Jenny Altman and I go waaay back. Back when I was fetching Starbucks, hosiery, and Double Bubble gum for my boss, the Editor-in-Chief of a major fashion magazine. I learned a lot in my position: how to write the perfect thank you note, how to de-carbofy a bagel, and how terrible of an assistant I really was! Of course I did some incredible stuff (like being Michael Kors' assistant for a magazine story & riding with Selma Blair as she and my boss went to the Costume Institute Gala at the Met). But the bevy of super-talented and beautiful women I worked with infinitely enriched my life.
Fast forward to now. I can't tell you the last time I spilled coffee on myself during a Starbucks run for someone else and now I'm organizing my own Fashion Week calendar. I'm also having tete-a-tetes with crazy-cool stylists like Jenny Altman who has worked with Fergie, Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lopez, and Cameron Diaz.
So you say you want to be a stylist? Here's how:
1. Don't study fashion. It's blunt, but true. Many people in the business turn their nose up towards people who only study fashion. HR execs prefer more broad-minded students.
2. Learn basic sewing skills and be the best ironer and steamer possible.
3. Do whatever you can to get an internship at a fashion magazine. Be the best intern you can be. Leave all humility at the door. When an editor asks for coffee, just be glad she/he knows you even exist to ask you for the coffee.
4. Bond with the fashion assistants, they are your key to a job in the industry. When your internship is over, stay in touch without being annoying.
5. Offer to assist on any shoots or help out when needed. Even if you're working for free, it shows your dedication and enthusiasm.
5. It's important to be around and be seen. "Out of sight, out of mind" is very true in this business, so you need to stay fresh in everyone's mind for when they do need an assistant.
6. Try to become a full-time stylist's assistant (whether they are a freelance stylist or magazine stylist).
7. Keep quiet when you are on a shoot; remember it's their shoot not yours. Your input and opinion are not necessary.
8. Make sure you have good credit and a credit card you can use for lots of buys and returns.
Come back tomorrow for the rest of Jenny's tips on how to become a fashion stylist!
