Chloé, Miu Miu, Versace, Loewe, Stella McCartney. It’s like music to my fashion-loving ears. I walked the streets of NYC this summer, arms carefully balancing designer bags galore — shopping bags stuffed with $1,500 Miu Miu boots, thousands of dollars worth of Prada, overflowing Chloé bags — it was a dream come true. The girl from Confessions of a Shopaholic would’ve been seething with jealousy at the sight of me, except for the horrifying fact that none, and I mean not one piece, was for me (that wasn’t even a thought that crossed my mind as I returned to my boss’s office, home of a celebrity stylist and her many minion interns). In fact, I was beyond thrilled to be working for a stylist — it was my Devil Wears Prada dream come true, the evils of Miranda Priestly included. Despite feeling as though I scored with this internship, the realities of the fashion industry kicked in within two months. Here are some of the real Andy learning moments I had this summer, all proof that the devil definitely does wear Prada (and her behind-the-scenes stylist is the one responsible for getting that Prada from New York to the Hamptons in less than four hours for a styling shoot).
Fashion means a lot of unpaid, crazed internship work.
It’s true what they say — to get into the fashion industry, you’ll most likely have to start with a pretty gruesome, unpaid internship. I faced this struggle with my position as an unpaid styling intern, a harsh truth that dug deep when I was running around the city, sweat dripping down my back, with designer shopping bags digging into my arms. It’s never ideal, especially as a university student. Still, the many experiences I gained from this internship were priceless, whether it was creating mock looks for real celebrity Emmy outfits or learning the insane organization required to be a stylist (you wouldn’t be able to imagine the racks and racks of dazzling dresses and designer clothes that filled the office). The learning curves were totally worth it, but they came at the expense of working overtime, visiting the tailor 30 minutes uptown 4 times in one day, and running errands for 5 hours straight. Fellow interns complained, as is expected, but I learned the most straightforward method was to keep my head down and enjoy the hard work — after all, I got to walk into Miu Miu and Chloé and be handed boxes and boxes of shoes; whether or not they were for me, it was pretty cool.
Sometimes you’ll accidentally take home the company AMEX — it will not be a good experience.
After 8 hours of running around the city, exhausted and hungry, weak from holding bags all day, the train ride home is the most divine period of relaxation… except when you realize that the company AMEX is still in your wallet and you don’t work again until Monday (it’s Thursday). And while the weekend is near, stylists are often working days too (fashion never rests), which means you’ll likely have to spend 4 hours getting the company AMEX back to the office for a client purchase. It’ll probably ruin your day, having to answer three calls from your 24-year-old boss knowing you’re in trouble, but you’ll learn to always double-check your wallet. While this may seem like an inapplicable learning experience, it taught me that I’ll often make mistakes, but taking responsibility and rectifying the situation is the best next step. It doesn’t mean you’ll be fired (although you may spend the next 2 days thinking you are), but you should probably take better care going forward. Especially within the fashion industry, celebrities, 24-year-old bosses, stylists, and designers are tough. Everyone is, really, but when you meet the right people, and you’re standing backstage at a fashion show or steaming clothes for a celebrity shoot, it becomes worth it. You know that you’re an essential piece to something bigger, a part of a global industry. These moments will remind you that it’s often not that serious, and sometimes, all you can do is take a step back — maybe you did take the company card home, but the world keeps spinning.
Working for a stylist is a reality check in many, many ways.
Not only did I experience the fashion industry in a new, fantastic way, but I also began to see celebrities and celebrity styling in a new light. After spending an entire week buying designer clothing for one celebrity and her 14-year-old daughter, I started to wonder whether the fashion industry needs more sustainability experts and fewer celebrity consumers. Truly, I was shocked to see just how much one person could spend on clothes and the effect of this behavior on the environment. It taught me to be more intentional about my spending and to shift my perspective on designer companies. While I adore the craft behind brands and the artistry that goes into designer clothing, my thoughts about designer items shifted from these experiences. As I lost interest in the generic Prada purse or the Goyard that everyone else sports, I came to value the uniquely crafted designer pieces more. I learned that moving forward, I would never be the person spending $104,000 on random designer pieces in one week (insane numbers, I know), but instead I’d carefully consider and purchase intentionally, even with the smaller buys.
Fake it Till You Make It
Whether it be pretending you know how to use Photoshop and googling every silly question you have, or learning to use Excel on the spot, internships and experiences require adaptability and a sprinkle of fake confidence. By any means, don’t be afraid to ask questions; many bosses look for this quality in interns, but fake confidence can also take you far when you find yourself stuck. I recommend saying ‘yes’ and learning along the way — I consider myself somewhat of an expert in Photoshop, Canva, CapCut, and Excel after this summer. However, I’d never used some of these platforms before my internships. I stepped up and offered to create posters and lookbooks even when I doubted I had the skills, but I asked questions and figured out the rest. It may not always be the solution, but there’s no harm in faking it and figuring it out – you’re likely more savvy than you give yourself credit for.
While these are only a small fraction of experiences and learning moments from my summer, they were monumental in my experience of the fashion industry and taught me essential life lessons. It was scary, and often challenging, but I learned an inexplicable amount by taking the leap (and the internship). I was in awe of the effort and craft of styling, and the respect that’s earned with hard work and adaptability. The fashion industry is just as complex and challenging as it seems, but the people can be lovely (my bosses were more angel than devil, in all honesty, they were great — no Miranda Priestly allegations here) and the passion behind the fashion is more than just inspiring. If you want to pursue a career in fashion, don’t be discouraged — just be prepared to work hard, learn a lot, and put yourself out there. The devil’s hidden in the sweaty PR runs and hours of shopping errands, but fashion is still fashion, and the devil also means a trip to Prada.