My NYFW Experience - Round II

We are in the midst of fashion month and I was lucky enough to work some shows during New York Fashion Week again! Last season, I was interning at one of the top fashion PR agencies, PR Consulting. With them, I had my first fashion week experience. I was able to work a bunch of SS '12 shows and even work the Versace x H&M event a few months later! This season, they asked me to come back and help out with some preparation and work some shows again. Of course, I excitedly accepted!

Zero + Maria Cornjeo invite

Stunning color and movement at Zero + Maria Cornjeo

Love the makeup case in the gift bags at Milk Studios

My favorite part of this experience was working the Narciso Rodriguez show because it was part of Mercedez Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center! Somehow, all of the other shows I have worked in the past were all held at Milk Studios and other outside locations. While there is definitely an amazing, unique element to a show at an outside location, I was excited to work one at MBFW because it is the essentially epicenter of NYFW.

Having these will never get old.



Empty theatre at MBFW before Narciso Rodriguez

Final walk at Narciso Rodriguez

Everything at Lincoln Center was amazing and super organized! The entrance and lounge area is a fashion-lover's heaven! Plus, MBFW has select volunteers to help with preshow setup, which makes it a lot easier on the PR staff. A show at The Stage of MBFW is an amazing experience. The venue is huge and the stadium seating creates such a cool effect. While I am so grateful for every fashion show opportunity that I have, this is definitely one that will not be forgotten!

Until next time Fashion Week...

I am so thankful that PR Consulting let me come back and intern with them again for FW '12 New York Fashion Week. I learn so much with every new experience that I get and have so much fun just being in the Fashion Week atmosphere! London Fashion Week has since wrapped up and now we are on to Milan before finishing with Paris! I am really looking forward to seeing what all of the designers show.

Do you have any questions about what it's like to work a fashion show?

PR Couture

A few weeks ago, a feature was done about me on a wonderful site called PR Couture. They have a section called "Getting IN" where they interview interns who are just starting out in the PR industry about their experiences. I was lucky enough to get asked and love the finished product! I have the link posted in the "Features" section of the blog, but here it is again incase you haven't checked it out yet:

http://www.prcouture.com/2012/01/24/getting-in-fashion-pr-internships-with-prada-pr-consulting/

"There is no “off” switch for PR. Everyone in the industry is basically always working and you always have to be accessible and ready to handle anything at any given moment. -Ashley Santucci"

Are You a Part of the Intern Nation?

I just finished reading the book Intern Nation by Ross Perlin and it was certainly interesting to say the least! This book is basically the first exposé about the world of internships. It delves into the "darker" side of internships to debate what is actually legal vs. illegal and to discuss the widening gap between those who can afford to do internships and those who cannot.

Now, full disclosure: this book is NOT for everyone. The author has some strong opinions on internships (he is a former intern himself, FYI) and I don't agree with everything that he says. However, we have all either had a bad internship experience, or have heard about one. Regardless of your individual view on internships, the system for interns in America is definitely flawed and can use many changes. Either way, I feel that this book is a must-read for future/current/former interns because it is important to be knowledgeable about this industry that we are a big part of.

What I personally found most interesting about the book was the discussion of those who can afford to do internships, especially ones that are unpaid, and those who cannot. Many of our peers are missing out on gaining the valuable experience that we have because they (and their families) simply don't have the money to fund poorly paid, or more likely unpaid, internships. The author states that internships may be the best way to launch a career but those who cannot afford it may, "languish in an underworld of menial, low-wage work, trapped under a new glass ceiling or spirited away from particular professions. Internships are dividing us." He also speculates that today's interns will control critical professions and hold the top positions of power, while those who did not get the opportunity to intern will, "remain trapped in the basement of American life."

Although the author feels that the interning system needs serious changes, he does recognize the idea that internships are no longer an option - they are a necessity! That is something that I certainly felt throughout college and even more so and I come closer to graduation. I'm hoping that all of my internships and experience pays off in the end and that I am able to land an amazing job that I love!

What are your views on the current American internship system?

My New York Fashion Week Experience

This semester, I am interning for one of the top fashion PR agencies in New York. Because of this, I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to work at a few New York Fashion Week SS '12 shows! I am so grateful to have had this experience, no matter how exhausting it was. Normally, I sit at home or at the computer lab at school glued to the computer watching the livestream of shows or looking through all of the Style.com pictures. Instead, this time around, I got to be involved in the action!



