Met Gala 2012: Best Dressed

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Sarah - Editor

Last night was Vogue’s annual Met Gala. There were a ton of fashion hits, and a ton of serious misses (we’ll get to those, don’t worry…). There’s definitely a reason they call this night the “Oscars of fashion.”

Here are my top 4 picks for Best Dressed, from head to toe.

Camilla Belle in Ralph Lauren: That dress fits Camilla like it was made for her. Everything about this look is perfection (besides maybe the lips, but they’re growing on me). She’s sophisticated, and looks effortlessly beautiful.
Jessica Alba in Michael Kors: Alba was an absolutely goddess last night. Her dress was a simple silhouette, but so flattering. Paired with loose waves and simple, yet noticeable, makeup, she looked stunning.
Carey Mulligan in Prada: The first thing that came to mind when I spotted Mulligan’s dress was mermaid. It’s like she was wearing the most glam fish scales ever. She played up her eyes without being overly dramatic, and truly let the dress do the talking.
Kate Bosworth in Gucci: I’m a serious sucker for a feather dress, and this ombre Gucci number was to die for. Bosworth was one of the only attendees who chose a lip color that didn’t wash her out completely, while still complimenting her dress.

What was your favorite Met Gala look? Let us know in a comment!

The Intern Diaries: I Got The Interview, Now What?

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Sarah - Editor

Congratulations! You got an interview with a company or brand for which you want to intern. Whether it’s your dream internship or not, you should be totally prepared and ready to make the best impression you can.

Do Your Homework

Most importantly, research the company, brand or designer. What’s in the news about them? Have they launched any products recently? Are they doing a unique advertising or social media campaign? Who are their clients? What are they tweeting about? Why do you like this brand so much? What makes them different? Why do you want to work there? What makes you a good fit?

Secondly, find out with whom you’ll be interviewing (sometimes, it’s multiple people), and research them to no end. What are they tweeting about? Where else have they worked? What’s their exact title and responsibilities? Do they have a blog?

If you’re interviewing at a publication, read the last few issues and their website, and make sure you have an idea of some articles you could mention if necessary.

Know Your Resume

You should know your resume inside and out. In my experience, every single interviewer I’ve met with has asked me to go through my resume aloud. Make sure to highlight any skills that will apply to the job you’re interviewing for, and be prepared to not only describe what you did, but how it makes you a great candidate for the position your interviewing for. Also highlight any of your unique accomplishments. And, don’t forget the unconventional things, like leadership positions in clubs or a sorority.

What To Wear

I am a firm believer that, no matter where you’re interviewing, you should look professional and more formal than not. My go-to outfits: a pair of skinny black slacks, a silk white tank top with a black blazer over it or a 3/4 sleeve skater dress. I always bring my heels (I have a pair of black Louboutin pumps reserved for professional use only) in my bag and wear flats to walk around the city.

I personally do not think that looking trendy is ever appropriate. What you say should stand out, not what you look like.

In terms of makeup, keep it simple. Clear skin, mascara, blush, and a little lipgloss or sheer lipstick is classic and won’t ever fail you. Make sure your hair is done and tame. Don’t use this time to experiment with a new look.

Prepare Questions

Don’t forget: an interview is a two-way street. At the end of every interview, you’ll most likely be asked if you have any questions to ask.

This is the part I personally have the hardest time with: I get so wrapped up in saying all the things I want to that I forget my questions!

Some basic questions: What do you feel is the top quality an intern needs to succeed? What are the day-to-day responsibilities of an intern? What is the environment of the office? What do you think differentiates COMPANY X? Do you require college credit?

Other Tips

Be enthusiastic! If this is your dream internship, act like it.
Maintain eye contact, and be engaged, even when the other person is speaking for a long time.
Arrive early and give yourself time to breathe and prepare.
Space out multiple interviews so that you have a half hour to travel, touch up, etc. between each interview.
Know your strengths and weaknesses.
Observe the environment of the office. Is it social, or dead silent? An interview is not only about them liking you, but it is about you being a good fit as well.

Have you gone on interviews before? How about for this summer? What was your experience like? Let us know in a comment!

The Intern Diaries: How To Get The Interview

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Sarah - Editor

If you’re hoping to work in fashion/beauty in any realm (PR, design, graphic design, etc.), often times, applying for an internship is not as easy as going to the brand’s website, finding their careers page and filling out a general application.

Instead, it requires utilizing your network, your research skills (yes, all those years of Facebook stalking do come in handy), and sending out dozens of well-crafted, personal emails.

This semester, I’ve sent out dozens of emails that resulted in over 15 interviews. It’s exhausting, but there is no greater satisfaction than receiving an email back, because when that happens, you’re probably being offered the chance to interview.

Here are my tips for scoring the interview of your dreams:

Don’t limit yourself to sites like Ed2010 or Free Fashion Internships. If there’s an editor or PR person you particularly admire, figure out what their email address is. Chances are, it’s somewhere on their LinkedIn profile, or somewhere on the internet. But, if you only know a name, all you have to do is figure out how the email addresses for their company are formatted (for example: sarah_brovda@company.com). Check their colleague’s information on LinkedIn to see if they’ve posted their own email address. This is where your Facebook stalking skills come in handy.

If there’s a brand you dream of working for, but don’t know any specific names to reach out to, do the above, but target an assistant in the department you’re interested in. They’re in entry level positions, and in my experience, are the quickest to respond. Check LinkedIn and magazine mastheads to find names. Also, an entry-level employee probably know what it’s like to be applying for internships!

Can’t find the email address you need? Don’t be afraid to cold call a company. Just look up the phone number for their offices, and ask if there is an internship supervisor that you can contact regarding an internship.

Want to work for a bigger, corporate brand? Contact their HR department. Oftentimes, bigger brands have a more structured application process.

Once you locate who you want to reach out to, personalize your email to that person/brand. In one sentence, tell them why you want to intern there. Do you want to work for this designer because you admire their digital presence? Was your first experience with cosmetics with that particular brand?

Keep your email short and sweet, and make sure that the subject line includes the word “Internship” (Internship Opportunity, Internship Inquiry, PR Internship, etc.). Don’t forget to attach your updated resume!

One of the best tips I’ve ever gotten: When ending your email, never say “I look forward to hearing from you.” It shuts you down to ever contact them again without hearing from them first. Instead say, “I look forward to being in touch.” (Thanks @PRProfessor!)

When responding to an online internship posting, make sure you include everything they request, whether it be your availability, a cover letter or whether you can receive college credit or not.

Don’t be disheartened if you don’t get an immediate answer. Keep in mind that whoever you contacted probably has more important emails to answer. Or, they may be waiting until their own intern hunt begins to reach out to you. I’m still first receiving answers to emails I sent out in January!

If you do get an answer, but it’s just stating that they’ll forward your resume to the appropriate contact, find out who they forwarded it to so that you can follow-up.

If you plan on being near in the city of their offices for a day for other interviews or just for a break, reach out (even if you haven’t gotten a response), and let them know when you’re available, and suggest meeting face-to-face.

If you haven’t heard back, and it’s been 2-3 weeks, touch base with a short 2-3 sentence email. Keep it in the same thread as your first correspondence, and make sure you reattach your resume (just in case!)

If you get a response from someone you admire saying they can’t hire interns, or that the positions are full, ask if they’d be open to an informational meeting or phone call. If you’re seriously interested in that person or company, they may offer you some great insight, advice, and it’s a great way to get your name out there for next summer.