Career in Fashion?

Job Description
Do you have the passion to create unique wardrobe styles? Are you good in mixing and matching fashion outfits? If you have long been dreaming of working as a fashion stylist, then now is the time to shine! Fashion design schools will be more than happy to help you acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to become the best in the industry.

Generally, fashion stylists are responsible for making people look good. They also help to bring the photographer's or director's vision to life. Fashion stylists usually work in photo shoots, commercials, movie sets, print advertisements and music videos to style celebrities and models. Fashion stylists show the wearers' personality and style through the clothes, wardrobes or outfits that they are wearing. They help boost the person's self-confidence by helping them make a good impression. They basically assume all tasks related to styling and creating fashion visuals.

Fashion stylists are expected to assume a wide variety of tasks and responsibilities which include:


•producing creative design solutions
•selecting fashion accessories that will complement a particular outfit
•setting meetings with PR companies, retailers and manufacturers
•hiring, borrowing, or purchasing props, garments and accessories
•dressing models, celebrities, and other people who hired their services
•building up a good network of clients
•keeping an eye on the constantly changing fashion trends
•conceptualizing and developing fashion visuals that can be used for photo shoots or movie sets
•packing and returning borrowed outfits and accessories
•giving insights on what type of outfits, accessories, and shoes must be purchased
•assessing the wardrobe style of a certain individual (i.e. model or celebrity)
•putting together creative and unique fashion outfits
•combining outfits and accessories that will look good on the wearer
•helping people dress more fashionably

Fashion stylists often work in a fast-paced and stressful environment. They are often exposed to long work hours due to the nature of their job. In addition to that, the work of fashion stylists are very demanding since they have to be present until the photo shoot or movie shoot wraps up.


Training, Education, and Advancement

There is no standard educational requirement for aspiring fashion stylists. Some just attend short courses on fashion styling to acquire basic knowledge on how to put matching outfits together and to have a better understanding about the fashion trends. However, many employers are still looking for fashion stylist applicants who acquired formal education and training from credible fashion schools. Even though you possess the creativity and artistry to become a good fashion stylist, getting a formal education is still highly recommended.

Those who want to pursue a professional career in fashion styling is advised to enroll in a 2-year Associate degree program in fashion designing, fashion merchandising, visual or art merchandising, and other related fields. Fashion stylist aspirants who have enrolled in an Associate program will learn more about the ins and outs of the fashion industry.

Aspiring fashion stylists who want to land good job offers should consider enrolling in a 4-year Bachelor degree course program in Fashion merchandising, art or visual merchandising, fashion styling, fashion designing and other related fields. Satisfying a bachelor's degree fashion program will allow aspiring fashion stylists to gain more comprehensive skills and knowledge that will help them become efficient in their job.

It is highly recommended that fashion stylist aspirants earn relevant field experiences so they can build an impressive fashion portfolio. Fashion stylist aspirants can gain good work experiences by:


•finding an internship program in fashion design schools
•working as a fashion assistant for an established fashion stylist
•participating in fashion design training programs to improve styling skills
•exploring entry-level fashion careers to gain enough work experiences to advance in higher fashion styling positions

Networking and experience are critical for fashion stylists to succeed in this field. Therefore, it is really vital that you establish a remarkable fashion styling portfolio to increase your chances of getting lucrative job offers.


Job Outlook

Aspiring fashions stylists should really work their way to the top since there are no shortcuts to success. Starting out fashion stylists should expect minor difficulties because they are just beginning to build their network. Successful fashion stylists reach where they are today due to their hard work, perseverance, determination, success-drive, and of course, unmatched styling skills. It is critical that a fashion stylist build a strong client base so they can instantly widen their network. Most fashion styling gigs are generated from referrals of valued clients. Therefore, fashion stylists must maintain an excellent professional reputation in order to gain the trust of clients.

Most fashion stylist professionals work independently and are hired on referral basis. But there are also some who work under a particular styling firm. Job outlook for fashion stylist experts are very promising due to the constant need for skilled fashion stylists in movies, commercials, photo shoots, and other related settings.


Fashion Stylist Salary

The annual salary earnings of fashion stylists vary greatly depending on their years of experience, skills, and expertise. Those who have already established network of clients, and have already gained valuable fashion styling experiences receive lucrative pay rates. Entry-levels, on the other hand, receive lower pay rates than experienced fashion stylists but their salary is still enough to support a rewarding lifestyle.

