How to Be a Fashion Designer

  To be or not to be a fashion designer is a tough choice. Fashion designers are not people you get introduced to all the time. And successful fashion designers are usually too busy or too secretive to share how they got the job. So it can be a dilemma on whether you should take the plunge and invest a small fortune on an unknown future.

No rewarding career in life is ever made to be simple. Fashion design is no exception. Famous designers work extremely hard for their fame and money. But one thing is for sure - if you plan from the start to dedicate yourself, half the battle is won.

Many professionals in the fashion industry will readily agree that fashion students nowadays think that they deserve a paycheck without "paying their dues." What dues, you ask? Most of them might sound like modern-day slavery. This includes frequent 18-hour work days; weekends spent at work; fetching coffee for the entire department; and being criticized and picked on constantly by co-workers.

Yes, the horror stories you see on reality TV are true. Some of them at least. In a creative industry, anything can happen. So be prepared for it.

Still want to be a fashion designer come hell or rain?

Here are three mantras you should memorize:

1) Your portfolio is your design identity

Just like how celebrity models value their looks and work on maintaining their charm, you have to do the same for your portfolio. Future employers and the public are going to judge you based on your skill to design fabulous pieces. And your portfolio is going to show them exactly what you are capable of.

No matter how hard you work, procrastination can be really hard to beat sometimes. So the best way to get the most versatile fashion design portfolio would be to enroll for a fashion course. Being in school will force you to leave your comfort zones. With the right training and dedication, results are often impressive.

2) Understand why people dress the way they do

The Japanese have their kimonos, the Indians have their saris, and the Chinese have their cheongsams. Even though global fashion is now mainly influenced by top fashion cities like Paris, New York, and London, people around the world still dress differently. A true fashion designer has the EQ to understand what customers want and need.

Are people feeling warm in tropical climates? Do others need to cover up for religious reasons? What kind of jobs do they have? Are your designs simplistic yet stylish enough to be worn every day?

When it comes to fashion psychology, the variables are endless. Yes, you may argue that it is more fun to design for haute couture. But in reality, fashion is more of a business than an art. Even the rich from the highest echelons are still humans. One of the best ways to grow as a fashion designer is to create clothes for everyday people.

The exciting bit about fashion is that it changes every day. So no two days will ever be exactly the same.

3) Find a good fashion school

It can make all the difference in your life. Good schools have the facilities you need. And they also hire lecturers who are well-connected within the industry. Have plans to be an international fashion designer? Consider enrolling into an international school. This allows you to meet many sorts of people from around the world. And it can help you learn a bit more about understanding people like mentioned earlier.

While in school, you will work on assignments necessary to build the best portfolio before you graduate. You will make your own fashion collections, sketch your best designs, and pay homage by studying about the various designs and designers that made fashion history. A fashion design student's life is nothing short of colorful and exciting.

If you feel that your country may be too conservative for full creative expression, an alternative is to study fashion abroad. Countries like Australia and Singapore are ideal for an English-speaking environment and career opportunities after graduation.

Feeling adventurous? Studying in developing nations can help you save money on craft materials. Not to mention, countries with strong manufacturing industries allow you to build a contact list of reliable suppliers. This will come in handy when you want to start your own label. Living costs in a developing nation is also less costly, so you spend less on your overall education. Countries like China, Thailand, and Sri Lanka can offer you this experience.

Want to find out more about studying fashion design abroad?

Everyone's case is unique and we want to give the best advice that works for you. To ensure quality education every semester, there are limited seats in Raffles. And they are filling up fast! Need more information? Fill up an enquiry form and an experienced Education Consultant will provide you with a free consultation.

Donald, International Admissions Director of Raffles Education Corporation, a leading education provider in Asia Pacific operating 36 fashion design colleges [http://www.raffles-iao.com] across 33 cities in 13 countries (Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, New Zealand, Australia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, China, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Sri Lanka & Indonesia). Certifications such as Advanced Diploma, Bachelor and Master Degrees are also offered for various design disciplines such as visual communication, animation, multimedia, interior design, product design, jewellery design, biomedical, infocomm security and early childhood.

