connections event was helpful and informative. The biggest thing I learned from the alumni is to use the Career Center to my advantage and stay on top of them. They will be biggest asset and resource to getting a job after I graduate. It was great to see what jobs women had been working in since they graduated from FIDM. Many had become allocators and said it is where a lot of job opportunities are now. The person I enjoyed meeting most was an alumna who had started a lingerie business in Paris. She did most of the designing and hard work of creating the line. It was great to see someone become successful, especially in Paris across the world.

Any advice for someone thinking about going to FIDM? I think FIDM is a great place for someone who knows exactly where they want to go in their life. It is a lot of hard work and takes dedication. 

Anything else you'd like to share? I have really enjoyed my experience at FIDM so far. A Professional Designation degree in Merchandise Marketing is the perfect degree for me to finish in three quarters and head out into the real world. The people and connections you make at FIDM are key to being successful in school and after you graduate.

San Francisco Student is President of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society

Name: Paulette Moutal

Campus: San Francisco

Major: Merchandise Marketing

Age: 23

Hometown: Mountain View, CA

Tell us a little about yourself: I'm in my fourth quarter at FIDM right now, currently interviewing for internships, and I just started a new job as a sales associate at Anthropologie. I am also totally and utterly obsessed with cats! Whenever I've got spare time I love exploring San Francisco with friends (especially the Mission!) or learning something new.

What is one of your proudest accomplishments? The person I am today. I used to be extremely shy and never really thought I could do anything as cool as work in the fashion industry. My experience at FIDM has really changed all of that for me and little by little I'm finally turning into the person I've always wanted to be, doing the things I've always dreamed of doing!

Tell us about Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Socieity (PTK) and your experience as President: It's been a lot of fun! It's given me so many opportunities to network both in and outside of FIDM. Aside from that I've also been able to develop my leadership skills by working closely with the rest of the PTK board and running our meetings. It's even given me event planning and PR experience. Right now PTK is heading Cotton's From Blue To Green Denim Drive and we're brushing up on our PR skills by contacting local press and media to garner more coverage. I would recommend PTK to anybody; it's such a great thing to have on your resume.

Who is your style icon and why? Bebe Zeva! She's a blogger with incredible style. She's extremely versatile. One day she'll be drenched in studs, sky high platforms, a leather jacket, and a beanie, and the next she's decked out in Ralph Lauren, looking ready to hit the runway. Not only that, but she's a crusader for fashion as an intellectual endeavor and means of empowerment for women. That's way awesome in my opinion.

What’s in your wardrobe you can’t live without? Currently it's my black beanie, Gustav Klimt "The Kiss" leggings, and my moon pendant necklace.

What fashion websites/blogs do you love? Lookbook.nu, Fated To Be Hated (Bebe Zeva), and Jean Greige (Madeline Pendleton) are my top three.

How did you hear about FIDM? I think it may have been that someone at my high school ended up going to FIDM and the name stuck. I chose it primarily because it is a fashion and design oriented school where I would be taking classes that relate directly to the industry I want to be in.

How did you choose your major? I always knew that I didn't want to design anything but I still wanted to be involved in the fashion industry. I'd also gotten experience in the purchasing department at my job and loved it so I figured, why not do it for fashion? The Merchandise Marketing major is great for that.

What’s your favorite class at FIDM so far? I love all of my buying and trend forecasting classes. Merchandise Buying is great because I get to work with spreadsheets, do math, and use my analytical side. I love all of that kind of stuff! Trend Forecasting adds a nice balance to that by allowing me to show my more creative side. The best part about both of them is that you're given projects that are just like something you would do on the job. Everything from creating a six month buying plan to interpreting and identifying mega trends.

What are your career goals and how is FIDM helping you get there? My dream job is to be a trend forecaster but I would also love to be a buyer. FIDM has helped in so many ways already! You're given so many opportunities to get involved in the fashion industry. The Career Center always posts job leads and they connect you with potential internships. Our Student Activities Coordinator, Marcellina, is really great as well. She knows anything and everything about what there is to do in the city and is always posting volunteer opportunities for fashion events. Aside from that, the curriculum is completely on-point with what's going on in the fashion industry right now. By getting to know the staff and participating in school events, I've been able to build up my resume and experience so that I've got much more than just my education backing me up when I go into interviews. So far, employers have really liked that.

