By Tiffany Cunningham
Fashion has always been an interest, passion and devoted, shop-aholic love of mine. Even though I do not live in New York or have great shopping around me in Norman, Okla I imagine what it would be like to afford great fashion finds and have a closet full of different colored high heels; never having to wear the same outfit twice! If I had artistic ability I would be a fashion designer, but instead I am gifted at creativity, which is why I placed myself in PR. Luckily for me there is fashion public relations.
After figuring out the new social media site, Twitter, I came across PR Couture, "fashion PR's haute spot." I have always been interested in creating or directing things from behind-the-scenes and what intrigues me about fashion PR is the ability to work in so many different services including product placement, events, marketing programs, design consulting and retail consulting. The work is similar to designing because public relations associates design conceptually.
Working with products, clients and events is everything I am interested in right now and the public relations boutique that incorporates all of these services is Ruby Press, an agency that represents businesses in the fashion industry. What is unique about this agency is that it is based out of Berkeley, Calif., selectively chooses it's clients and the work created at the agency has been placed in top media outlets, increased brand awareness and sales of clients' products.
Ruby Press has placed their clients in Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Elle and In Style. Television show placement includes Sex in the City, The O.C. and The Today Show. People seem to conform to their familiarities, when a fashion name appears on TV or in a magazine the awareness of that name has increased and people began to follow the fashion that name brings to our society. The name recognition comes from someone being curious and asking, then it sticks if they like what they see.
"You can't launch a new brand with advertising because advertising has no credibility. It's the self-serving voice of a company anxious to make a sale." - Melissa McElhatton Davis, founder of Ruby Press.
At the end of the day, if you love what you are doing in your career you have succeeded in life. For now succeeding is landing internships; here are 5 steps:
1. Build a Portfolio: Publish pieces in magazines, local newspapers, credible blogs and newsletters. Any interviewer will be impressed by a published collection of work.
2. Personalize your search: Ask friends, family, professors, mentors, co-workers and everyone else you may know in the industry you want to enter.
3. Find the right fit: Have a vision of the career you want to pursue and have the companies you work for fall in line with your goals you have set for yourself. Be adventerous; get out in the world and ask questions and introduce yourself.
4. Learn to LOVE the interview: Interviews are scary, but you got the interview so show your future boss what you can really offer the agency or company and research the facts before going.
5. Don't let the "U" word turn you away - Unpaid: Internships can be unpaid and you might end up finding what you want to do for the rest of your life in that internship. Take every experience you can and utilize it for all of its potential.
Picture: http://blicio.us/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/little-birdy.jpg
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