Do you want to look fashionable? I am going to show you where to get fashion styling tips, ideas, and fashion inspiration for free. It will be just like having your own free online fashion stylist. I am going to share with you 5 online sites for free online fashion inspiration.

1. Pinterest is a very cool site. Pinterest is a pin-board-style photo-sharing website that allows users to create and manage theme-based image collections such as events, interests, and hobbies. For example lets say there is a black pencil skirt that is in need of styling. Following a search for black pencil skirt, there would be provided dozens of images of different ways to style a black pencil skirt.

Another cool thing about Pinterest is you can then create boards, or follow boards created by other people. For example, one can search for things like: Fall or Winter trends, or fashion inspiration. Fashion is personal. Find a fashion board that you can identify with and be inspired.

2. Instagram is an online photo-sharing, video-sharing and social networking service that enables its users to take pictures and videos. Instagram can be searched by using hashtags. For example, I will use the same example of the black pencil skirt. Search hashtag #blackpencilskirt for styling options. Other good hashtags to use are: #ootd, #fashionblogger, #fashionblog, #lookbook, #fashiontrends, and #lookoftheday. The last two are my favorite #ootnmagazine and #oliviapalermo (Olivia Palermo is an online fashion trendsetter) and a personal favorite of mine.

3. Polyvore is a new way to discover and shop for things you love. On this site you can shop sets. Sets are fashion outfits put together by the users. For example you can search sets that feature a black pencil skirt. Or if you want a black pencil skirt you can search for the best option that fits your style. The cool thing about this site is that searched items can be purchased. This site is also good for fashion bloggers, as a set can be created and posted directly onto your blog.

4. Follow fashion bloggers. Fashion is personal so a key will be to find the blogger that bet fits your style. How to find fashion blogger sites: Google search, Instagram, Polyvore, Twitter, and YouTube.

5. YouTube is a video sharing website. For fashion inspiration search keywords: lookbook, ootd (outfit of the day), look of the day, fashion trends (depending on the season), Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall lookbooks, fashion vlogger, fashion looks.

Now you have the tools to find fashion inspiration and style

 Everyone has his or her individual style and fashion options make it possible for everyone to express their personality in style. Getting fashion items such as clothes, handbags and shoes among other different kind of accessories has been made easy. This is thanks to online stores which have eased shopping greatly for all fashion lovers. It is now possible to peruse through different online stores and what they have before making a purchase for the fashion items that you need.

Branded fashion labels offers endless opportunities for fashion lovers to find what they need to make their style statements. They cover the latest fashion trends for both men and women with a collection of shoes, leather goods and handbags. The clothing line is comprehensive and so is the accessories line which has everything designed to fit into the varying styles from one individual to another. There is definitely something for everyone in the store as far as fashion is concerned.

How to get the best fashion

One of the easiest ways that you can make sure that you get the very best with your fashion purchases is to choose the right store. Branded stores can be trusted to deliver the best for all your fashion needs. Here are some of the considerations that can help you make the right choice.

Variety: Does the store have a variety for you as far as the fashion items are concerned? The good thing about a store that has variety is that you can find everything that you need from clothes to shoes that match and other accessories and handbags to work out a look that is uniquely you.

Accessibility: Is the fashion store accessible from where you are? A good fashion store will have local branches in different areas to make it easier for customers to find the items that they need. When a store goes online, then all the accessibility barriers are eliminated. There are so many benefits of shopping online among them the possibilities to shop for whatever you need from any place and at any given time. Always consider how accessible you fashion store is so that you can choose one that will come to your fashion aid when you need it the most.

Product quality: If you want to make a fashion statement, then you will need to make sure that you go for quality products. A good trustworthy fashion store will have quality products which can be evaluated by the materials they are made of. For instance, leather products tend to be more of high quality and quite durable. There are however many other factors that can be considered to determine the quality of a product.

