Fashion is creation personified and it’s everywhere. You can’t open a magazine or watch television and not see style.
Fashion is a big money-making business and can make you stand out and look fabulous; or, it can make people look at you and cringe.
The Golden Ticket
A career in fashion is like having a golden ticket. You can travel the world, meet interesting people, make loads of money and live a grand life.
Maybe you dream of being like one of the fashion designer greats: Valentino, Dolce and Gabana, Giorgio Armani, Prada, Tom Ford or Karl Lagerfeld. Or you dream of writing reviews for top fashion magazines such as Vogue, Essence or Ebony.
While you make your fashion dreams a reality, here is a glance at the top 10 careers in fashion to help get you on your way:
10. Fashion Photographer
Fashion photographers are employed by catalogs, magazines, websites and fashion houses to conceptualize, shoot, develop and print still photos and/or videos to show off clothes and accessories in a creative manner that catches the eye of consumers.
9. Fashion Illustrator
Fashion illustrators create sketches and drawings of apparel, shoes, and accessories for fashion advertisements, catalogs, and other media. Earning potential – up to $60,000.
8. Personal Stylist
Personal stylists work with individuals, groups, classes or companies to educate clients about general fashion apparel and accessories. Earning potential – $10 per hr. to $40,000 per year or more.
7. Boutique Owner
Successful boutique owners are very entrepreneurial-minded and driven people, who use a combination of savvy business skills and in-depth knowledge of the fashion retail industry to make a profit. Small boutiques can grow into large companies, and merge with other boutiques to become well-known brands. There are clothing boutiques, accessory boutiques and designer jewelry boutiques, all of which contribute to the fashion industry. Earning potential is up to $100,000 and beyond.
6. Fashion Buyer
Fashion buyers use their sense of style, knowledge of fashion trends and understanding of their target customers’ desire to create an attractive selection of apparel for retail stores. Earning potential is $100,000 and beyond.
5. Fashion Public Relations Specialist
Fashion public relations specialists and publicists help apparel companies and retail stores build and maintain a favorable public image. Entry level salary range – $200,000 to $35,000, experienced salary range – $40,000 to $60,000, top level salary range – $75,000 to $100,000.
4. Fashion Stylist
Fashion stylists are responsible for bringing to life a photographer or director’s vision for a fashion photo shoot, layout, commercial, print advertisement or music video. Fashion stylists often scout out locations, create the mood for the shoot by selecting and setting up the appropriate props, fashion, accessories and even models to fit the theme of the shoot. Entry level salary range – $150 to $200/day, experienced salary range – $500 to $5,000/day, top level stylist salary range – $100,000 and more. For example, a huge team of fashion stylists work on a high-end printed piece like the Neiman Marcus catalog. These stylists must communicate the image for a high-end brand and sell product.
3. Fashion Writer
A fashion writer produces editorial copy for media outlets such as fashion magazines, newspapers, fashion/design websites or blogs, and television. According to fashion-schools.org, national demand for all journalists and writers is expected to grow through 2014. Average earning salary – $47,000 and above.
2. Fashion Merchandiser
Fashion merchandisers are on the apparel production side and analyze market trends, production cost, and previous sales numbers to determine the product direction manufacturers will take each season. Entry level salary range – $50,000 to $80,000, top level salary range – $100,000 and above.
1. Fashion Model
Models try to convey an idea by their appearance, persuading people to buy the products they advertise. Salary is often based on the size of the job and the popularity of the model.
As with any career, the best way to start is with an education. A degree in fashion design or fashion merchandising can get your foot in the door of one of the many fabulous careers in the rapidly growing fashion industry. In the words of General Douglas MacArthur, “There is no security on this earth, there is only opportunity.” So take the opportunity and see which one of the top 10 jobs in fashion is right down your alley.