Intern in the City

Get to know the other interns:

Robin — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 16:45:15 +0000

Part of the experience of moving to New York is meeting new people; After all, most people come to the city to work and experience a new place just like you. So find out if there are other interns working with you, get their e-mail addresses or Facebook them and get to know them before you start work together. Getting in touch with other interns can also help you out with where they are living and if anyone needs a roommate for the summer and wants to live together.

There were 6 interns (including me) working at Lorick this summer and we started an e-mail loop to get to know one another and figure out where everyone was living. The e-mails and Facebook really helped me out because I immediately knew something about each person when we started work. Although we had different tasks at times, all of the interns at Lorick this summer really worked as part of a team. Since we were all new to the city life, we also did a lot together after work, which made my experience even better.

Here are some pictures our lovely Lorick intern group…

All 6 of us at TAO for dinner

Me, Nikki, and Abigail (the designer) all in Lorick pieces for the Lorick Tea Party

The Lorick Ladies hard at work!

Me, Carlin, and Nikki before a night out in the city

Lorick Ladies out to dinner

Check this out!!

Robin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:06:57 +0000

Lorick’s Tea Party success was written about in the Teen Vogue Intern Blog. Check out the picture of all of us in our Lorick outfits and read the article they posted!!

http://www.teenvogue.com/teamvogue/blogs/intern/2008/07/tea-and-sympath.html

Based on my experience, here are my tips for finding your dream NYC fashion internship and getting the most out of it:

Robin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:39:41 +0000

1. Read my blog and any other fashion or college internship blogs you can find! Please do not hesitate to email me or add to this blog with ideas and tips as to what has helped you or where you have run into problems.

2. Start early—At least six months before you want to start an internship and do your homework to figure out exactly what type of internship you would ideally want.

3. Read every fashion magazine that you can get hold of with an eye towards finding the new designer who really speaks to you. Keep your eye out for the start-ups and the lesser known companies since they may give you more of an opportunity.

4. Attend a session in New York City if your college sponsors one. I attended an NYC trip with my school where current AU students met with various companies and graduates of the school who now work in the city. While they may not be in the field of fashion, they will give you ideas of what worked for them and… you never know, they may have a friend who is in the industry!

5. Find contact information and send out your resume and cover letter. Go above and beyond by researching the company and including some of its values in your letter. Absolutely NO spelling or grammar mistakes!! Let them know that you are very attracted to their company and why you think you would be a good fit with them.

6. FOLLOW UP!! Reiterate your excitement in the company and they won’t overlook you.

7. If you can, visit New York City in person so you can meet the people at the company that you are interested in and so they can meet you. Interview with more than one company; you do not want to be left hanging with no secondary options.

8. Be flexible with your job description as an intern, when you can start, and have a plan for saving up money for living expenses.

9. During the internship, learn as much as you can. Ask everyone about what they are doing. Imagine what life would be like if you worked full time at the company…could you see yourself there or in the fashion field in the long run? Remember, this is the key purpose of an internship.

10. Meet with your advisors and your school’s Career Center to work out the credit situation for either a credit or non-credit internship.

11. Network, network, network – Find out if anyone at your school has done a fashion internship in the city and if so get in contact with them. I will be letting the American University Career Center know about my experience and that they should give my name out to anyone who might be interested. If you can, e-mail the other interns to learn their interests and to see if it makes sense to travel or live together in the city. Make sure to stay in touch with them after the internship as well since you may be able to help each other find job opportunities.

12. Make sure you get to enjoy the non-work pleasures of New York City since it has so much to offer. Remember you may be living there on a more permanent basis later on, so you should see if the lifestyle fits you. Plus the sample sales aren’t anything to complain about!!

How do I find a place to live in the overly expensive city?

Robin — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

This is a theory that I find very true in New York City. If you live in NYC, you are either filthy rich or dead broke. Unfortunately, for us college students, we are normally on the broke and of the meter. Because most internships are unpaid, it does present a slight problem considering how expensive it is to live in the city.

I happened to get VERY lucky and found a friend-of-a-friend who needed a roommate for a few months on the Upper East Side. The rent wasn’t exactly cheap, but it was my best option at the time. My advice is to first ask around, everyone has friends in the city and you never know if someone is looking for a roommate. Another really great option that my friends used is the NYU dorms summer housing. The rate is relatively cheap and there are many locations and various amenities. Craigslist is a good website to check up on for rentals as well as the Facebook Marketplace under the New York City category.

So, although it may stink not to be making money for you internship, you need to realize that the purpose of the internship is to help you determine if this is what you want to do with yourself professionally after college.

Getting paid and/or getting credit for your internship:

Robin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:53:10 +0000

I hate to break it to you, but most internships in the city are unpaid and many only take interns working for credit through a university. Some students have the problem (like I did with my first internship) of not having enough credits to qualify for a credited internship. In this case, talk to your school’s Career Center, (mine has helped me out quite a bit) and ask if there are any non-credit options available. This protects yourself, the school, and your employer from any miscommunications and allows you to get experience the field. I completed a non-credit internship my sophomore year and had a great time and really figured out which direction I wanted to go in with my future internships. So, it really is to your advantage to intern whether it is for credit or non-credit. This time around, I was able to qualify for a credited internship and took it with Lorick New York!

