Fashion Jobs Descriptions and Fashion Careers

April 2, 2012 | Author: | Posted in Fashion

Deciding upon one out of many fashion jobs can be a challenging venture. There are quite a few different opportunities in the fashion industry but you may not be sure which one is best for you. With the high demand for fashion jobs, you need to be sure of what it is that you want to do so you can get started on pursuing your dream in this competitive industry. Below you will find descriptions for numerous fashion jobs and, preferably, be one step closer to establishing your career in the fashion industry.

1. Fashion Designer

Thanks to shows like Project Runway, there are numerous people whose curiosity has been spiked towards the fashion industry, specifically, fashion design. A career as a fashion designer seems thrilling and rewarding but it takes lots of work. A fashion designer must be knowledgeable of the latest trends (and sometimes even be ahead of them) and have the imagination to contemplate 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 in order to create samples that show what the final product would look like. As a fashion designer you can specialize in clothing design, footwear or accessories. Fashion jobs like that of a fashion designer are prolonged with grueling hours of rigorous work and lots of traveling if you want to promote your designs. Fashion designers work under pressure to meet deadlines and make an impression on fashion buyers and other potential clients. As a fashion designer you would need not only talent and creativity but also thick skin and determination.

3. Fashion Merchandiser

Fashion jobs in merchandising can be very difficult. A fashion merchandiser must know what consumers really want, how to present it to them, what they want to pay for it and how to appeal to them to purchase. A fashion merchandiser is not just an expert in fashion but must also have strong business, financial and advertising abilities. As a fashion designer you might find yourself creating budgets, tracking profits and losses, tracking inventory, developing marketing strategies and even putting together creative visual displays to draw in consumers. It’s a career that involves many different roles but also has many opportunities to build and advance in.

3. Fashion Buyer

Fashion buyers are among the most crucial people for brands and companies. They must have very good communication skills, be aggressive, organized and driven. As a fashion buyer you work hand in hand with designers, merchandisers and various key people to select what pieces to present to consumers and ensure that best-sellers are always available. Buyers must be knowledgeable of of both current and future trends so they can make the right choices of clothing, shoes, accessories, etc. to ensure high profits. Working with suppliers to negotiate prices means that a fashion buyer must have good interpersonal skills, be educated in market costs and also in consumer demands. Fashion buyers must be prepared to work under pressure, travel and research and analyze in order to make clever decisions on what products to offer their target customer base.

4. Fashion Directing

Fashion directors, commonly known as creative directors or fashion coordinators, are in charge of the image and look of a store, magazine or a fashion house. They are accountable for that first impression given when people look at ad campaigns, shoots and even fashion films. A fashion director must be certain that the models, photographers, location and concepts signify the store, brand, or magazine in the best and most precise way. One of the most well known creative directors in the industry is Grace Coddington who, alongside Anna Wintour and other industry professionals, are a part of American Vogue. In the documentary “The September Issue” we are able to see Coddington showing us her best work and the steps she takes to produce the wonderful spreads in Vogue. Now, don’t think it will be a snap landing one of these fashion jobs. Be prepared for long hours of work, creative stumps, frequent traveling, crazy deadlines, and being willing to go back to the drawing board time and time again. Remember, as a fashion director you are responsible for the image of a brand; you produce something that the whole world will notice. People will base their feedback on what you present to them. As one of the top fashion jobs in the industry, the pressure is on!

Fashion Jobs – So Many Choices

5. Fashion Forecasting

Probably one of the highest ranking careers in the fashion industry, fashion forecasters do just that, forecast the imminent trends and styles. This is much more sophisticated than forecasting the weather. Not only does a fashion forecaster need to have thorough knowledge of fashion but he or she must also be creative and encompass the skills necessary to research and analyze potential trends, colors, fabrics and patterns. Fashion forecasters seek motivation in everything from movies, music, even science and technology. Obtaining a position as a fashion forecaster is one of the most prestigious of all fashion jobs you could aspire to.

6. Fashion Stylist

A fashion stylist has the basic (or is it?) task of making someone look good. A stylist must be familiar with what colors, fabrics and styles work best to compliment someone’s shape while also knowing ways that to accessorize and finish the perfect outfit. Fashion stylists are responsible for picking the best pieces for photoshoots, events, etc. and putting them together for the final product. A stylist’s reputation lies on how good the client looks and, in the case of ad campaigns, whether or not 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 inspiration or shopping for clothing, or even spending a day (or a few) revamping a client’s closet. Finding fashion jobs for stylists can be as easy as working as a personal shopper or styling photoshoots for websites or local magazines or newspapers.

7. Fashion Photographer

It’s not just about knowing exactly how to take a good picture. Fashion photographers basically have two fields to be good at: fashion and photography. The photography part consists of knowing what angles, lighting, etc. As far as the fashion, photographers have to be experts in that as well. A fashion photographer should always know what the the best trends are, top designers, top fashion events and any other heavy hitter aspects of the industry. Fashion jobs in this field can involve taking pictures for model portfolios, ad 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 goes to shoot at a fashion show he or she must know exactly when to snap the shot of that model wearing the flowing dress. The picture must showcase how the fabric moves and flows instead of showing a dress that falls limp and drags 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 sending a visual message.

8. Fashion Editors

Fashion editors manage the direction of a fashion publication, website and other media. They are trusted for editing a fashion writer’s work, making suggestions, and evaluating the possibilities of future stories. Fashion writers must be aware of trends and classics to assure that coverage is provided for the target audience. A fashion editor works under the pressure of meeting deadlines, supervising writers, picking out features and unique ideas all while staying current on the industry and scanning the competition. Some of the qualities necessary for one of these fashion jobs are being organized, punctual, able to communicate verbally and have impecable writing and journalistic skills. Being one of the most competitive fashion jobs in the industry, a fashion editor must be ready to put some time and energy in and spend long nights brewing up good quality, creative content.

9. Fashion Writing

Being a fashion writer is not as quick as picking up a pen and paper (or laptop, tablet, etc.) but requires extensive amounts of research. Fashion writers is required to be current on their knowledge of fashion and creative when drumming up writing ideas. Needless to say, remarkable writing skills are a must and meeting deadlines are also very important in this career. Fashion writers can carryout interviews, cover fashion events and produce reviews of products. You have a choice of working as a freelance writer, with television shows, websites, blogs, smaller publications such as local magazines and newspapers or with major publications such as Vogue or Elle, among others. This is one of those fashion jobs where you can find many opportunities and can be fairly simple to get started.

10. Fashion PR Jobs

Creating a great consumer opinion is of the utmost importance for this fashion job. Where advertising and marketing can create a consumer desire to purchase a distinct fashion item, public relations manages the image in its relation to the public eye. Public opinion can quantify the success and longevity of a company. Out of all the fashion jobs mentioned, fashion pr is the piece that ties it all together

Fashion Jobs Are Not Easy!

Whatever one of these fashion jobs you decide to make your career, remember that in such a cut-throat industry it’s important to put in a great deal of hard work and to be determined. All employers look for something that make their next hire special and capable of making their publication, line, show, or website shine amongst the rest. What is it that you have to offer that others don’t have? How motivated are you? Tell us, which one of these fashion jobs appeal to you the most?

If you would like to learn more about fashion jobs and possibly fashion jobs or fashion merchandising you should visit Fashion Jobs List.

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