Experience in design: The years of experience in design together with quality craftsmanship makes a store or design house that understands the business. This helps in coming up with the latest fashion trends and a huge variety of designs to suit the varying preferences. You are bound to find very unique fashion pieces from such a store.

Everyone has his or her individual style and fashion options make it possible for everyone to express their personality in style. Getting fashion items such as clothes, handbags and shoes among other different kind of accessories has been made easy. This is thanks to online stores which have eased shopping greatly for all fashion lovers. It is now possible to peruse through different online stores and what they have before making a purchase for the fashion items that you need.

Branded fashion labels offers endless opportunities for fashion lovers to find what they need to make their style statements. They cover the latest fashion trends for both men and women with a collection of shoes, leather goods and handbags. The clothing line is comprehensive and so is the accessories line which has everything designed to fit into the varying styles from one individual to another. There is definitely something for everyone in the store as far as fashion is concerned.

How to get the best fashion

One of the easiest ways that you can make sure that you get the very best with your fashion purchases is to choose the right store. Branded stores can be trusted to deliver the best for all your fashion needs. Here are some of the considerations that can help you make the right choice.

Variety: Does the store have a variety for you as far as the fashion items are concerned? The good thing about a store that has variety is that you can find everything that you need from clothes to shoes that match and other accessories and handbags to work out a look that is uniquely you.

Accessibility: Is the fashion store accessible from where you are? A good fashion store will have local branches in different areas to make it easier for customers to find the items that they need. When a store goes online, then all the accessibility barriers are eliminated. There are so many benefits of shopping online among them the possibilities to shop for whatever you need from any place and at any given time. Always consider how accessible you fashion store is so that you can choose one that will come to your fashion aid when you need it the most.

Product quality: If you want to make a fashion statement, then you will need to make sure that you go for quality products. A good trustworthy fashion store will have quality products which can be evaluated by the materials they are made of. For instance, leather products tend to be more of high quality and quite durable. There are however many other factors that can be considered to determine the quality of a product.

Experience in design: The years of experience in design together with quality craftsmanship makes a store or design house that understands the business. This helps in coming up with the latest fashion trends and a huge variety of designs to suit the varying preferences. You are bound to find very unique fashion pieces from such a store.

For those who have never fancied a 9-5 desk job and have instead preferred to work on something more creative, there are several options to choose from. There is a fashion stylist for one. This job role has an artistic bend and hence, is one that's unlikely to become monotonous. Additionally, it is also quite rewarding in terms of pay.

What does a fashion stylist actually do?

We always wonder how celebrities are dressed to the tee. Their look rarely offers scope for criticism. While they do have a sense of fashion, there is always a fashion stylist working behind perfecting their look. A fashion stylist is one who works on improving outward appearances of individuals and objects. They are the ones crafting the fabulous looks we all emulate as the latest fashion trends.

There are different branches within this field. The first type of fashion stylist is a wardrobe stylist. The chief duty of this professional is to dress up individuals, including celebrities, high profile persons and performers for important social events such as press conferences, award nights and red carpet events. Wardrobe stylists also work in the entertainment industry dressing up actors for movies and television serials. There are art directors or fashion editors responsible for styling looks for advertising campaigns, magazine photo-shoots and look-books. Image consultants are also regarded as a type of fashion stylist. They work with common individuals and socialites to give them an image makeover.

Degrees and Training

There is no specific elective that will make you eligible for the job. Some background in fashion and design will help you work your way into the industry. An individual desiring to become a fashion stylist should have a Bachelor's Degree in fashion styling, fashion design, costume design or marketing and merchandise.

The degrees and electives you might need to take also depend upon the area in which you intend to seek employment. If it is in marketing and merchandise, knowledge of business is a must. Selected fashion design degrees integrate some units of business management within the design course itself, dispensing with the need for a separate business course. It covers marketing, operations and administration.

A portfolio is a display of your talent. Hence, having one is important when you go looking for a job. Most often you will have to pay to get a portfolio done. You can create a portfolio free of cost by assisting a celebrity stylist on a project.

