I got my first internship in the second semester of my sophomore year. I had the opportunity to work for a fashion stylist who dresses celebrities for red carpet events, press tours, and editorial spreads. While this sounds like a luxurious job, and it can be; I was just an intern, who did a lot of the grunt work for my supervisor. This included picking up and dropping off the clothes she pulled from different brands and PR firms, steaming all the clothes, and organizing the items in the office. Even with doing this kind of work, it was a fun experience for me to be in a fast paced environment.
While this was my first internship, I had interviewed for several internships beforehand. The interview that stood out to me the most was when the hiring manager interviewing me told me not to keep my expectations high “because the fashion industry is not as glamorous as The Devil Wears Prada.” She said this in a way that was meant to be intimidating, which it kind of was! I knew that it was not like in the movies, I did not expect it to be, but it felt like a slap in the face to hear. I did not end up working there, and I am happy for that. If it wasn’t for my first internship, I would not be where I am today. Because of my first internship, I was able to make connections which led me to a new internship for this semester.
My first internship was far from glamorous, but I enjoyed it so much. It was exciting for me to finally be working in the field that I had always wanted to be in. I got to work with many celebrities including actress Sofia Bryant from the Netflix show I am Not Okay With This. However, COVID-19 cut my internship short and I had to go home. The whole time I was home, I was just ready to go back into the high stress, fast-paced area. While being in the fashion industry can be taxing and tiring, for me, there is nothing better. I get to run around the city and be constantly moving. On days that we are on set, it is non stop work. A day on set would include steaming clothes, organizing the racks, and just helping where needed. The always busy pace is nice for me, as I feel rewarded by my day’s work at the end of the day. There is also nothing better than seeing the final product of all the hard work and preparation done.
Luckily for me, my first supervisor introduced me to other stylists – and I now get to work for her! I have only been working for her for a few weeks, but I have already assisted her with an ACMAs look, an editorial for a magazine, and a shoot for an up and coming HBO star. I am happy to be back in an internship that suits me, with a supervisor that teaches me and lets me help on the job. Working in a field that you love is so important to me, as I have worked in fields that are not my passion and it makes the job that much more unbearable. There is nothing better than being excited for your day at work. I hope that everybody gets the chance to intern in a field that they love, like I do!
About the Writer:
My name is Erin White, and I am a junior at Pace University on the New York City campus. I am majoring in communications with a minor in public relations. I am from a small town in New Hampshire that I could not wait to leave, and I chose to come to somewhere as different as possible for school. The city is perfect for me, as I love fashion and always hoped to work in the fashion world of New York City for as long as I can remember, and I am finally doing it!