Fashion Jobs and Fashion Career Advice

Picking one out of many fashion jobs generally is an overwhelming
challenge. There are several different opportunities in the fashion
industry that you might not be sure which one is best for you. With the
high demand for fashion jobs, you need to be sure of what it is that you
want to do so you can get started on pursuing your dream in this
competitive industry. Below you will find descriptions for several
fashion jobs and, subsequently, be one step closer to establishing your
career in the fashion industry.

1. Fashion Designer

Thanks
to shows like Project Runway, there are many people whose curiosity has
been rose towards the fashion industry, exclusively, fashion design. A
career as a fashion designer seems extravagant and rewarding but it
takes a whole lot of work. A fashion designer must be well-informed of
the latest trends (and sometimes even be ahead of them) and have the
creativity to conceptualize new designs. A fashion designer creates
sketches, whether by hand or with computer-aided design (CAD) software,
of their designs and must be familiar with fabrics and materials in
order to create samples that show what the final product would look
like. As a fashion designer you can specialize in clothing design,
footwear or accessories. Fashion jobs like that of a fashion designer
are prolonged with grueling hours of intensive work and lots of
traveling if you want to promote your designs. Fashion designers work
under pressure to meet deadlines and make an impression on fashion
buyers and other potential clients. As a fashion designer you would need
not only talent and creativity but also thick skin and dedication.

2. Fashion Merchandising

Fashion
jobs in merchandising can be very challenging. A fashion merchandiser
must know what consumers really want, how to present it to them, what
they want to pay for it and how to lure them to purchase. A fashion
merchandiser is not just an expert in fashion but must also have strong
business, financial and advertising skills. As a fashion designer you
might find yourself creating budgets, tracking profits and losses,
tracking inventory, developing marketing strategies and even putting
together creative visual displays to draw in consumers. It’s a career
that entails many different roles but also has many opportunities to
grow and advance in.

3. Fashion Buyer

Fashion buyers are
among the most crucial people for brands and companies. They must have
good communication skills, be aggressive, organized and driven. As a
fashion buyer you work hand in hand with designers, merchandisers and
other key people to select what pieces to present to consumers and
ensure that best-sellers are continually available. Buyers must be
mindful of both current and future trends so they can make the right
choices of clothing, shoes, accessories, etc. to ensure high profits.
Working with suppliers to negotiate prices suggests that a fashion buyer
must have good interpersonal skills, be educated in market costs and
also in consumer demands. Fashion buyers must be ready to work under
pressure, travel and research and analyze in order to make practical
decisions on what products to offer their target customer base.

4. Fashion Director

Fashion
directors, also known as creative directors or fashion coordinators,
are in charge of the image and look of a store, magazine or a fashion
house. They are accountable for that first impression given when people
look at ad campaigns, shoots and even fashion films. A fashion director
must make sure that the models, photographers, location and concepts
characterize the store, brand, or magazine in the best and most genuine
way. One of the most well known creative directors in the industry is
Grace Coddington who, alongside Anna Wintour and other industry
professionals, are a part of American Vogue. In the documentary “The
September Issue” we are able to see Coddington showing us her best work
and the steps she takes to produce the magnificent spreads in Vogue.
Now, don’t think it will be a snap landing one of these fashion jobs. Be
prepared for long hours of work, creative stumps, frequent traveling,
crazy deadlines, and being willing to go back to the drawing board time
and time again. Remember, as a fashion director you are responsible for
the image of a brand; you produce something that the whole world will
see. People will base their opinions on what you present to them. As one
of the top fashion jobs in the industry, the pressure is on!

Fashion Jobs – The List Goes On

5. Fashion Forecaster

Probably
one of the highest ranking careers in the fashion industry, fashion
forecasters do just that, forecast the future trends and styles. This is
much more sophisticated than forecasting the weather. Not only does a
fashion forecaster need to have in depth knowledge of fashion but he or
she must also be creative and surely have the skills necessary to
research and analyze potential trends, colors, fabrics and patterns.
Fashion forecasters seek inspiration in everything from movies, music,
even science and technology. Getting a position as a fashion forecaster
is one of the most prestigious of all fashion jobs you could aspire to.