Here is a breakdown of the daily earnings of fashion stylists according to their work experience:


•Entry Level Fashion Stylists: $150-$200/day
•Experienced Fashion Stylists: $500-$5,000/day
•Top-level Fashion Stylists: above $5,000/day; $100,000 or more annually

Working as a professional fashion stylist will certainly offer you a rewarding and fulfilling job that allows you to get paid by making people look and feel beautiful!

Career Path: Intern/Stylist's Apprentice > Assistant Fashion Stylist > Staff Fashion Stylist

Famous Fashion Stylists: Jeff Ihenando: Stylist for supermodels Kate Moss, Libery Ross, Naomi Campbell
Rachel Zoe: Celebrity clients include Nichole Richie, Mischa Barton, Keira Knightly
Rohn Padmore: Wardrobe stylist for Madonna, Lauren Hutton, Kylie Minogue, Kelly Price


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What about a Fashion Writer like myself
Fashion Writer:Also called: Fashion Journalist, Fashion Critic, Fashion Reporter

Job Description: Fashion writers produce editorial copy for media outlets such as fashion magazines, newspapers, fashion / design websites or blogs, and of course for television. The majority of the industry's fashion writers work within editorial departments of fashion design firms, but for those who specialize in areas like designer collection reviews... submitting articles on a freelance basis is often the preferred career direction. Talented fashion editors tend to partner with photographers, who together dig up their own stories e.g. formal portraits of designers, editors, models, celebrities and others who make up fashion's inner circle. After developing these stories behind the scenes, they are pitched to chief editors or other fashion media buyers like Vogue or Cosmo. Like all journalists, fashion reporters must do thorough research and/or conduct interviews when preparing articles. Most draw upon their personal interest and incorporate their own personality into stories to make their pieces fun, interesting and engaging to readers.

Average Salary Earning Potential: $68,000+ Median pay potential: $47,000+

Outlook: National employment demand for all fashion journalists and writers is expected to grow through 2014. Two thirds of the nations working fashion editors will reside in either New York or California (US Dept of Labor). The fashion writing industry can be extremely competitive. Many choose to combine working experience with their education by joining the staff of a fashion or news publication while they complete their degree. This tends to be an important step in establishing professional contacts that eventually lead to fashion editing employment.

Qualifications: Education - Given the competition for fashion writing jobs, a college degree in Fashion Journalism or Fashion Merchandising is highly recommended. Coursework or combined working and educational exposure in both fields is especially coveted by prospective employers.
Experience - As with any writing job, previous experience - demonstrated by a portfolio or collection of written work - is highly valued.
Skills - Excellent English communication and writing skills (e.g., spelling and grammar), attention to detail, and superior research and fact-checking skills are essential. A love of fashion and knowledge about the industry, historical trends, designers, textiles, fabrics and business are also important.
Personal Characteristics - Good interpersonal communication skills are needed for interviews and dealing with editors. Freelance fashion writers must have persistence and perseverance and be good at marketing their work (Wikipedia).

Career Path: Editorial Assistant > Staff Fashion Writer > Fashion Editor

Learn more about becoming a fashion writer by requesting free degree information from one of our featured fashion schools.

Sources
Dept of Labor Fashion Statistics
Fashion Editor Training UC Berkeley
Fashion Editor Vogue Article
Wikipedia

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ORRRRR......

Fashion Public Relations Specialist
Also called: Fashion Publicist, Fashion Media Relations Specialist

Job Description: Fashion Public Relations Specialists and Publicists help apparel companies and retail stores build and maintain a favorable public image. Because they do not pay for publicity or media coverage, Public Relations (PR) Specialists must find creative ways to keep the company's brand name in the public eye. PR specialists select information that they want to share with the public and write up press releases or conduct press conferences to distribute the news through television, newspapers, radio and direct mail. They are also responsible for interacting with media when questions or crises arise from outside sources. As such, PR specialists must maintain strong professional relationships with media personnel.

Salary Range: $20,000 to $100,000 or more
Entry level pay may range from $20,000 to $35,000
Experienced pay may range from $40,000 to $60,000
Top level pay may range from $75,000 to $100,000+

Outlook: Good to Excellent. The market for PR specialists focused solely on fashion is growing quickly. In addition to working on staff for design houses and retailers, PR specialists may also work at PR firms that handle work for a variety of clients. After 3-5 years of experience in the field, PR specialists often move into more senior PR Coordinator positions.

