Do you spend your time loathing over the latest styles via your Instagram feed? Have you been envisioning a life like the one depicted on Gossip Girl? Then fashion might be your calling. The fashion world is a mix of the highly glossed over show The Hills and The Devil Wears Prada. However, this happens to only be what people think of in regards to fashion. They don’t see the hard work and dedication that it takes to be a fashion major, instead, they let the media drive their perceptions on what this highly competitive industry entails. As a fashion merchandising major myself, I am tired of being the victim to others lack of knowledge surrounding my future career. So I have decided to give a glimpse into the world of being a fashion major, in an effort to eliminate the degrading and unnecessary labels that are attached to us each and every day.
1. Fashion Isn’t The Easy Way Out
It’s actually a lot of hard work. Yes, I said hard. It’s challenging just like every other major but in the end it is incredibly worth it, if it’s something you love. We just like everyone else have to take core classes. We write papers, complete other assignments, read an incredible amount and study for exams just like other majors do. In fact, being a fashion major challenges you. It challenges to be creative, to delve into the world around you in a critical and analytical way, something many other majors aren’t challenged with.
2. You Have To Have A Thick Skin
In fields such as fashion, you are able to be who you truly are. You can express yourself through your style whether it’s pink hair, a great pair of heels, or your favorite leather jacket. People at college may and will judge you, but that should be none of your concern. Everyone has their own interests and ways of expressing themselves. If you love fashion let it be known don’t let those around you stop yourself from unleashing the beauty of your true self. The best advice I could give is to stop caring about what others think and make it happen. You never know where life will take you if you don’t at least try.
3. If you’re a fashion major, then you must know how to make clothes. When you tell somebody you’re a fashion major, the first response is always, "Oh, you're a designer?! I can't wait to wear your clothes!" The fashion industry is a business—there are dozens of different career options available, from buying, marketing and public relations, styling, plus so much more. The majority doesn't actually create the clothes, though.
4. “Anyone can make it in that industry.”
Getting into the fashion industry is not only extremely difficult and competitive, but you need a thick skin and a willingness to start from the bottom. The industry is all about connections and working your way up to the top. As, fashion majors we need to be diverse. We need to have a plethora of qualities that those in other majors need as well. However, we need to be versed in heavily in our surroundings. Having a diverse set of beliefs and a strong mentality is what it takes to even remotely consider entering into our crazy world of clothes. So, the next time you scoff at the thought of fashion majors, remember the wise words of William Rudolph: “Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.”