6. Fashion Stylist

A
fashion stylist has the easy (or is it?) task of making someone look
good. A stylist must be familiar with what colors, fabrics and styles
work best to flatter someone’s shape while also knowing ways to
accessorize and finish the perfect outfit. Fashion stylists are
responsible for picking the best pieces for photoshoots, events, etc.
and putting them together for the final product. A stylist’s reputation
lies on how good the client looks and, in the case of ad campaigns,
whether or not the stylist can communicate the image and vision of a
product. Don’t be surprised if, as a fashion stylist, you find yourself
traveling for motivation or shopping for clothing, or even spending a
day (or a few) revamping a client’s closet. Finding fashion jobs for
stylists can be as uncomplicated as working as a personal shopper or
styling photo shoots for websites or local magazines or newspapers.

7. Fashion Photographer

It’s
not just about knowing just how to take a good picture. Fashion
photographers basically have two fields to be good at: fashion and
photography. The photography part consists of knowing what angles,
lighting, etc. As far as the fashion, photographers really need to be
experts in that as well. A fashion photographer should always know what
the best trends are, top designers, top fashion events and any other
heavy hitter aspects of the industry. Fashion jobs in this field can
consist of taking pictures for model portfolios, ad campaigns, and
fashion shows. Fashion photographers are responsible for producing a
shot that requires excellent technical skills and extensive fashion
knowledge. For example, when a fashion photographer goes to shoot at a
fashion show he or she must know exactly when to snap the shot of that
model wearing the flowing dress. The picture must showcase how the
fabric moves and flows instead of displaying a dress that falls limp and
drags on the floor. A fashion photographer works hand in hand with
stylists, makeup artists and models to ensure that the final product is
efficient in sending a visual message.

8. Fashion Editor

Fashion
editors supervise the direction of a fashion publication, website and
other media. They are in charge for editing a fashion writer’s work,
making suggestions, and researching the possibilities of future stories.
Fashion writers must be aware of trends and classics to assure that
coverage is provided for the target audience. A fashion editor works
under the pressure of meeting deadlines, supervising writers,
discovering features and fresh ideas all while staying current on the
industry and scanning the levels of competition. Some of the qualities
necessary for one of these fashion jobs are being organized, punctual,
able to communicate verbally and have impeccable writing and
journalistic skills. Being one of the most competitive fashion jobs in
the industry, a fashion editor should be ready to put some hard work in
and spend long nights brewing up excellent, creative content.

9. Fashion Writer

Being
a fashion writer is not as easy as picking up a pen and paper (or
laptop, tablet, etc.) but includes extensive amounts of research.
Fashion writers must be current on their knowledge of fashion and
creative when drumming up writing ideas. Of course, outstanding writing
skills are a must and meeting deadlines are also fundamental in this
career. Fashion writers can execute interviews, cover fashion events and
supply reviews of products. You have a choice of working as a freelance
writer, with television shows, websites, blogs, smaller publications
like local magazines and newspapers or with major publications such as
Vogue or Elle, among others. This is one of those fashion jobs where you
can find many opportunities and can be fairly simple to get started.

10. Fashion PR (Fashion Public Relations)

Creating
a good consumer opinion is of the utmost importance for this fashion
job. Where advertising and marketing can create a consumer desire to
purchase a certain fashion item, public relations handles the image in
its relation to the public eye. Public opinion can gauge the success and
longevity of a company. Out of all the fashion jobs mentioned, fashion
pr is the piece that ties it all together.

Fashion Jobs that Require WORK!

Whatever
one of these fashion jobs you determine to make your career, remember
that in such a reasonably competitive industry it’s important to put in a
lot of hard work and to be determined. All employers look for something
that make their next hire special and capable of making their
publication, line, show, or website shine amongst the rest. What is it
that you have to offer that others don’t have? How motivated are you?
Tell us, which one of these fashion jobs appeal to you the most?