This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Skidmore chapter.
Ileana Paules-Bronet ’15 in one of her own designs: lips tank top.
Skidmore collegiette Ileana knows good fashion, and has the resume to prove it. In addition to working as a Her Campus Skidmore Contributing Writer (check out her articles here!), Ileana writes for CollegeFashion, writes her own blog, and designs clothes that she sells in Saratoga and in her own Etsy shop. We caught up with the fashion-savvy writer to get all of her tips and insider info on breaking into the business!
What got you interested in fashion?
It’s hard to say exactly, but I only really got into fashion at the end of high school and mostly since I’ve been at college. My mom is one of the most stylish people I know, though, so she has definitely influenced my love of fashion and my style a lot.
How would you describe your style?
I would describe my style as girly and edgy – I really like wearing things that are more street style and mixing them with flirty, fun pieces. I love leather, but then I also love pink and tulle and everything sparkly, so I’d say my style is a pretty eclectic mix of princess-y and badass.
How did you get involved in CollegeFashion and what do you do for them?
I got involved with CollegeFashion this summer. I’ve been reading the blog for a few years and every semester they put out a call for new writers, so I thought it sounded like a great opportunity. I sent in an application, which was pretty easy, and found out a little while later that I got the job. It’s been really fun and I’ve been able to make some great connections. (Check out her CollegeFashion posts here!)
We’ve heard that you design clothing and sell some of it downtown. What types of clothing do you make and where can we buy them?
Yeah, I sell clothes at Yellow Boutique, which is right on Broadway! Basically I buy plain clothes from chain stores (Forever 21, H&M, etc.) and then I decorate them with fabric paint. I have a signature design that I’ve been doing since 8th grade, so that’s usually what I do. I originally decorated pottery and then transitioned to clothes about a year ago.
[pagebreak]
How did you go about selling your clothing in stores? Did you approach the stores or did they approach you?
I approached them. I saw that they had some handmade clothes in the store, so I asked about selling my things there. The owner was really welcoming and had me bring some things in to show her, and then she started buying them from me and selling them on consignment.
One of Ileana’s designs
You’ve recently started your own blog, “Sometimes I Wear Tiaras.” What made you want to start blogging? What kind of content do you like to post?
I’ve been thinking about blogging for a while, but never really had the motivation to start one – it’s kind of scary to put your stuff out there on the internet for anyone to read. I finally decided to do it earlier this fall and I’ve really enjoyed it. I like to post things that I think about – sometimes they’re funny and silly and sometimes they’re a little more serious, but for the most part I like to write things that I think other people will like to read.
Do you have any plans for your future in fashion, fashion journalism, or otherwise?
As far as fashion goes, I have a store on Etsy, where I sell my clothes in addition to Yellow, and I’ll be showing my clothes in the Ujima Fashion Show in the spring (even though I’ll be abroad). I’d really love to get involved in fashion journalism, but that’s still kind of all up in the air right now, like the rest of my future plans.
What advice do you have for students who are interested in pursuing fashion design or fashion journalism?
My best advice is to go after what you want. Don’t sit around and wait for people to approach you; being proactive pays off. I would never have gotten to sell my clothes at Yellow if I hadn’t asked, and my blog would never have gotten big if I hadn’t started it (and annoyingly shared every single post on Facebook). Another thing I’d say is don’t be afraid of criticism. Anytime you put yourself out there, you make yourself susceptible to criticism. You just have to take it all with a grain of salt and be able to laugh at yourself, because it’s worth it in the end.
