It is important to research, explore and identify career paths in fashion that you like before making the plunge. Conducting informational interviews, shadowing, and interning are all great ways to explore career paths in fashion before jump starting or changing careers.
Ensure prime real estate, product assortment, and appropriate standards and staffing for retail stores
Compile customer profiles, product requests, retail sales and merchandise needed to establish the ideal product assortment within the store
Create merchandising strategies to ensure product sell-thru
Personal Shopper
Exhibit strong interpersonal skills which reflect confidence
Service the customer by pre-selecting merchandise for a variety of clients
Show the consumer how to combine fashion items to enhance personal and/or professional images
Plan and manage a client’s wardrobe and purchases
Showroom Coordinator
Maintain visual presentation of showroom
Keep line organized
Maintain sample log for styles being borrowed
Beauty Business
Beauty Account Coordinator
Travel frequently for special and promotional events, as well as for trade shows and conferences
Plan and conduct cosmetics and/or fragrance special events
Interact with a diverse group of models, sales associates, retail executives, and customers
Hire and train employees in the beauty industry
Develop and implement procedures to monitor productivity and streamline internal processes
Beauty Advisor
Represent a cosmetic line in a department, specialty, or discount store
Provide customer consultation
Exhibit strong knowledge of the product line and individual item uses and benefits
Perform make-up and skin care demonstrations
Marketing Coordinator
Prepare written materials including website copy, annual reports, client profiles, proposals, brochures, email news alerts, press releases and other publications
Coordinate internal and external communications
Assist in the planning and executing strategies to the public and print and non-print media
Provide support to the marketing department and assist staff in developing and preparing marketing materials
Media
Fashion Forecaster
Interpret and evaluate what is current and trend-setting internationally
Develop written fashion forecast reports for designers, retail and textile buyers
Predict long-range fashion trends
Act as an informational fashion resource for designers, buyers, and members of the press
Fashion Editor
Travel to fashion shows, presentations, video productions, catalog shoots around the world
Analyze the global fashion scene and interpret it for readers
Sample and select the fashion items that will be featured in articles
Determine the direction; set the tone; and control the quality of a publication’s content
Communicate frequently with designers, buyers, stylists, publicists, and other trend-setting professionals
Costume Design
Costume Designer
Create costumes for the theater, film, and television
Work closely with the Director and Producer to enhance their productions
Perform research analysis to authenticate fashions that represent the time period
Determine the selection of garments
Oversee model and actor fittings
Perform sketching duties
Develop the design concept for the project
Costumer / Film & Television
Shop retail stores, manufacturers plants, fashion designer studios to pull clothing from existing collections
Make certain that the models and actors are dressed appropriately for each shot / scene
Maintain wardrobe stock
Work on the set with models and actors
Wardrobe Stylist
Coordinate wardrobe to support and show off products or to enhance the film project
Trend research
Shop for clothes for commercials, tv projects, film, and private clients
Apparel Manufacturing
Entrepreneur
Produce a business plan
Secure funding
Own your own business
Define and drive the creative vision of your company
Establish successful business models and best practices to ensure success
Develop a reputation for excellence in fashion design and manufacturing
Create high visibility with an understanding of design, manufacturing, branding, retailing, product development and licensing
Work with all staff and independent contractors
Merchandiser
Work with the design staff to develop and execute merchandising plans for a specific or multiple set of product lines
Develop a skill set that includes product development, seasonal calendar trend
etting strategies, company profitability tactics, and fashion planning
Analyze competitive wholesale and retail business
Develop seasonal merchandising plan
Maintain a high level of creativity
Sales Representative
Visit key stores to establish a one-on-one relationship with the retailer
Ensure stock is in a presentable condition
Set up Sales Events and new fashion deliveries following store manager directives
Provide consistent feedback and outstanding customer service to stores
Conduct seasonal training seminars for sales associates and store managers
Motivate store sales staff to sell the product[s]
Develop new business prospects
Interact with existing customers to increase sales of the organization’s products and/or services
Travel nationwide
Maintain fashion savvy knowledge of product
Showroom Manager
Organize designer’s / manufacturer's collections
Show the line to buyers, print and non-print media
Handle multiple accounts
Take inventory of the merchandise
Process orders
Motivate the sales force
Establish a strong working relationship with department and specialty store buyers
Present line to print and non-print media
Visual Communication
Fashion Director
Work with sales directors to market and give presentations to retailers and clothing manufacturers
Provide design direction to design teams of multiple brands
Ensure a creative and inspirational awareness of market trends of fabrics, colors, silhouettes, and styling
Provide information reports and strategic planning to Senior Management
Exhibit exemplary people management and interpersonal skills
Travel extensively
Event Coordinator
Conceive, plan, develop, and coordinate all aspects of events
Execute precision and detail orientation from pre-event activities to post-event follow up
Interact with a variety of independent contractors such as caterers, prop houses, publications departments, celebrity agents, etc.
Handle logistics for print and non-print media, celebrity appearances, internal and external guests
Fashion Show Coordinator
Produce and direct live and video fashion shows
Develop fashion show concept; design storyboards; write script; determine music needs
Conduct auditions and fitting with models
Choreograph entire show including staging, music, and lighting
Participate in all promotional activities duties and functions
Public Relations Coordinator
Conceptualize and direct public relations and tradeshow activities
Direct and implements a company’s public relation strategies
Arrange tours, set up appointments for new product introductions, and follow up on day-to-day activities of events and promotions
Develop close relationships with print and non-print media representatives
Generate positive publicity to enhance the reputation of the client[s]
Provide news for the mass media journalists, as well as independent contractors
Manage media relations, announcements, editorial placement, and speaking engagements
Write press releases; hire models; book photographers
Handle requests for information and interviews
Create and develop special events programs
Manage multiple projects simultaneously
Stylist
Organize and direct fashion show productions
Work with the Advertising Department to select the appropriate props to be used in photos
Strategize with Special Events personnel to select fashions and accessories to be used in videos, tv, movies and live performances
Prepare fashion merchandise for photographic representation using print or non-print media
Coordinate wardrobe for personal clients, celebrities, and models
Product Development
Merchandiser
Plan product categories
Determine the merchandising budget and set sales goals
Establish markup targets and potential profitability
Plan and direct all aspects of an organization’s product development policies, objectives, and initiatives
Research new products, product enhancements, and product redesigns
Evaluate the potential and practicality of products in development
Determine the quality level and price points for the goods to be carried
Provide information reports and strategic planning to Senior Management
Product Designer / Product Specialist
Participate in the conceptual development of all product lines
Provide direction for color, silhouette, fabric and trim stories
Maintain responsibility for the entire product design process including market research, mood board creation, design processes, sketching, specing, and fit