The Hot Debate About Paying Interns

Recently, there has been lots of buzz in the news and papers about us interns, and whether or not we should be paid. I have to say this discussion topic has come up in plenty of conversations in the last few weeks and has given me a lot to think about.

Should we be paid? What are the benefits of not being paid? If we aren’t getting paid, then should we be working 12-hour days? So many questions, so many opinions, and yet, who is the right person to answer them?

My Love/Hate Relationship with Errands

Errands. When the E-word is said in the office, my face usually perks up and I am positioning myself to volunteer. Most interns moan and groan about having to run errands but me, personally, I like going on them…most of the time. 

This week I was asked to go on a few errands for an editor and so of course I grab my phone, headphones, and wallet (three things essential to running an errand) and head out the door with my address all plugged in to my map app. I hail a cab; give him the cross streets and set off on what ended up being a five-hour adventure. 

How To Bounce Back After A Crappy First Day

Week one down! Before I go off and throw myself a congratulatory party, first things first. 

My first day was long, tough, and extremely awkward—nothing like I thought it would be. Though I had my prior knowledge of my previous internship, it felt like everything I did was being watched by my fellow interns. The hours were much longer than expected and time went by painfully slow. I continued to drink endless amounts of water just so I could keep going to the bathroom and scroll through Twitter for a brief breather. At lunch I felt like the scene straight out of Mean Girls where Cady eats her lunch the first day of school in a bathroom stall. After leaving, I couldn’t even think about going back and doing this all over again. But, I woke up at 7:00 am the next morning, called my mom to get a pep talk and attempted at day two. 

3 Things Fashion Interns Need To Know About Rocking Your First Day

Happy Monday, Edsters!

I start my internship this week and I am ready to hit the ground running! Thinking back on how I started my last internship so sheepish and timid, I can’t stress how important it is to start off your summer smiling and eager to work! Between racking my brain on what to wear and how to do my hair, I also thought up three important things to remember on your first day of your internship (or any job, really).

1.    Smile, make eye contact, and have a firm handshake.

3 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting My Fashion Internship

Getting an internship in the fashion department of a prestigious magazine can be exciting. It can also be very, very overwhelming. After ending my first internship at Fashion Mag number 1, I realized there was so much I didn’t know when I started out. So, for all you people who are just about to begin your internship, have already started and are still fuzzy on what to do, or are looking to wedge your way in, here are 3 things I had wish I had known:

1. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Seriously. I wish I had found this one out sooner.

Introducing...The Fashion Internaholic Going On Her Second NYC Internship

When I was four, I insisted on always dressing myself because I told my mom I had better fashion sense than her (I needed that creative freedom. Sorry for insulting you, Mom). Though lime green floral leggings paired with a red, white, and blue striped top and my mother’s expensive red lipstick may have been a low point for my young fashion savvy self, I pranced around in that outfit as if I looked like a million bucks. 

From there, my passion for fashion only flourished with age. I would, and still do, sit for hours watching all the red carpet events for award shows and judge each celebrity’s outfit. I never even thought my love for clothes, shoes, handbags, jewelry, and beyond could ever be turned into a lifelong career.

I am sitting in my intern apartment in Herald Square finishing up my spring semester internship. As I look back on the last five months I have seen my life transform from 19-year-old college student to 20-year-old New York City based fashion intern; from sheepish and apprehensive to assertive and confident. I moved to New York, literally, not knowing a soul.

7 Things Every Intern Should (And Shouldn't!) Carry In Their Bag

Happy Monday Edsters!

I’ve come a long way since my first (rainy) day at the Fashion Mag, and have learned tons about the fashion industry and New York City. Since this is my first internship, I came in not knowing what to expect at all. Now ten weeks have passed, and I’ve put together a list of essential items for the on-the-go intern. Many of you are on the search for your fall internship – refer back to this list once it starts!

My first week on the job, I carried enough items in my purse to fill a carry-on suitcase. Seriously, I would lug around my entire make-up case, jewelry, an umbrella, poncho (what was I thinking??), flats, a book, magazines, IPod, cell phone and charger, wallet, allergy and headache medication, contact lens solution, my glasses, band-aids, and tons of snacks, among other odds and ends.