Qualifications: Education - A 4 year degree in Public Relations or related field has become increasingly necessary. Coursework in fashion and journalism is very helpful.
Experience - An internship or some experience working at a fashion publication or other media outlet is key.
Personal Characteristics/Skills - Knowledge of journalistic basics including proper news release formats; excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills; good interpersonal skills; good time management and multi-tasking skills; ability to maintain an even temperament under stress.

Career Path: Promotions Assistant > Public Relations Specialist > Public Relations Coordinator > Director of Public Relations

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Fashion Coordinator and Fashion Director
Also called: Fashion Director


Job Description:

If you want to work as a professional fashion director, it is important that you have a wide understanding about the old, new, and existing fashion trends. Fashion director professionals are responsible for a wide variety of tasks that are directly associated to fashion coordination, management, and promotional activities. Also referred as fashion coordinators, these people are tasked to oversee the whole fashion design department. They need to maintain a unified and organized fashion atmosphere to ascertain that the marketing and promotion of a particular fashion line would be a success.

As a fashion director, you are expected to assume the following tasks and responsibilities:


•devise efficient fashion design plans and foster new fashion concepts
•properly coordinate advertising as well marketing activities
•attend runway or fashion shows to acquire new fashion ideas
•visit major manufacturers and merchandise markets to get new information on the latest fashion trends
•regularly monitor fashion publications and set meetings with designers to keep up with the changing trend
•evaluate the potential success of a certain clothing line
•create effective marketing plans and advertising strategies
•coordinate with salespeople, designers and manufacturers
•select garments and accessories that will be used for promotional marketing
•organize photo shoots, magazine events, and fashion shows
•share fashion insights and analysis with buyers to help them choose the appropriate inventory purchases

Keep in mind that the work of a professional fashion director would entail dedication, perseverance, determination, and good PR skills.


Training, Education, Advancement

Since the job of a fashion director is integral in the success of the whole fashion department, it is critical that fashion coordinator aspirants get a formal training and education. There are a number of fashion design schools, community colleges, private institutions, as well as vocational schools rendering courses on fashion sales or merchandising.

A high school diploma is the basic educational requirement needed for fashion director aspirants to be able to qualify in a fashion merchandising course. Only students who have acquired a high school diploma or GED equivalent are allowed to enroll in advanced fashion design courses.

For those who were able to satisfy a high school degree, you can choose from the following course programs to help you acquire the knowledge and skills needed in order to become a professional fashion director.


•Associate Degree Program: This a 2-year course program that will allow students to earn an associate degree in fashion design. Two-year Associate course programs will provide fashion coordinator or director aspirants with the basic knowledge on textile, apparel, fashion concepts, and fashion marketing. This program practically serves as your stepping stone to the 4-year bachelor program.
•Bachelor's Degree Program: This is a more comprehensive program that will offer fashion director aspirants with extensive knowledge about fashion marketing and merchandising. It is a 4-year course program that will earn you a Bachelor degree. Fashion director aspirants who enroll in a 4-year fashion design program have greater chances of landing lucrative job opportunities.
•Master's Degree Program: This is a part of the advanced studies program wherein graduate students will be given the opportunity to elevate their educational status. Fashion director aspirants with a Master's degree will have the opportunity to aim for high-paying and upper-level fashion director positions.

Upper-level fashion director professionals are required to satisfy at least a Bachelor's degree in order to be considered for the position. Hence, fashion director aspirants are highly encouraged to pursue higher educational degrees to land more promising job offers. It is also recommended that fashion director aspirants gain relevant experiences to have the competitive edge. They can acquire work experiences from participating in internship programs (usually facilitated by the fashion design school) or they can also find apprenticeship positions from small fashion boutiques (which is definitely a good starting point).

An aspiring fashion director would have to build extensive field experiences before they can actually climb up to top. You should begin by becoming a retail associate then an assistant fashion coordinator and then a fashion coordinator. You have to go through this process before you qualify for the fashion director position.


