Résumés and cover letters are being written late into the night hours until carpal tunnel sets in. Portfolio sites are being haphazardly thrown together to impress potential employers. And everyone is running around the city to interviews in dress clothes they’re clearly uncomfortable in.
The way I see it, the intern mayhem is not unlike the Hunger Games. You have a bunch of talented (and some not so talented) designers tossed into the ring to fight for the top spot; that being the best internship. Anything and everything for the job. I think for me what makes it a little easier is the type of internships I’m going for. Unlike a lot of other people in my major, I know exactly what I want (and I don’t mean that in a negative way towards them or anything). I have a goal, and I’ve been fortunate enough to figure out what I want early into my college career. Now, everything I do is to achieve it. And it also helps that I’m practically the only one who wants to take my design down the fashion route. All of my fellow designers seem to be applying to different design studios in Boston. That’s all well and dandy, but I don’t think it’s for me.
An art department internship at a magazine would be ideal. I feel like I really need to get some experience with publication design, as it is my intended field of practice. Editorial work is something that I’ve really come to love and have a passion for lately.
Last summer I had an internship with the popular online boutiques retailer Rue La La, and it could not have been more perfect. Every day, after an agonizing hour commuter rail train ride, I strutted into the gorgeous office passing the black lacquered Rue La La letters outside the elevator (not unlike the lettering at Vogue). A typical day started at my desk sipping an iced coffee and designing some web assets for the lovely boutiques ladies. Then I’d run downstairs to the photo studio to assist the lead art director with a photo shoot or two. After that I’d be back at my desk doing some more design work. Throw in a creative team meeting in the late afternoon once or twice a week and that was my day. I loved every minute of it. Rue is one of the very few, if not the only company that is fashion related and based totally in Boston, which is why I was so incredibly lucky to have had that opportunity. But back to the present..
There are a handful of magazines I would love to intern in Boston and New York. Boston Common Magazine, Improper Bostonian, V, VMan, the list goes on. I’ve sent in all my stuff, and now the waiting period begins.
May the odds be ever in my favor.
Just what the internet needs, right? Another fashion blog. But I’m not making this to be “tumblr famous” or anything like that. I’m doing it for me.
A little about myself.. My name is Tommy and I’m a Graphic Design major at Massachusetts College of Art and Design in bean town Boston, MA. Fashion is my life. I’m a reality TV junkie as well as unhealthily obsessed with all things Kardashian. I also spend a lot of time thinking about what my introduction line would be if I was a Real Housewife. I’m a coffee addict, and I believe that Starbucks cups are an acceptable fashion accessory. I suffer from chronic bitch face and I’m told the very truth of it. Though I don’t live there, I’m a New Yorker at heart. It’s my favorite place in the world. And lastly, I don’t like color. My wardrobe is pretty much all black and about fifty shades of grey.
So why am I interested in fashion? And if I’m attending a school where Fashion is a major, why am I not in it? The answer is simple; I want to work in publishing. The dream? Become the art director/fashion editor for a major fashion magazine.. preferably Vogue or V. Something along those lines. Lofty I know, but in my eyes, totally attainable. I set the bar really high for myself in all aspects of my life, and that’s how I like it.
I recently had a discussion with the head of the Graphic Design department, and it lead me to thinking a lot about my future. She asked if I had a blog or anything that I did to “improve my writing.” I replied no, and then got to thinking, maybe I should write one.. So here I am! Finally jumping aboard the blogger-bandwagon, even though I am more than a little late.
I’m going to use this space to write about my life. Pursuing a job in the fashion industry (or rather, preparing to pursue a job) from Boston is hard because it’s almost non-existent. I mean, sports paraphernalia and the always popular, though I’ll never know why, Uggs/sweatpants combination reign supreme. In a city ruled by college clones, where does one find a little glamour? Let me tell you, it’s not easy but I think I’m doing pretty good job so far.
The banner at the top of this post was done by the fabulous Hailey Thurrott. She’ll be doing all the illustrations to accompany my stories on here. In addition to being one of my very best friends, she’s the most talented illustrator I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. Go check out her tumblr! She’s amazing.
So this is my journey, and you’re welcome to tag along.. Starbucks and iPhone in hand.
