It was once a dream of mine to work in fashion magazines and much of my ‘middle teens’ were spent styling friends for photo shoots and lusting after LCF. When selecting A Levels; I had dreams of being an editor in mind and while I have currently altered my career goals; I believe that I am aware of the skills necessary to sustain a career in fashion magazines. Here they are…
Reading the magazines
Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, Company and NYLON: if it exists, I have probably read it. By studying the fashion press you can learn of not only the individual tone and aesthetic of each publication but also begin to discover who your favourite writers or freelancers are, and what they have in common. Additionally, reading magazine features and making lists of the ones that interest you the most help to encourage your individual generation of article ideas; a perpetual task for any journalist.
Photography
Earlier this year I attended a talk with freelancer and copywriter Tim Gibson; who revealed that if you can supply the photographs to accompany your own article; then you’re laughing. As a result I was glad to have taken an A Level in Photography. From learning the differences between RAW files and nasty JPEGS, to actually being forced to shoot images that submit to a set theme, all act as training for the fashion world. I suggest that any aspiring stylist or journalist gets themselves acquainted with an SLR before setting foot into the fashion world; or they will be faced with a harsh wakeup call when they realise, as I did, that ‘point and shoot’ will not cut the mustard.
Photoshop and InDesign
It may seem obvious, but there is so much more to Photoshop than cosmetically touching up images. The extortionately priced computer programme is essential for image manipulation, and teaching one the skills need for picture editing-which on some publications is a position of work in itself. Similarly, the initially baffling InDesign is a programme that is used by art directors to put magazines together. For my photography final piece, I rented some hefty books from the library and practised making fashion spreads so that by the time it came to my exam, I could breeze through the Adobe application without a hitch. Leanne Robson, who is now a junior designer at Company magazine had the same idea during her internship at the publication; and her self-taught proficiency with InDesign left her with a full time position at the end of her work experience placement. Surely that is a reason to get down to the library and start mocking up layouts.
Writing
The first step towards success in the world of fashion journalism is surely writing. Blogs count, as do student newspapers, and websites like YUPPEE. Practice adapting your tone, and learn to write for differing audiences. At the moment, I feel that some magazines have tried to become accessible by lowering their standard of written language, however I would advise all aspiring writers to strive for articulate articles in place of being over-chatty.
Styling
Whether it be dressing up your friends for nights out, or assisting on photographic shoots, the art of styling seems to be a necessity for any fashion journo. Working in retail and helping customers can also aid your eye for style, as can assisting your high-street shop boss with the visual merchandising of the store. Keep mood boards or a Tumblr of the things that inspire you, and start to collate an online portfolio.
Put yourself out there
Apply for work experience, intern in marketing departments, offer to photograph school proms and arrange interviews for your blog. Learn the art of turning press releases into features and most importantly, conquer any fear of answering the telephone while on placements. Who knows, your first job could be on the next line?