Job Outlook

Job outlook for fashion director positions are reasonably good. Even though, there may not be enough advanced level positions available, numerous industries require the expertise of skilled fashion director professionals. Since fashion director jobs are the highest fashion design position, limited job openings are likely to be generated. Only qualified, experienced and skilled fashion coordinator professionals will have the opportunity to get in the trade.

But the good thing is job openings will be available in a wide range of fashion fields that include design houses, department stores, fashion boutiques, large design firms, and other industry that requires the marketing and advertising skills of efficient fashion director professionals.


Salary

Annual salary earnings of a fashion coordinator and director vary greatly depending on the company they are working for, educational background, location of work, special skills, and expertise. The median salary earning of fashion directors will fall anywhere between $40,000 and $100,000. Those working in small fashion companies are expected to receive an annual income of around $40,000 - $60,000, while those who are employed in big design firms will enjoy a much higher income net of $100,000 or more.

So to those who wish to pursue a fashion director position, jumpstart your career by finding a reputable and credible fashion design school today!

Career Path: Retail Sales Associate > Buyer > Assistant Fashion Coordinator > Fashion Coordinator > Fashion Director

Sources:
RetailMoves
Department of Education, Science and Training (Australia)

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Boutique Owner
Also called: Specialty Store Owner, Owner
Job Description: Successful boutique owners are very entrepreneurial-minded and driven people who use a combination of savvy business skills and in-depth knowledge of the fashion retail industry to make a profit. Their stores often target a specific customer profile and often carry a specific mix of clothing and/or apparel designers that appeal to this demographic. Boutique owners must be jacks or jills of all trades as they typically oversee all aspects of a boutiques operations from planning and purchasing their inventory, setting up the in-store displays and managing employees. You could start a fashion boutique in one of the following areas: sportswear, beachwear, novelty items, vintage, T-shirts, dresses, tuxedos, shoes, handbags, accessories, lingerie, watches, sunglasses, and more.

Salary Range: $0 to $100,000+
*Losses are expected in the first few years of operations due to initial investments and expenditures. Once stabilized, boutiques can become a good source of income for its owner as well as an alternative to working very hard for someone else.

Outlook: Being a small business owner is a dream for many people, and the value of being one's own boss cannot be underestimated. Setting up a boutique usually requires obtaining a bank loan or drawing from personal savings to cover initial investments. Often, successful owners are those who can attract investors with a solid business plan and operational structure. Once the store is profitable, owners can go on to open additional stores, or if they have created a strong enough brand, sell franchises for subsequent locations.

Qualifications: Education - A bachelor's degree in Business Management or Fashion Retailing/Merchandising/Marketing is common. An MBA is a plus in attracting investors. Experience - Extensive experience in the fashion retail industry in a variety of positions usually starting at the level of retail sales associate or stock clerk and with some experience as a retail store manager.
Personal Characteristics/Skills - entrepreneurial and risk-taking personality; solid business background in fields such as Marketing, Accounting, Sales and Management; in-depth and up-to-date knowledge of the fashion retail marketplace, including trends and forecasts; flexible; multi-tasking capabilities; excellent time management and communication skills.

Career Path: Retail Sales Associate > Buyer > Retail Manager > Boutique Owner


RESEARCH OUR EXTENSIVE LIST OF FASHION CAREERS >>
READ SOME OF OUR GREAT FASHION ARTICLES >>
STUDY FASHION IN ANOTHER LOCATION >>
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Fashion Editor
Also called: Apparel Editor, Accessories Editor, Fashion Producer

Job Description: Fashion editors supervise the process of creating, developing and presenting content for fashion-specific magazines, photo shoots, websites, newspaper sections, or television shows. Editors occupy the mid to highest-level positions at publications. Under guidance of the editor-in-chief, they are responsible for deciding the creative influence and direction that their departments will pursue during a given season or issue. Editors may specialize in apparel, accessories, beauty and make-up, and so on. Some fashion editors choose to be freelance, working on a per-contract basis and assuming all of the costs of the fashion shoot (e.g., clothing and accessories).

Due to the deadline-driven nature of their work, both salaried and freelance editors should enjoy a fast-paced environment. In addition, editors are often required to travel to keep up with the latest fashion trends through meetings with designers and visits to fashion shows throughout the world (e.g., New York, Paris, London, and Milan), retail stores, specialty boutiques, and vintage clothing stores. They also rely on the content of designer "Look Books" and apparel and product samples to select content to be featured in their publications.

