Irene Wang is a true fashionista. She has been preparing herself for a job in the fashion industry since she was 16 years old. She documents Purdue Fashion on Collegefashionista.com, so get cute for spring and she might catch it. She has interned in London and will be in NYC this summer! She is also always rocking a cute style and never fitting the mold, because with all her hard work and sense of style she is a sure thing in the big world of fashion!
Name: Irene Wang
Year: Junior
Major: Mass Communication
Hometown: Shanghai, China
Student activities: Association for Women in Communications
Jobs/internships:
2nd Year Student Ambassador of Center for Career Opportunities
Style Guru of CollgeFashionista.com
Fashion Editorial Intern, Beauty and the Dirt (London), Summer 2011
Media Relations and Market Strategy Intern, Syndicate Media Group
(NYC), Summer 2012
What got you interested in the fashion industry?
My mother used to be a model for fashion magazines. She subscribed ELLE and Vogue for my sweet 16th birthday, and it set the path of my obsession with those glamorous and glossy pages.
Where do you see yourself ideally in 5 years?
Ideally, I want to find a full-time job in a fashion magazine or PR agency.
Who is your favorite designer and why?
Peter Copping, designer of Nina Ricci. His design is feminine, elegant, and romantic. It is everything a girl with dreams wants.
What is your best piece of fashion advice for college girls?
College is the best time to experiment with different styles before you make a serious commitment to your signature piece, so don’t limit yourself.
What are you most excited to see in New York City?
My co-workers and my mentor/supervisor in the office. Sorry if I
sound like a workaholic, which I am, but NYC is really not a place for
tourism sightseeing after you have been there five times. Well, except
Meatpacking District and Central Park.
What advice do you have for girls interested in the fashion industry?
It is a very competitive industry. But never let this scare you. If this is really what you want to do, then be prepared to do whatever it takes to get it.