Other Skill Requirements

Training is one aspect of landing a job as a fashion stylist. However, there is a requirement for other skills and abilities that will help you grow and succeed in this career. The first is a good fashion sense. You should have good knowledge of clothing and fashion styles, fashion trends and elements of design. You should be able to match dresses for different figures and body proportions. Not only this, an aspiring fashion stylist should be able to co-ordinate clothing, hairstyle, makeup and accessories to create a complete look. It is also necessary to be creative and innovative. You should be imaginative to know what combination works the best. At the same time, you should be confident enough to showcase and market your work to others.

The ability to market oneself and products is essential in this field. You should be communicative and social in order to get clients for your business. Having a good referral network is very crucial.

The last and most important aspect about becoming a fashion stylist is asking how much do you get paid. Unlike other professionals, stylists do not charge by the hour. They have fixed day and half-day rates. The per-day rate can range between $200 and $800. The amount you can command is influenced by factors such as training, experience, popularity and the market. Celebrity fashion stylists earn a whopping $6000 per day. You can start by working as an assistant to a seasoned stylist and then go on to set up independent practice.

A year back, while evading my Science textbook (these were the horror days before the Boards), I came across an article (I'm not naming any names) by the columnist of a reputed British publication. It was headed "Why I Hate Fashion". Following was an article outlining why the writer has long since been plagued by the ridiculously high standards and expectations of the fashion industry and it's ever changing trends. It ostracizes the industry wholly and waxes eloquent about the useless-ness of fashion media and the lack of talent of the designers.

Everything about the article pin points to the direction of what I detest about people who make judgments without understanding the intricacies. They have deluded themselves into believing that what Hayden Penetierre donned to the Oscar red carpet or what J-Lo stocks her closet with is the crux of the idea of style. Fashion, as a way to express your individuality may not be what translates into the consumerism of Topshop and Selfridges but for many of us, it's an art form that we swear by.

Admittedly, there is a shallow, superficial side to it but as Robin Givhan, the Pulitzer prize winning fashion writer once said and I quote "fashion is not innately superficial, the way is portrayed is".

And why is all the criticism aimed at fashion? Doesn't Vodafone lure you into snagging the latest prepaid scheme, LG urges you to splurge for a new flat screen, Hyundai wants to buy a new car, Penguin wants you to read the work of the new bestseller (and you're sort of obligated to do so, just to sound relevant and informed), John Mayer wants you to buy his new album, food critics want you to bring home this kind of lettuce and another kind of grapes and the list is endless! At the end of the day, the overriding fact remains that fashion is what you make of it.

If you choose to be influenced so deeply by advertisements of supermodel Coco Rocha sequined hot pants and then sit in a corner and brood and sulk about how you don't have those endless legs or that captivating a face then that eventually pin points towards your hidden insecurities and not the "evil" of the fashion industry.

Fashion, much like everything else, is really up to you. Indulge in it, or don't. But don't generalize and proclaim that anybody that believes in it as a cause is heading towards their own execution and is thoroughly unhappy "on the inside". 70% of the professionals working in the industry are not a size o and not 6 feet tall and, are by no means the size or, even to an extent the height that a multitude of digitally modified fashion magazines depict. So, just because I like to decipher the meaning of novel designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy's inspiration of Japanese horror movies to make their exquisite dresses and sweaters, you can't influence me and you can't make me feel any less capable of having a smart conversation.

Do me a favor. Step outside and go to Paris, Madrid, New York, Tokyo or even Delhi and take a look around at the men and women who take out time from their evidently busy schedules to put together a creative outfit! Whose accessorizing is no individualistic, you know something about them just by observing what they're wearing. They're real people; people with jobs, families, pets and interests.

It's sort of comical and quite sad that the writer is completely misguiding the hundrers who read her column and is trying hart to revive and reiterate the tired old myth that fashion is for the frivolous, stupid and intellectually devoid. I have friends who are Physics majors and still love Haider Ackermann. People with hopes, dreams and wishes, something that women like the writer cannot take away from them.