Even though you may not be getting paid an hourly rate, most employers provide a stipend which covers public transportation and some meals. And you never know, sometimes there may be other “freebies” associated with a fashion internship including free sample clothing, invitations to various launches, teas and other events that are the bonuses of working in fashion. Also, if the internship is unpaid, you will most likely have a little more flexibility to work a part-time paying job.

The BIG Question: What the heck am I supposed to wear?!

Robin — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:54:38 +0000

Since we are all fashion devotees, putting on the generic black pant suit with a white button down probably makes you feel a little sick to your stomach. There are many other ways of looking sharp and professional while remaining stylish at the same time. Here are three options I picked out that I would wear to an interview or a day at work. The dress code may change depending on where you work, but these outfits are definitely A+ interview looks in my opinion. I have also included lists of where you can buy these items and prices if anything happens to strike your fancy!

Outfit 1:

1. Ponte Tulip Skirt—Ann Taylor, $78

2. Gabriella Rocha Grey Snakeskin Pump—Zappos, $60

3. Theory Short Sleeve Turtleneck—Neiman Marcus, $65

4. DVF Jersey Scarf—Nordstrom, $135

5. Two-Tone Earrings—Laila Rowe, $4

6. MARC by Marc Jacobs Airliner Captain Soft Bowler—Barneys New York, $369

Outfit 2:

1. Dolce Vita ‘Rachel’ Pumps—Zappos, $132

2. Mossimo Supply Co. Crew-Neck Tee—Target, $8.99

3. Milly Stretch Wool Trouser—Nordstrom, $310

4. Kate Spade ‘Belmont-Malva’ Bucket Bag—Nordstrom, $495

5. Set of Bangles—Laila Rowe, $9

6. Multi-Chain Necklace—Laila Rowe, $11

Outfit 3:

1. Maggy London Sleeveless Sheath Dress—Nordstrom, $128

2. Hammered Bangle—Laila Rowe, $3

3. Silver Bangles—Laila Rowe, $3.75

4. Jessica Simpson Python-Print Shoulder Bag—Victoria’s Secret, $118

5. Steve Madden ‘Midori’ Boot—Steve Madden, $149.95

Want the inside scoop? Here’s my interview with, “the next big thing,” designer Abigail Lorick.

Robin — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 03:41:54 +0000

In just 2 years time and at the ripe age of 25, designer Abigail Lorick has created a sought-after label and has become the ghost designer behind the Eleanor Waldorf collection on the hit TV show, Gossip Girl. I was able to sit down with Abigail for an interview just before she hopped on a plane to India. She was kind enough to talk with me about her previous internship experience and give tips for students looking to pursue a fashion internship/career.

Do your homework and find a company that speaks to your heart and your sense of design

Robin — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:49:46 +0000

After searching through fashion internship listings, I decided that I wanted to work with a smaller company, since big name companies receive thousands of submissions daily and are in top demand from the students who attend the big name fashion schools. Since I attend a less well known school, at least in terms of interest in fashion communications, I thought it would be more likely that I would be able to find an internship in a company that was relatively new and not as well known.

I stared free online internship websites, met with my school’s Career Center, and asked around to my friends and my employers I work with at a clothing boutique in Georgetown, D.C. I sent resumes and cover letters to a bunch of different places; a few magazines, stores, and smaller fashion apparel companies until I found Abigail Lorick and her line, Lorick New York.

When your parents/counselors/professors say to you, “It’s all about connections and who you know,” they are 100% correct. My boss said that they had met the Abigail on a buying trip and thought the line was fabulous so they purchased it for a fall delivery. When I told my boss I was interested in interning in the city she immediately called Abigail and asked her if she was hiring interns for the summer. Abigail told me to send in my resume and cover letter and then we would follow up.

I called Lorick a few days later, and to my great surprise, Abigail Lorick herself picked up the phone and offered me an internship spot! She was so nice and upbeat and took the time to talk to me and find out my interests. I knew she would be a good mentor and would help me grow through my experience with her as an intern. I then arranged to visit New York in person. I had interviews with a few more established companies, but they much more impersonal than the one I had with Lorick. After I got home from the city I immediately called Abigail and took a position with Lorick as a Public Relations/ Marketing intern.

Welcome Fashion Lovers!

Robin — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:08:24 +0000

Do you constantly flip through fashion magazines looking at the merchandise and wondering how they decided on what for the issue? Have you ever thought about working with a designer and getting to know the behind-the-scenes of a fashion line? Have you seen Sex and the City, The Hills, or Project Runway and wonder what would it be like to be involved with the fashion life of New York City?

I had all of these thoughts last winter and decided to do something about it. I set out to find myself an internship with an up-and-coming fashion designer in the city to get a feel for what it would be like to actually live and breathe the fashion life. I am happy to report that I was able to find an amazing internship that has met all my expectations and beyond in learning about the fashion industry and the opportunities available.

Through this blog I want to share how I found the internship, what I did during my work experience, and provide do’s and don’ts for other college students who are interested in testing out what life is like in the heart of the fashion world in New York City.