Choosing one of the many fashion jobs is usually a daunting challenge. There are several different opportunities in the fashion industry that you may not be sure which is the best for you. With the high demand for fashion jobs, you need to be sure of what it is that you want to do in order to start pursuing your dream in this competitive industry. Below you will find descriptions of various fashion jobs, and subsequently you will be one step closer to establishing your career in the fashion industry.
1. Fashion designer
Thanks to programs like Project Runway, there are many people whose curiosity has been raised towards the fashion industry, exclusively, fashion design. A career as a fashion designer seems extravagant and rewarding, but it takes a lot of work. A fashion designer must be well informed of the latest trends (and sometimes even anticipate them) and have the creativity to conceptualize new designs. A fashion designer creates sketches, either by hand or with computer-aided design (CAD) software, of their designs and must be familiar with fabrics and materials to create swatches that show what the final product would look like. As a fashion designer, you can specialize in the design of clothing, footwear or accessories. Fashion jobs like that of a fashion designer drag on with grueling hours of intensive work and lots of travel if you want to promote your designs. Fashion designers work under pressure to meet deadlines and impress fashion buyers and other potential clients. As a fashion designer, you would need not only talent and creativity, but tough skin and dedication.
2. Fashion merchandising
Fad jobs in marketing can be very challenging. A fashion retailer must know what consumers really want, how to present it to them, what they want to pay for it, and how to entice them to buy. A fashion merchant is not only a fashion expert, but must also have strong business, financial and advertising skills. As a fashion designer, you may find yourself creating budgets, tracking profit and loss, tracking inventory, developing marketing strategies, and even creating creative visual displays to engage consumers. It is a career that involves many different roles, but it also has many opportunities to grow and advance.
3. Fashion shopper
Fashion buyers are among the most important people for brands and companies. They must have good communication skills, be aggressive, organized and motivated. As a fashion buyer, you work hand-in-hand with key designers, merchants and other people to select which pieces to present to consumers and ensure that best-sellers are continuously available. Buyers should be aware of current and future trends in order to be able to correctly choose clothes, shoes, accessories, etc. to guarantee great benefits. Working with suppliers to negotiate prices suggests that a fashion buyer should have good interpersonal skills, be informed about market costs and also about consumer demands. Fashion buyers must be prepared to work under pressure, travel, and research and analyze in order to make practical decisions about what products to offer to 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 fashion house. They are responsible for the first impression that is made when people watch advertising campaigns, shootings and even fashion films. A fashion director must ensure that the models, photographers, location and concepts characterize the store, brand or magazine in the best and most genuine way. One of the best-known creative directors in the industry is Grace Coddington, who, along with Anna Wintour and other industry professionals, are part of American Vogue. In the documentary "The September Issue" we can see Coddington showing us her best work and the steps she takes to produce the magnificent sheets in Vogue. Now, don't think it will be a quick landing on one of these trendy jobs. Be prepared for long work hours, creative problems, frequent travel, crazy deadlines, and a willingness to go back to the drawing board again and again. Remember, as a fashion director you are responsible for the image of a brand; produces something that everyone will see. People will base their opinions on what you present to them. As one of the biggest fashion jobs in the industry, the pressure is mounting!
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, they forecast future trends and styles. This is much more sophisticated than forecasting the weather. A fashion forecaster not only needs to have in-depth knowledge of fashion, but must also be creative and surely have the necessary skills to research and analyze possible trends, colors, fabrics, and patterns. Fashion forecasters look to everything from movies, music, and even science and technology for inspiration. Getting a position as a fashion forecaster is one of the most prestigious fashion jobs you could hope for.
6. Fashion stylist
A fashion stylist has the easy task (or not?) Of making someone look good. A stylist should be familiar with the colors, fabrics, and styles that work best to flatter someone's shape while also knowing ways to accessorize and finish the perfect outfit. Fashion stylists are responsible for choosing the best pieces for photo shoots, events, etc. and put them together for the final product. The reputation of a stylist lies in how good the client looks and, in the case of advertising campaigns, whether 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 clothes, or even spending a day (or a few) renovating a client's wardrobe. Finding fashion jobs for stylists can be as simple as working as a personal shopper or designing photoshoots for websites or local magazines or newspapers.
7. Fashion photographer
It's not just about knowing how to take a good photo. Fashion photographers basically have two fields to be good at: fashion and photography. The photography part is knowing what angles, lighting, etc. When it comes to fashion, photographers need to be experts in that too. A fashion photographer should always know what the hottest trends, top designers, top fashion events, and every other important aspect of the industry are. Fashion jobs in this field may consist of taking photographs for model portfolios, advertising 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 is going to shoot at a fashion show, she must know exactly when to take the photo of that model in the loose dress. The image should show how the fabric moves and flows rather than showing a dress that falls limp and creeps 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 delivering a visual message.
8. Fashion editor
Fashion editors oversee the direction of a fashion publication, a website, and other media. They are in charge of editing the work of a fashion writer, making suggestions and investigating the possibilities of future stories. Fashion writers need to stay on top of trends and classics to ensure coverage is delivered to the target audience. A fashion editor works under pressure to meet deadlines, supervise writers, discover fresh features and ideas, all while keeping up with the industry and analyzing competition levels. Some of the qualities required for one of these trendy jobs are being organized, punctual, being able to communicate verbally, and having impeccable writing and journalism. Being one of the most competitive fashion jobs in the industry, a fashion editor must be ready to work hard and spend long nights crafting great and creative content.
9. Fashion writer
Being a fashion writer isn't as easy as picking up a pencil and paper (or a laptop, tablet, etc.), but it requires a great deal of research. Fashion writers need to be up-to-date in their knowledge of fashion and be creative when gathering ideas for writing. Of course, outstanding writing skills are a must and meeting deadlines is critical in this career as well. Fashion writers can conduct interviews, cover fashion events, and offer product reviews. You have the option of working as a freelance writer, with TV shows, websites, blogs, smaller publications like local magazines and newspapers, or with major publications like Vogue or Elle, among others. This is one of those trendy jobs where you can find a lot of opportunities and it can be pretty easy to get started.
10. Fashion Public Relations
Creating a good consumer opinion is of the utmost importance to this fashion job. When advertising and marketing can create a consumer desire to buy a certain fashion item, public relations manages the image in relation to the public eye. Public opinion can measure the success and longevity of a business. Of all the mentioned fashion works, fashion pr is the piece that ties it all together.
Fashion jobs that require WORK!
Whatever one of these hot jobs you decide to do in your career, remember that in such a reasonably competitive industry, it's important to work hard and be determined. All employers are looking for something that makes their next hire special and capable of making their post, line, program, or website shine among the rest. What do you have to offer that others don't? How motivated are you? Tell us, which of these fashion jobs attracts you the most?