Before the Proenza Schouler Show (I'm the third from the right in the center group)
Pic from The Daily Beast


I started my internship two weeks before MBFW began. So, I was able to see much of the preparations involved. I got to help with going through show request e-mails and sending the mass "yes" or "no" responses as well as helping adjust the seating charts. One of the biggest projects was delivering the invitations. Most of the editor invites went through a messenger service, but the invites that were going to editors from foreign publications had to be delivered to their hotels right before fashion week began. So, all of us interns trekked around the rainy city for three days to complete this mission. Totally exhausting, but totally worth it.

When it actually came time for Fashion Week, I was beyond excited. The day of each show consisted of making the press books, taping down the seating chart, and making sure we had everything together and ready to go. When we got to each show, I got to help tape down seating cards, put out programs, and help with gift bags. One part that I loved during set up, was watching the run throughs. Watching a run through complete with everything but the clothes just makes you so pumped up for the real thing. Once guests started arriving, it was my job to help everyone find their proper seats and eliminate as much confusion as possible. This was probably my favorite part aside from watching the actual show. I was in awe having the most amazing people in the fashion industry right around me... and asking me for help!



Me and another intern at the Proenza Schouler show


The first show that I was able to help at was Altuzarra. Way to start off my fashion week with a bang, right? This show had such a fun tropical jungle theme to it. The clothes, backdrop, and the tribal beat music created an amazing atmosphere that felt almost like another world. Tribal and tropical ended up being two of the weeks biggest trends too! I was also lucky enough to see in person Anna Wintour, Bee Shaffer, Leigh Lezark, Giovanna Battaglia, Emmanuelle Alt, Anna Dello Russo (who I'm obsessed with), Carine Roitfeld, and others. Oh, and I got to see Arizona Muse, Fei Fei Sun, AND Karolina Kurkova walk in the show. One word: fierce!



My favorite look from Altuzarra on Style.com


The next show that I worked was Zero + Maria Cornejo. This show was held at Milk Studios which was a major Fashion Week venue. The whole "MADE" for Milk Studios scene was really cool - and I even got free Luna Bars and Vita Coco Coconut Water because they were sponsors. Awesome! This show had a completely different vibe than the first show, but it was still totally amazing in a different way. The collection was filled with gorgeous draping and bright colors (another huge trend). Additionally, the incredible Bill Cunningham was here. He was the cutest and nicest thing ever in person which makes his talent that much better for me.



My favorite look from Zero + Maria Cornejo on Style.com


The last show that I worked was Proenza Schouler. I repeat, Proenza Schouler. I could have died happy after attending that show. The crowd was absolutely incredible. Seriously, Anna Wintour, Grace Coddington (nbd, just my idol), RACHEL ZOE!, Alexa Chung, Jessica Stam, Tory Burch, Pharrell, Lynn Yaeger, and Alicia Keys. I was in fashion heaven. The show itself was unreal. Proenza also showed a tribal theme and the mix of color and texture was amazing. My favorite pieces were the last few dresses which were bright, embroidered, sparkly, and STUNNING. Being at this show was like an out of body experience.





Too hard to pick just one ... My two favorite looks from Proenza Schouler on Style.com



I had such an amazing, exhausting, and fun first experience with fashion week. It was so memorable and taught me so much. Watching a fashion show live is such an exhilarating experience and I hope that I get to attend many more in the future!

Tips For Staying Organized

It's that time again... back to school! I'm always so conflicted at this time of year. Part of me is so disappointed that summer is over, yet another part of me is excited for a new year and new classes. This year is especially exciting because I am a senior! In addition to my senior year of college, I have taken on another internship at one of the top fashion PR firms in New York City. In order to keep myself semi-sane, I have to be VERY organized. I'm sure many of you have very busy schedules as well between school, internships, sports, clubs, sororities, etc. So, if you're in the market for some helpful organizational tips... look no further!




Michael Kors Watch

 Get a watch! I repeat... get a watch! Not only can they be very stylish, but they are also super practical. I know we live in the age of technology and we all have cell phones that tell us the time, but hear me out. A watch will always be right on your wrist so you can glance at it at a moments notice. Also, your cell phone battery can die! Having a watch on at all times can truly help to keep you on time and less stressed. This helps with organization because if you are always on schedule, you'll have more time to get other things done.

Post-it Flags

Post-it Flags! These little guys are honestly life savers! Whether I'm marking up a to-do list, reading through a textbook, or taking notes at my internship, these can always come in handy. They are so versatile and help you to mark off and remember important things. I love them because they come in a variety of colors so you can color-code your reminders for different parts of your life. Also, they are small enough to carry around with you and not take up too much space.