Salary Range: $30,000 to $100,000+
Entry level pay may range from $30,000 to $40,000
Experienced may range from $40,000 to $60,000
Top level pay may range from $70,000 to $100,000

Outlook: Employment of editors and writers is expected to increase 10% to 20% between 2002 and 2012, according to the US Dept of Labor. There are a variety of outlets in which prospective editors may seek employment including but not limited to: fashion magazines, fashion sections of news, entertainment and lifestyle magazines, newspapers, television shows, websites, etc. Growth in any of these sectors means an increased demand for experienced writers and editors. Because competition for these jobs is fierce, aspiring editors must be creative, hard working and willing to start at the bottom and take opportunities as they arise. Once in the system, opportunities for advancement become more readily available.

Qualifications: Education - A 4-year bachelor's degree in Fashion Design & Merchandising or Journalism is required. Coursework in both fields is a plus. A Liberal Arts degree with the necessary related coursework is also a good option.
Experience - Internships with fashion publications is a good way to get a foot in the door - and often the only way. However, any journalistic internship can be a launching pad for an eventual career as a fashion writer or editor. A portfolio of previous written and published work is required for higher-level writing and editing jobs.
Personal Characteristics/Skills - Passion for fashion; broad knowledge of fashion industry trends and forecasts; excellent writing/journalistic talent with the ability to communicate effectively and clearly; great organization and planning skills; excellent interpersonal and management skills; competitive spirit; ability to perform well under stress.

Career Path: Associate Editor > Editor > Senior Editor > Editor-in-Chief

Famous Fashion Editor-in-Chiefs:
Anna Wintour: Vogue Magazine
Cindi Leive: Glamour Magazine
Robbie Myers: Elle Magazine

Sources:

The Fashion Editor
StyleCareer.com
Wikipedia.com

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Personal Stylist
Also called: Wardrobe Consultant, Personal Shopper


Job Description

Have you envisioned working with glamorous Hollywood celebrities and fashion models? Do you love the company of stylish individuals? If you do, then you have to consider pursuing a career as a personal stylist. Working as a personal stylist will give you the opportunity to assist and style well-known fashion personalities. This may be a dream come true for some especially those who have been attracted with the glitz and glamour of the fashion industry.

Basically, a personal stylist is very much like an image consultant. Personal stylist professionals give fashion advice to ensure that clients will be able to showcase their desired fashion image. They provide insights on how wardrobes should be worn, what accessories will complement a particular outfit, what outfit color will suit the client, and many more. In general, personal stylist professionals must be able to combine the latest fashion trends with the client's personal taste. This is critical to ascertain that they will be able to convey the message that the client wants to achieve.

Personal stylist professionals are usually hired by individuals who need to come up with a unique image overhaul in order to establish a distinct signature style. If you are really eager to try this career, you have to be aware that it isn't just all about the glamour and rubbing shoulders with famous celebrities. You should know that the fashion world is a demanding industry, hence, only those who are quite resilient will likely to survive the fierce competition.

To be able to succeed in the fashion styling field, you have to be cutout for the job. Moreover, you should understand the basic function of a professional personal stylist. Some of the usual responsibilities that you will likely take on include:


•teach the client to make effective image decisions
•make thorough evaluation about the client's physical attributes, preferred style, and personality to easily provide the most suitable fashion choices
•give good fashion recommendations about the client's overall look which include the wardrobe, footwear and accessories
•help clients pick applicable outfits and pair them with matching accessories
•assist clients' to change or maintain their desired fashion image
•choose wardrobes, accessories, apparels, and footwear that will accentuate the striking physical features of the client

Overall, working as a personal stylist is without a doubt a very rewarding career. You get to help someone, enjoy what you do, and then get paid in the process.


Training, Education, and Advancement

Although personal styling is more of one's natural ability to choose flattering styles for the clients, it is still highly recommended that personal stylist aspirants get a formal education and training from fashion design schools. While some employers do not give too much emphasis on educational backgrounds, others are keen about the applicant's work portfolio.

Most personal stylist professionals are freelancers. They do not work under any types of design firms but rather they are hired on a freelance basis. Some have short-term job offers but there are also others who are lucky enough to land long-term personal styling gigs. With this kind of work setup, it is really essential to build a strong network of clients. Personal stylist experts commonly get job through client referrals. Therefore, the more people satisfied with your services, the greater chances of finding new prospects.

