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First of all, I would like to humbly offer a touch of constructive criticism on the title, as I currently read it, for this article; "What do know before deciding on a career in fashion." And I would like to comment that I chose to write on this topic because...well simply because beneath the title, two sentences down, we are encouraged to "spell check" and this is the most perfect lead for my article. Fashion is about making a statement. Sometimes people see the beauty in a faux-paux, but not usually.

"Fashion" is defined in "Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary," as "The prevailing style...during a particular time". I tend to disagree with this. Fashion is anything and everything you want it to be. It is your vision. If it is NOT your vision, and only what you perceive as the vision of others, then possibly a career in fashion is not for you. If this is the case, I desperately hope you consider some other career.
Authentic fashion is an art. Art is breathing life into something you create or creating something spiritual in someone else. It is a gift.
As an agent of fashion, one signs up for the responsibility of a fashion depressed individual. You may not consider this but you are practically a psychologist. Whether or not anyone needs you, you have the power to make them believe they do. That their life will change because of your talents. If you can change their hair, you can change their lives. And if you are talented enough to convince the white shoe addict (you know the ones)to trade their Easter sandals in for a pair of classic black leather pumps, you are a god/goddess in the fashion industry.
Have you any fashion? We all do. But do you possess a sense of STYLE?
I once waited tables at a very trendy bistro where an unspoken qualification was that one had to possess a sense of style. Never mind that you had "people" skills. If you could adequately grasp the basics of opening and pouring an expensive bottle of wine while teetering on the edge of death in a pair of equally expensive pumps, you were simply perfect. The funny thing was that the most celebrated member of our staff was a girl with crazy hair, horn rimmed glasses, combat boots, loose jeans and t-shirts she designed herself. SHE was on her way to a major fashion design school in New York on a scholarship. She didn't care what anyone thought about what she wore. She drove a true piece of crap to work and parked it in a parking lot full of BMW's. She never cared if her attitude was up to "par". She even had her name legally changed to a name NO ONE in their right mind would change their name to. Her life was fashion which she created everyday, with every acquaintance she met, with every off-the-wall she came to work wearing. She was an inspiration and 12 years later she stands out in my mind.


Art is not everyones forte. But there are diverse facets encompassing the fashion industry; marketing fashion, selling fashion and BEING fashion to name a few, but CREATING fashion requires a vision.

Learn more about this author, Catherine Roberts.
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