Vera Bradley Student Agenda

Use a calendar. Whether it is the calendar in your phone, on your MacBook, or your planner, it is important to write down everything that you have to do. Remembering everything can be difficult, so writing things down lets you keep room in your brain for those new Lady Gaga lyrics. I like to write down homework assignments and when they are due, important events for my internship, as well as club meetings and dates with my friends. I don't want to forget anything that I have to do, so writing it down helps me to remember as well as schedule my time.

Marc Jacobs Small Canvas Tote

Use the same bag for school every day. It makes it a lot easier to find things if you know right where to look. If you're constantly switching your school or work bag, it is also easier for things to get lost. Bonus: if you have a super cute bag, you won't mind using it every day! For this year, I picked up a cute Marc Jacobs tote in NYC to carry all of my school books in.

Some other tips:
- I am a big fan of the "to-do" list. It keeps me organized on a day-to-day basis. Plus, nothing is more satisfying then crossing something off the list that is completed!
- Try color coding your notebooks/binders/folders/etc per class. It makes finding things a lot easier!
- Mentally go over what you have planned for the next day in your head before you go to sleep. It also helps to get everything together and even pick out an outfit the night before if possible.

What are some other tricks that you use to stay organized?

Top Five: Tips for Internship Interviews

First, let me preface this post by stating that by no means do I consider myself to be an expert on the interview process. I am clearly still an intern and I do not know it all. I make just as many mistakes as the next person. However, I have been on many internship interviews over the past few years and I have picked up quite a few tips. Also, I was lucky enough to have the chance at my current internship to sit in on some internship interviews which provided me with a unique take on the process.

Summer internships are ending and interviews for Fall are happening right now! So, here are my top five tips for internship interviews:



Picture: CollegeFashion.net



1. Always be on time. This may seem obvious, but even being a few minutes late can ruin your chances. The person that you are interviewing with is most likely super busy and won't wait around for you to show up. I find arriving about 15 minutes early is perfect. Early enough to show you're reliable, but not TOO early.

2. Always have extra copies of your resume handy. During one interview I sat in on, a girl only had one copy of her resume available. I like to print out about five because sometimes there are multiple people in an interview at once. Having extras also allows me to keep one copy on my lap to reference. Additionally, make sure the copies are NEAT! This girl pulled the single resume from her bag and it was completely crumpled. Carrying your resumes in a folder not only keeps them neat, but also makes you look more professional.

3. Always do research and have knowledge of the company. This is extremely important! It is essential to have background knowledge of the company before you go into the interview. At the very least, know what the company does, have a basic idea of the firm's history, and know the names of key people at the company. For a PR firm it is very important to also know who their clients are and for a designer, it is imperative that you can talk about their recent collections. Great ways to find information are to look at their website, find them on social media sites, and to do a basic Google search. There is nothing worse than going into an interview unprepared!

4. Always have a question or two ready. There should be no awkward silence at the end of the interview when they ask, "Do you have any questions?" Be ready to fill that space! Even if all of your main questions were answered during the interview, it is still important to ask one to show that you are truely interested. Some great examples are, "What has been your favorite part about working here" and "What is the daily office environment like?" These show that you are interested in the person's background as well as trying to picture yourself working at the company.

5. Always give a firm handshake. At the very end make sure you stand up straight with confidence, look the person in the eye, give them a firm handshake, and sincerely thank them for taking the time out of their day to meet with you. I've seen girls walk out of interviews without a giving a handshake and they looked seriously rude!

The time after your interview is just as important! I feel that a follow up "thank you" e-mail should be sent immediately for an internship, although some people think a hand written note should be sent as well. Either way, a letter addressed to your interviewer should be sent thanking them and reminding them just how interested you are. Remember, no follow up and you probably won't get the job!

PS: If you are still looking for a Fall internship, I suggest you check out InternQueen (@InternQueen), Ed2010 (@Ed2010News), Free Fashion Internships (@FashionIntern), Internships.com ( @internships), and the website/Twitter of the companies you would like to intern with! Good luck!

What are some other internship interview tips that I didn't mention?

How I'm Using Social Media to My Advantage

Image: Little Bits of Lovely

Although many people may argue that right now is a super scary time to be entering the workforce (hello, terrible economy), I find that it is a very exciting time as well! As young adults and interns, we have an incredible amount of information and resources available to us through social media.

Industries like fashion and PR change constantly, so it is important to always be up to date on information. Also, I check my Twitter often because I learn so much from all of the people that I follow. Using social media such as Twitter, Facebook, and Blogs to your advantage is another way to always be one step ahead.