Even if there is no particular educational requirement set to become a personal stylist, aspirants are still encouraged to attend fashion design schools in order to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge. Many personal stylist aspirants pursue diploma programs that will earn them either a 2-year Associate or 4-year Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, Merchandising, Marketing, or Costume Design.

The best place to start a career as a personal stylist is by gaining relevant experiences through internship and apprenticeship programs. You can apply for entry-level fashion assistant positions in department stores or fashion boutiques in order to learn more about fashion brands and the latest trends. Moreover, take this opportunity to interact with clients, which is a good way to market your personal styling talents to build a solid clientele. Aside from that, you can also train under an established personal stylist to develop your styling skills and artistic concepts.


Job Outlook

It is critical that personal stylist aspirants gain enough experiences in order to find good job offers. Finding jobs in fashion retail positions would be a good starting point. Since personal stylist professionals are typically self-employed, learning how to network is a must. In addition to that, they have to gain knowledge on customer relations and the emerging fashion trends.

Clients will most likely hire personal stylist aspirants who have the following qualities:


•superb interpersonal skills
•able to relate to people with different background, age, status, and fashion perspective
•has a natural flair with color and style
•a broad knowledge on the ever-changing fashion trends
•great persuasion skills
•impressive past experiences in retailing, fashion styling, design, and beauty therapy


Salary

Full-time personal stylist professionals earn approximately $40,000 annually. But those who work with big-time clients (for instance famous models and celebrities) can earn up to $100,000 or even more.

Like with other types of fashion careers, personal stylist aspirants should really work their way up by gaining more experiences and constantly honing their styling talents in order to earn higher income opportunities!

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Fashion Careers
Are you in the know about the current fashion trends? Do you have an eye for style? Do you have the drive and desire to turn your passion into a profitable and rewarding career? A career in the fashion industry may be the right path for you!

Many are attracted to pursue a career in the fashion industry due to lucrative income opportunities. Aside from that, the idea that you can succeed on your own motivates aspirants even more. As a matter of fact, about one-third of professional fashion designers are self-employed.

In general, fashion designer professionals have innate artistic and creative qualities. They use their creative gifts and artistic talents to create unique design concepts for various fashion applications. Today, fashion designer professionals are in demand in a variety of industries. Since there is a constant demand for fashion designers specializing in a particular field, most of the aspirants focus their talent in one specialized fashion area like interior designing, merchandise displays, clothing/apparel, theatre sets and many more.

In order to become an efficient fashion designer, you have to take note of these three important things:


•The primary needs of the client
•The focal point of the design
•The design's appeal to customers/consumers

You have to always equip yourself with fresh and new ideas since market and fashion trends are constantly changing.

Currently, there are a number of fashion design careers available. Some of the popular fashion design careers that you should consider are as follows:


•Visual Merchandise Designers: They are mainly responsible for designing window displays, arranging store merchandise, creating props and accents, organizing clothing placement, styling mannequins, and spearheading marketing campaigns.
•Fashion Designers: Those working as fashion designer professionals are typically tasked to create designs for clothing and apparels. Some work with popular fashion designers while others are managing their own fashion labels.
•Set Designer: As the name implies, set designers are primarily assigned to conceptualize designs needed for movies, television sets and theatre productions. Their styles and designs must always be in line with what the script or the director requires. Some set designers produce unique set design for trade shows and museums.
•Interior Designer: The main goal of interior designers is to perfectly combine form with function. Their primary function is to introduce interior concepts that will increase the beauty, safety and functionality of a particular space or area. Interior designers work in a variety of settings including retail stores, residential homes, offices, hospitals, hotels, and many more.


Training, Education, and Advancement

Educational requirement for different fashion design careers vary greatly. But, bear in mind that school is not the only requirement that you need to satisfy in order to land good job offers. Although educational background is a deciding factor for employers, applicants must also possesses good qualities in order to be efficient with their jobs. A good fashion designer would have a keen eye for detail, exceptional creative talent, superb artistic skills, and great determination.

A fashion designer aspirant must earn at least an Associate degree in order to get an entry level position. That being said, it is a must that you acquire formal training from reputable fashion designer schools. You also have to choose the right fashion designer programs that will help hone your skills and talents.