What advice do you have for someone thinking about going to FIDM? I think a lot of people have a misconception about fashion school. They figure it will be easier than traditional college but FIDM is a lot of hard work and in some cases, it is even harder than going to a traditional college. It's extremely fast-paced and it will require a lot of time and dedication, but it is also extremely rewarding. Aside from that, I cannot stress enough how important it is to get involved on campus. I know that it often seems daunting because students' schedules are so packed, but it is so important to get to know your peers and the staff and faculty. You make so many more connections and gain valuable experience. Plus, you get to have some fun and social interaction which will be much needed come finals!

Winners Announced for Prom Advice Scholarship Competition

 

Congratulations to Emily C. (on left) and Emma H. (on right), the 2012 winners of the Prom Advice Scholarship Competition!

Each year, the Prom Advice Scholarship Competition calls for entrants to get creative for their chance to win one full-year scholarship to attend FIDM. Students are asked to submit a prom-related project focusing either on Fashion Design or Merchandise Marketing.

This year, the Fashion Design project was centered around TV show Glee, while the Fashion Merchandising project involved designing the ultimate prom dress boutique.

Emily C. won for Fashion Design, and Emma H. won for Fashion Merchandising! A special thank you to everyone who submitted entries. You are truly talented!

See the winning entries on FashionClub.com.

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.

FIDM Street Style!

Hyunwoo | Merchandise Marketing

FIDM Street Style!

Stacy | Merchandise Marketing

Ruthie | Fashion Design

Fenmi | Merchandise Product Development

FIDM Street Style!

Ashleigh | Merchandise Marketing

Just Accepted Merchandise Marketing Student Wants to Own a Department Store

Full Name: Mariya Dondonyan

Age: 17

Year: Senior

Hometown: Van Nuys

Major: Merchandise Marketing

FIDM Campus and Start Date: Los Angeles Campus, July 2012

Admissions Advisor: Kristen Chocek

Tell us a bit about yourself. Fashion brings me the most happiness; reading about it in magazines, watching fashion shows, and most of all wearing beautiful clothes truly make my day better. Fashion is a big part of my life and I cannot go a day without reading an article on style.com, or watching the latest collections from my favorite designers who include: Karl Lagerfeld, Elie Saab, Bill Gaytten, Yves Saint Laurent, Marchesa, and Rachel Zoe.

The best part about watching these shows is that I have learned what styles I like and fit my personality best and watching the collections is where I draw my inspiration and how I incorporate it into my closet and everyday wardrobe.  

What are your proudest accomplishments so far? One of my proudest accomplishments is gaining acceptance to FIDM and recognizing I am on the right path to becoming what I have dreamed about my whole life, which is to be successful in the fashion industry and own my own department store. It's rewarding and exciting knowing that I am making the right decisions and setting myself up for success, and attending Fashion Merchandising School at FIDM only makes me one step closer to achieving my goals and having my dreams come true. 

What made FIDM right for you? FIDM grabbed my attention the second I heard about it, and after learning about their different majors and choosing one that was right for me, I knew it was the best school for me. The campus makes me feel comfortable and safe, but at the same time it presents a challenge where I have to do my best to be the best and it's a challenge I'm more than ready to face and that's what I love about FIDM.

Describe your entrance project. My entrance project consisted of pieces from Chanel Fall 2011 RTW and Marchesa Spring 2011 RTW. I stuck with the theme of the Little Black Dress and incorporated small details from the original pieces to create something I would wear in an LBD. I designed a sample clothing line for Barneys New York and described the target market and price ranges. 

What are your career goals? My goal in life is to own my own department store like Barneys, Neiman Marcus, Saks, or Henri Bendel. I want to showcase top designers with a wide array of top quality merchandise. My stores will appeal to shoppers looking for chic, youthful clothing, who are interested in cutting edge fashion and be able to afford the expensive price tags.

What do you expect to learn at FIDM? I hope to learn the necessary and fundamental tools that will help me to succeed in the industry in order to gain more knowledge through experience. I want to fully understand the importance of professionalism, effective communication, research, and creative and critical reasoning for achieving my goals in this diversified industry.