Storm Style: Where and when did you intern?

Emily Firestone: This summer I interned at Latitude Showroom NY which is a fashion showroom located in the fashion district of Manhattan. For the first four weeks, I was interning while also taking Business of Fashion courses at LIM College. For my last two weeks I interned full days.

SS: What exactly happens at a fashion showroom?

EF: A fashion showroom is pretty much a large room filled with organized racks of merchandise. The showroom represents different brands and clothing lines and the people who work in the showroom (called Account Executives) act as intermediaries between the designer and the buyers. Buyers make appointments to come to the showroom and the account executives present the buyers with different collections.

SS: What did you do on a day-to-day basis?

EF: Every day I did something different. Many days I was calling buyers of different retailers. I was often tasked with merchandising the different racks in the showroom to prepare for an appointment of buyers coming to make large orders. Throughout my time at the showroom, I was working on an individual project where I was researching different fashion bloggers based in New York City to try to promote the brands that the showroom represents. But each day included different adventures — some days I got to sit in on appointments and some days I got to dress the mannequins (which I always found to be so much fun!).

SS: What was it like living in NYC as a fashion intern?

EF: Interning in the fashion industry was pretty cool. Definitely a dream come true. I loved dressing up every day, dressing really fashion-forward. Seeing every step of the process, from when a garment is produced to when it hits the racks was astonishing. The intern life wasn’t as harsh as The Devil Wears Prada but it’s certainly not always glamorous.

SS: What did you learn from your experience interning at this showroom?

EF: I learned so much this summer! Being around people who work in the industry all the time, I picked up on different phrases and terms that the insiders use. I learned the right balance of professionalism and personality by observing the people around me! It was also really interesting to hear the stories of the different people I encountered and find out how they’ve gotten to where they are.

SS: In what ways did this inspire you in your pursuit of a career in fashion?

EF: Seeing the different jobs there are in the industry helped push me to where I want to be headed in my career in fashion. I aspire to be a fashion forecaster — which is someone who analyzes the high fashion runway shows, street fashion, and fashion history to predict the upcoming trends. But in order to succeed in any part of the industry, it is very important to understand all the different aspects of it.

SS: What would you suggest to other like-minded teenagers who want to start off in the fashion world?

EF: Well in my opinion, you’ve just got to start somewhere. If you can get to New York for an internship, begin your researching, emailing, and calling months in advance. You can try to get internships at major companies or publishers but also stay realistic and apply for smaller scale internships. At the showroom where I interned, the employees were so grateful to have me. The fashion industry relies on interns as extra sets of hands. Work hard and you will find an internship that’s right for you. If you can’t get to New York — or any other fashion capital filled with opportunities — get knowledgeable about the industry! Read articles, blogs, and magazines. That way, when the time comes for you to get a job in fashion, you will be well prepared. Like I said, you’ve got to start somewhere.

As an English teacher, I expect students to ask me how to spell complicated words (sound it out) or for an extension on their essays (no), but hands down the question I get the most is:

“Mrs. Hochner how many fedoras do you own???” 

I never know how to answer that question because the truth is, I have no idea. Counting my hats would be like you counting your shoes; a tedious task that would result in realizing that you do not actually wear half of them, and there is no fun in that.

Although now popular in mainstream culture, the term fedora was coined in a play that was first performed in 1882 and the hats were made popular by gangsters during the prohibition in the 1920s (yet another reason to love The Great Gatsby).

In places that have seasons (yes, I miss New York desperately), the leaves are changing, hot chocolate is being served, and hats are not only a trend but a necessity. A necessity that according to fabology happens to be “the answer to wind-blown hair/sweaty sheitel problems.”

Here in The Sunshine State we may not need to protect our frostbitten ears, but we have to deal with something potentially more dangerous: harmful sun rays. Shielding your face and eyes from the sun can help keep your skin looking fresh and healthy and prevent eye issues that can occur later on in life such as cataracts.

So the next time you leave your house remember to protect your skin with a cute fedora because you have nothing to lose. The worst thing that can happen is someone will think that you are me! 🙂

– Mrs. Hochner

-Francine Szerer and Eliana Linzer