When you choose to attend a fashion school, you've committed to an experience unlike any other. You may have been best dressed in high school, but here, it's a whole different story. When I first arrived at the Fashion Institute of Technology, I sensed that my time on campus would be unusual. Here are some signs that you attend a fashion school.
1. You get up over an hour early to attend class.
At fashion school, there's an unwritten rule that keeps you from wearing sweats to class, even during exam week. While most college students roll out of bed and go to class, you're picking out a "perfect 10" outfit and doing your makeup.
2. Either that, or you get no sleep at all.
If you're a design major, my heart goes out to you. On average, fashion design majors get like, 0.1 hours of sleep per night. Yet they still look great in class.
3. You find pins and needles everywhere.
What's worse than stepping on a Lego? Sitting on a needle. I've personally sat on many pins and needles in my dorm hallway, it isn't fun.
4. People sleep outside for volunteer spots at Fashion Week.
While most universities have lines for football games, fashion students sleep in line for New York Fashion Week. It's a serious thing here; you either volunteer for Marc Jacobs or Kmart, your choice.
5. Your version of exercise is carrying your sewing supplies to class.
Chances are, you carry your weight in sewing supplies to class. From the patterns, muslin, thread, and the machine itself, you've got yourself a workout.
6. You've forgotten what a guy looks like.
Attending fashion school is similar to attending an all-girls school- don't expect to meet your boyfriend here. And chances are, everyone is on Tinder, just to find a guy.
7. You look through your classes and see everything from 6-inch heels to Birkenstocks.
Everyone expresses their personal style, and no style is left out. People will wear insane things, like 6-inch stilettos, and you act like it's normal. After all, it is fashion school.
8. The community TV has a bigger crowd for the showing for Project Runway than the Super Bowl.
Project Runway is watched by almost every student and draws in a big crowd- you basically have to fight to get a viewing seat. Although there were about 10 students watching the Super Bowl, that's nothing in comparison to fashion shows.
9. Wait- what is a sorority? Greek life is nonexistent.
The most Greek Life a fashion student gets is attending an NYU frat party. Don't expect to be sporting an Alphi Chi Whatever tee around fashion school.
10. Everyone around you either has an internship, a retail job, or both.
I'm not sure how everyone finds time to intern, work, and study.. but they do. It's pretty common to find a student interning for Oscar de la Renta or Calvin Klein, kinda intimidating.
11. But you'd never want to attend any other college.
My FIT pride is real. Although this fashion school stresses my out and gets under my skin, I'd never want to go to a traditional college. And I think this is true for most fashion school students.
