... continued week 6 7/11/08

Today I spoke to couple of Fda Fashion second years, they were lovely and very helpful, I wanted to know what I would be studying next year if I choose to specialise in Promotion and Styling, it sounds great and now I’m even more eager to go down that path, I am intrigued by design however I think my personality traits and skills are more suited for Promotion.
I did some research into styling and buying and here is what I found:

Stylist:
Job Description: Fashion stylists are responsible for bringing to life a photographer or directors vision for a fashion photo shoot, layout, music video, commercial, print advertisement, etc. Fashion stylists often scout locations, create the mood for the shoot by selecting and setting up the appropriate props, fashions, accessories, and even models to fit the theme of the shoot. Companies such as magazines, newspapers, retailers, advertising agencies, and music production companies often employ fashion stylists. Many stylists also choose to run their own businesses.

Salary Range: $0 to $100,000+
Entry level pay may range from $150-$200/day
Experienced pay may range from $500-$5,000/day
Top level stylists can earn up to $100,000 and more

Outlook: Aspiring fashion stylists should expect to work their way to the top. The most successful fashion stylists have extensive networks of contacts within the fashion industry to get the job done quickly and on budget. In addition, clients usually hire stylists they have used in the past or those who have proven success in the business. Once established, stylists who maintain a good professional reputation can expect plenty of repeat business and often take advantage of this by setting up their own independent businesses.

Qualifications:
Education - A 2 or 4-yr. degree in Fashion Design, Fashion Merchandising, Art or Visual Merchandising is helpful but not required.

Experience - Previous retail experience is helpful, as are internships with fashion publication and apprenticeships under experienced fashion stylists.

Personal Characteristics/Skills - Eye for style; creativity and resourcefulness; persistence and self-motivation; broad knowledge of fashion history, trends and forecasts; good interpersonal and networking skills; technical know-how for setting up sets; ability to market oneself.

Career Path: Intern/Stylists Apprentice > Assistant Fashion Stylist > Staff Fashion Stylist




Fashion Buyer
Also called: Buyer, Apparel Buyer
Job Description: Fashion buyers select and purchase apparel and accessories from designers, manufacturers or wholesalers for retail sale to their customers. Buyers use their fashion sense, knowledge of trends, and understanding of their target customers� desires to create a range of selection within their retail stores. Due to the length of time it takes for a designer or manufacturer to fill all their orders, buyers often make their purchases up to 1 or 2 years in advance. Buyers must also be good at budgeting and planning their inventory so that a good selection of clothes is always available. Buyers for larger department stores usually specialize in a specific line of clothing or accessories.

Salary Range: $30,000 to $100,000
Entry level pay may range from $30,000 to $45,000
Experienced pay is around $50,000+
Top level pay may range from $70,000 to $100,000

Outlook: Good to Excellent. While the overall number of buyer positions available is expected to decrease, positions become available due to internal promotions or transitions. Prospects for advancement for buyers is also good. Buyers who start at the assistant buyer level have a good chance of becoming full-fledged buyers within 3-5 years.

Qualifications:
Education - A college degree in Fashion Merchandising or some related field is required. Coursework in Business and Fashion Design is very helpful.

Experience - Retail sales experience is very helpful because understanding customer buying behavior is a key part of being a successful buyer.

Personal Characteristics/Skills - Fashion-lover; Knowledge of fashion history and trends; good analytical skills; excellent budgeting and planning skills; inventory management; good negotiation skills; flexible work attitude; ability to deal well with deadlines and stress.

Career Path: Assistant Fashion Buyer > Fashion Buyer > Fashion Buyer > Divisional Merchandise Manager

All information found at www.fashion-templates.com