Carrying all that around got old very quickly. Here’s all you need in your purse or messenger bag to survive a 12-hour day of interning:

When Should You Suck Up To Get Ahead?

They’re everywhere – sneaky, pushy, annoying and in plain view for everyone to see. No, I’m not talking about the flyaway frizzies my hair gets when it rains, I’m talking about something much more irritating: the office suck-up.

I’ve heard stories about people going out of their way to please their bosses, editors, managers, whomever – but never did I witness anything like that until I started my fashion internship.

Let me tell you about the Fashion Mag’s resident suck-up; let’s call her the Queen of the Interns. Because, due to her shameless hierarchy-climbing tactics, that’s exactly what she is.

The Queen of the Interns started her internship a week or two before I did, but while I took my time slowly getting used to the water, she dove right in with a splash.

The Queen’s actions were small and innocent at first. Coming in a few minutes early, staying a few minutes late. Nothing wrong here – I’ve done the same when I’ve been assigned a large return. But what started off as 10 minutes turned into an hour, sometimes even beating the fashion assistants and editors themselves to the office.

Still, the other interns and I barely noticed. We’re all in the same boat and will do anything to make ourselves stand out. All’s fair in love and

Navigating New York City: Small Fish in a Big Pond

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been telling anyone who would listen that I aspire to work in New York City one day. The ladies of Sex and the City made New York look so glamorous, and I wanted to immerse myself in the city’s culture.

Let’s get real.

I’ve always had big city dreams, but the truth is as a Jersey girl I’ve been to New York more in the past month than I’ve been for the last 10 years. Therefore, I had no actual knowledge of the city. I’ve only been on the subway once before my internship!

So what do I get when I combine my lack of experience navigating the city, my terrible sense of direction, and a fashion internship?

The most rewarding summer of my life.

Made a Mistake? Why You Should 'Fess Up and Fix It

It’s going to happen eventually; as an intern, you will most likely make a mistake at some point during your internship. And I’m not talking about the minor fashion faux paus I made on my first day - I’m referring to actual poor decisions that may reflect negatively in your employer’s eyes.

The fashion closet was absolutely crazy this week. Tons of trunks filled with clothes and accessories were coming back from photo shoots around the world. My job, along with the other 20 or so interns, was to unpack these trunks and return items to the designers or showrooms. Ever try sorting through 400 pairs of designer socks to find a matching pair? It gets frustrating very quickly.

Here’s where the poor decisions come in. One day, at around 8 p.m. (12 hour days are the norm), the fashion assistant who works with the interns asked me to work on an especially large return – about 70 items – that needed to be completed that night.

What To Wear As as Fashion Intern (Hint: No Heels)

Whenever I tell someone that I’m a fashion intern, the response I get is usually something like this: “Cool! So do you dress up and wear heels every day?”

Trying to keep my eye from twitching at the very mention of the h-word, I force a fake smile and say, “Nah, not really.”

So why does the very thought of a high heel make me cringe? Why does the mention of what was once my favorite kind of shoe practically bring me to tears? Let me explain.

On the day of my interview, I was dressed to impress in a chic, simple dress and a pair of classic black pumps. I wanted to keep up my image on my first day, so I chose an outfit that was sure to fit in with the atmosphere of the fashion closet, or so I thought. I went for a classic look with a high-waisted black pencil skirt, a ruffled top and a pair of strappy heels. I looked professional. I looked stylish. I looked confident.

I looked like the clueless new girl.

A Fashion Rookie's First Magazine Interview

“You’re in for it today,” a stranger laughingly commented as I passed him on the sidewalk.

And he was right. There I was, trudging along the streets of the city in heels and a dress in a torrential downpour. My umbrella kept my outfit semi-dry, but the humidity defeated my hair, turning it into a frizzy mess – not exactly the look I was going for on the day of my interview with one of the chicest fashion magazines.

I made sure to arrive early to ease my anxious nerves. I parked myself at a nearby café and dried myself off and tamed my hair as best as I could (which isn’t saying much). Finally, interview time rolled around and I did my best to walk into the building’s lobby without shaking. My interviewer came down to meet me and led me to the magazine’s office, where I played it cool while I was actually bursting from excitement on the inside!