"Fashion is, perhaps by necessity, in a world of its own - one that only rarely overlaps with anything resembling real life. This fantasy and exoticism is part of its appeal, of course."- Vince Aletti

To people such as her, I say, go read some Robin Givhan or some Suzy Menkes, some Cathy Horyn and more recently, even some Tavi Gevinson. Watch a live Gareth Pugh or Alexander McQueen (R.I.P) show. Read Pigeons and Peacocks and i-D and Numero and Lula. See the work that Richard Avedon did, not solely for the fashion industry but for photography as an art on the whole. How he introduced movement into still life and created magic with couture and a camera. Read about the Mulleavy sisters' completely unglamorous background. I could go on. If, after doing all this you still believe that fashion is for the brainless then you're proving that you, yourself are veering towards that territory.

"Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say and not giving a damn."- Gore Vidal

I think every industry does exactly the same. I think people are more vicious about mobile phones than how people dress. Every ad will show some arch Indie type with an ironic afro walking along an idealized landscape with a retro guitar ballad behind it. I do not believe getting a Sony Ericsson phone will make me whimsical, cooler nor my friends good looking. And every ad for a car shows a suave, chiseled jaw chap in a European designer suit with no tie casually slinging his jacket over his shoulder as he remote-locks his car, having sped around some gorgeous city on one wheel with suspension like bungee ropes. I do not believe owning a car will make me that (well, obviously not male, but you know what I mean).

"Fashion is teated too much as news, rather than what it is, what it does and how it performs."- Geoffrey Beene

I find it pretty silly that the very same people who talk about fashion being a consumerist evil, designed to bring people to their knees, broke and insecure are the ones who refuse to understand fashion in it's more alternative forms. To invalidate the work of Proenza Schouler, Thakoon, Rei Kawakubo, Yohji Y, and suchlike is to insult their undeniable artistic talent.

Nobody who spent a truckload on a Botticelli or a Monet would be deemed stupid, but someone who does so on a Prada or YSL piece is undeniably so?

Let's take a more common, everyday example. Lots spend thousands on "season tickets" for sports. But if I spend the same amount on shoes, then I am frivolous and materialistic.

This ideology that everyone interested in fashion is doing the designers' bidding of the season is exactly the kind of inverse snobbery that pisses the hell out of me. Everyone has some form of fashion incorporated in their lives. Heck, Meryl Streep as the icy editor in chief of Devil Wears Prada (entertaining movie but totally misguiding, again) summed it just about right:

"This... stuff? Oh, so you think this has nothing to do with you? You... you, go to your closet and pick out, let's say that lumpy blue sweater because you're trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back. But what you don't know that that blue is not just blue, it's not turquoise or lapis, it is in fact cerulean. You are also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar de la Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns. And then I think it was Yves Saint Laurent, wasn't it, who did cerulean military jackets? And then cerulean quickly showed up in the collections of eight different designers https://thevou.com. Then it filtered down through the department stores and then trickled down into some tragic Casual Corner where you, no doubt fished it out of some clearance bin. However, that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs and so it's sort of comical how you think you've made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry, when, in fact you're wearing the sweater that was selected for you from the people in this very room. From a pile of... stuff."

People who wear combats when clogs are the "it" shoes and carry pale pink bags when studs are all the rage represent the radical chic, truly interesting side of fashion that these people are sadly, unaware of.

And the masses of chick lit books produced everyday may come across as hideous to many, but you don't see people running around screaming "OMG literature is the root of all that is wrong with the world!"

It's insane that people continue to say that consumerist fashion is worse than other commercial capitalist industry.

It's hugely unfeminist to condemn something that has helped women across the world take massive strides in society, as well.

'I don't understand it, therefore it's wrong' + a dollop of self-righteous smugness = fashion is for the brainless sheep and the industry is horrible.

Finally, let's just say that as a columnist, it's the writer's purpose to evoke varied responses and she did so. I mean, the first thing I thought upon laying my eyes on it was " WAIT... WHAT?"