So, I decided to come up with a list of the Twitters and Blogs that I find most helpful as a fashion/PR intern:


DKNY: This is the official Twitter of a DKNY PR girl. This is a must-follow for PR hopefuls such as myself, because she is constantly tweeting relevant content about her field and offering up tips for others. She also has a great blog which can be found here.

OscarPRGirl: This is similar, but it is the Twitter of a PR girl for Oscar de la Renta. She also is a frequent Twitter-user and dishes out her own great advice. To top it all off, she has a gorgeous Tumblr that I can spend hours on!

nycPRgirls: This is the Twitter of three 20-something PR girls who live in New York City. They are super informative, as well a friendly! Their website is addicting and it is packed full of fun things like neighborhood guides of NYC, monthly PR TwitterTips, and helpful interview suggestions! This is an essential follow for a NYC intern.

ThePRCloset: This is a Twitter and blog that is part advice column/part a sneak peak at a day in the life of a working publicist. Alexis Rodriguez offers up "insider information on how to break into and make it big in this industry."

InternChic: They are a self proclaimed "fashion intern survival guide." They supply tips for interns, fashion related news, an internship/job listing, and more!

PRProfessor: Tom Handley, aka PRProfessor, tweets lots of great PR information, advice, and links to awesome PR articles! Unfortunately, I couldn't attend, but I've heard he was a VERY popular speaker at Fashion Campus NYC.

InternQueen, Ed2010, and FashionIntern are all great for internship/job searching.

Some other great ones: PRCouture, NYCinternz, CFDA, and PRSarahEvans.I also recommend you follow top designers, magazines, PR agencies, editors, bloggers, and other interns. All of these resources will supply you with a wide range of knowledge that you can use on a daily basis.

What are some other great fashion/PR related Twitters and Blogs that I left out?

Top Five: "Must Have" iPhone Apps For a NYC Intern

After interning in NYC the past few months, I have come across some must-have iPhone apps. Whether you're lost, hungry or just plain bored, one of these apps will be sure to help you out!

1. HopStop is a necessity for anyone who need a little extra help getting around the city. I know a few subway lines very well, but if you asked me to take the F-line, I would be completely lost. Here is where HopStop comes in. You simply type in where you're coming from and going to and it tells you what train to take, what stops to pass, when to get off, and how to continue on to get to your destination. HopStop is especially useful if you are in a hurry or if you have multiple transfers. (Two other apps that go along with HopStop nicely are NYSubView to view a complete subway map or individual lines and Google Maps to get walking or driving directions anywhere.)

2. Yelp is great for finding just about anything you may need in the city. They have listings of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, banks, gas stations, drugstores, and more. This can be very helpful if you are in an unfamiliar area and need to find something quickly. There are also tons of reviews listed about each business to help you make the best decisions about where to go. Another great factor about this app is the "Yelp Deals." You can search for nearby deals at places such as restaurants and spas on your phone that are instantly redeemable.

3. Pulsd is one of my absolute favorite apps. Right now, this app is only available in NYC or San Francisco but it is totally necessary if you live in either of those cities! Pulsd keeps you updated on tons of awesome events that happen every day. The best part is that most of these events are free (which is a favorite vocabulary word for an unpaid intern!) They list just about everything there is to do such as free concerts, store sales, restaurant and drink deals, museum discounts, salon discounts, and even sports ticket deals.

4. FourSquare...and Twitter and Facebook. OK, so I know I cheated and listed three, but all of these social media apps are great when you're bored and have some time to kill. FourSquare is great, especially in New York City because it allows you to "check in" to a venue. Once you do that, you are able to see who else is there and read reviews from past visitors. Some places will even offer you special deals when you check in! You can link your FourSquare account to your Twitter and Facebook as well.

5. Instagram is great because New York City is so beautiful. I know I'm always taking pictures of things I see in the city on a daily basis and Instagram makes my pictures look infinitely cooler. The app offers a variety of filters that you can apply to a picture to change the look such as "Inkwell" for black and white, "1977" for a 70s look, and more. One of my favorite parts of Instagram is how it reformats the pictures into a square shape which reminds me of the old fashioned Polaroids. After you choose a filter, you can share it with friends through sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

I love so many iPhone apps that it's hard to choose just five! Some runners up are Urbanspoon, Lustr, LIRR onTime, and TimeOut New York.

Do you love any of these apps as well? Are there any other NYC-related apps that I should try?

The Start of Something New

This summer I am interning in New York City and many of the other interns that I have met have their own blogs. So, I decided to jump on the bandwagon as well. Through this blog, I am hoping to share my thoughts and experiences, improve my writing skills, and give potential future employers a taste of what I'm about. I hope everyone enjoys it!