Charlene Campbell, director at Style News, has not only interned but has used her experience to give us the inside scoop on how to become a stylist with her aptly named book 'Intern to Stylist'. A beginners guide for interns wanting to break into the fashion world, equipping you with the key tools to achieve styling success, from brushing up on the show seasons to learning about the growing trend of techno fashion, online stores and digital magazines. We caught up with her to chat about her past internships, advice and her book.
Internship: Fashion Assistant at FHM
Collections, Assisted at Financial Times ‘How to Spend It’ magazine.
What made you want to do an internship?
I chose to intern
because I wanted to get experience working in fashion editorial and the
opportunity arose so I snapped it up. I volunteered for several months and it
was the best choice I made. I worked under the Fashion Director so I learned
all about planning and prepping a photo-shoot, how important press contacts are
and the gratification when you see the story in print.
What was a
typical day at your internship?
I had to send sample requests to PR departments
via email for photo shoots and on the photo shoots I steamed the clothes, wrote
the credits down and also organized the samples that needed to be returned to
press.
Did you feel
better equipped to take on a job in your field after doing an internship?
Absolutely, every fashion newbie needs to intern. It’s the best way to get the
relevant practical experience.
Tell our readers
about your book and how it will help them in the world of interning and getting
that dream job: Intern to Stylist is the ultimate fashion newbie guide for
anyone starting out in the industry. It’s a book that I would have appreciated
when I began my career 17 years ago. It features everything you need to know,
from the fashion calendar, what to expect on a photo shoot, key industry
contacts and so much more. It’s widely available at stockists including
Stylenews.co.uk, Amazon and Topshop.
It’s the perfect
introduction to ensure you kick start your career in the business fully
equipped with all the essentials so you successfully grow from Intern to Stylist.
What’s the best
piece of advice you can give to someone who is about to start an internship? My
advice would be to ensure you have a notepad and pen ready at all times, pay
attention to the detail in any allocated tasks and be sure to make yourself
available to assist in all areas so that you get the maximum level of
experience in the placement.
Are our readers
allowed to contact you to talk more about your internship experience?
Yes.