Those who want to pursue higher paying fashion designer positions should pursue a 4-year Bachelor degree program. Applicants who have earned a Bachelor degree will have more chances of locating greater-paying fashion design careers. Pursuing advanced fashion degrees will expose you to more extensive fashion trainings and more rigorous fashion design curriculums. Fashion designer aspirants who enroll in 4-year course programs will acquire additional skills in marketing, advertising, business, liberal arts, management, and many others.

Fashion designer aspirants must develop unique skill sets, good sense of style and exceptional creative qualities in order to gain the competitive edge. Participation in internship programs and working in entry level fashion designer positions will earn you the necessary experience you need to pursue advanced fashion design careers.


Job Outlook

More fashion designer jobs will continue to flourish due to the consistent need for skilled and qualified fashion designer professionals. That being said, competition will become more intense. Aspiring fashion designers should prove themselves by showing their capabilities and hidden potentials.

Those who want to stand out must satisfy higher educational degrees and should possess ingenuity and persistence. Among the different fashion designer careers, those who specialized in graphic design are projected to have higher employment growth rate. There will also be a continuous demand for interior and industrial designers. Meanwhile, visual merchandisers will just have a natural turnover due to the need to fill in soon-to-be vacant positions.


Fashion Salary

Income rate of various fashion design careers fall in different salary ranges. But majority of fashion designer professionals earn a median annual salary of around $35,000 to $75,000. Other fashion design professions receive the following annual income range:


•Graphic Designers: $20,000 to $65,000
•Interior designers: $21,000 to $71,000
•Merchandise Displayers: $15,000 to $40,000
•Set designers: $18,000 to $63,000

As professionals gain more experience, they will attract better job offers. Meanwhile, entry-level fashion designers still have higher salary rates as compared to other professions.

With formal schooling, more relevant experiences, distinct skills, and specialized trainings, fashion designer professionals will have better chances of finding more lucrative job opportunities!

As with any career, the best way to start a new career on the right foot is to get an education. A degree in Fashion Design or Fashion Merchandising can get your foot in the door of one of the many fabulous career opportunities in the rapidly growing fashion industry. Whether you are interested in fashion design production, marketing and merchandising, fashion media and promotions, or any other type of fashion career, a degree will help you learn the skills necessary to bloom in the fashion industry. Read on to see what fashion careers are available to you!

Fashion Design Production
Fashion Designer
Accessories Designer
Fashion Merchandiser
Fashion Sales Rep
Showroom Sales Rep
Product Manager
Clothing Patternmaker
Pattern Grader



Fashion Marketing/Merchandising
Fashion Buyer
Fashion Coordinator
Retail Merchandiser
Visual Merchandiser
Retail Store Manager
Boutique Owner

Fashion Media & Promotions
Fashion Writer
Fashion Stylist
Fashion PR Specialist
Fashion Editor
Fashion Illustrator
Graphic Designer
Fashion Photographer




Other Fashion Careers
Costume Designer
Personal Stylist
Model







Fashion Design Production
Fashion and accessory designers use their knowledge of design principles, techniques, and tools to create sketches and models of original garments, shoes, handbags and other fashion accessories. They often specialize in a particular facet of clothing design, such as men's, women's, children's wear, or lingerie. While some fashion designers control the entire design and marketing process, others use the services of patternmakers to create original textiles and trimmings, production managers to oversee the actual creation of the fashion line, and fashion merchandisers to introduce and establish the designs in the fashion marketplace.


Fashion Marketing/Merchandising
Fashion marketing and merchandising professionals are responsible for identifying and creating fashion trends to sell the products created by fashion designers. Drawing on their knowledge of consumer psychology and trends, they promote fashion with advertising and visual marketing campaigns. The fashion merchandising field includes jobs in both retail and wholesale sales.


Fashion Media & Promotions
The fashion industry offers a number of opportunities for creative professionals who aren't attracted to the design side. Fashion writers and editors are employed by newspapers, magazines, web sites, and other media outlets to keep consumers up-to-date on style trends. Fashion photographs, illustrators, and stylists are often employed by catalogs and magazines.


Other Fashion Careers
Other fashion career opportunities include costume design for TV, film and theater productions; personal stylist positions with high-end department stores and private clients, and modeling work for everything from newspapers ads to strutting the catwalk in Milan or Paris.

Review our Comprehensive List of Schools Offering a Fashion Degree!
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