Teen Vogue Handbook

Basically, Toyin let me borrow her Teen Vogue Handbook, so i'm taking the time to read it and get some ideas and what not from it. This is just some of the different thing's I got from the handbook, like things i found inspiring, guiding, informative, etc. The following things i've jotted down cover aspiring designers, editors, models, stylists, to photography and much more. It's a lot, but worth the read. 

"Early in your career you may be asked to do things that you don't feel are worthy of your education or that don't seem explicitly related to your career goals- but if you do them well, they can inspire people to put their faith in you and give you the work you do want. Especially when you're at the intern or assistant level, your job really is just to make other people's jobs easier. So if you soak it all up, pay attention to everything, and do things that nobody else thought of, then you're more likely to get promoted. That's who I want to promote: people who solve problems and are enthusiastic and eager to take on more work, more responsibility." 

- Amy Astely 

A book on Stephan Sprouse - must read for anyone aspiring to work in fashion as well as "Le book" which contains names, companies, and contact information for everyone in the fashion industry. From model agents to hairstylists.

"I think that in order to be a good editor, you really have to study fashion like a doctor studies biology- because you need to understand the history behind the trends." - Gloria Baume 

"When you see an image that you love, rip it out and save it for reference. Magazine covers, pictures of paintings, advertisements, anything-- collect them all. Whether you want to be a designer, a stylist, a fashion editor, a makeup artist, or a photographer, these images will serve as inspiration to you as your career progresses." - Gloria Baume

I love how i'm reading about magazine editors who may not have known to pronounce brands like Lanvin, but they continued to pursue their dreams, sent emails, called people they had no right calling, faxing, and what not, to some editors who majored in anything but fashion and yet found themselves crawling into the arms of internships at W magazine and then leading onto bigger achievements. It gives me faith.

"Start a scrapbook. Collect anything that interests your eye, like images from magazines, color swatches, and even fonts. You can refer to it like you would an encyclopedia and bring it to interviews" - Aoife Wasser

"Be Brave and ask for internships anywhere you've dreamed of working. You never know who will say yes." - Aoife Wasser

Web sites like ED2010 and MEDIABISTRO are good resources when hunting for an internship-- scour them often for updates and career advice.

"To improve your job prospects, write as much as you possible can. Even if your heart's desire is to cover fashion, but the only writing job you can get is covering the city council, then go cover the city council" - Robin Givhan

"With each job you have, you'll learn a skill to use for your next job. Every experience in your life goes on to shape who you are. Nothing is wasted" - Natalie Massenet

"Make a magazine with your friends and learn both sides of the business-- financial and creative. The creative side was easy for me, but the business side was trial and error." - Claudia Wu

"If you want to be a fashion blogger, what's stopping you? You can start your own blog tomorrow! Post the things-- clothing, culture, whatever-- that you wish you could see on other sites." - Natalie Hormilla

"Create your own individual style. I'm NOT interested in the girl who walks into my office in a head-to-toe label look that's straight off the runway. I'm interested in a girl who puts herself together in an original independent way." - Anna Wintour

"Do your homework, go online, visit every museum, and intern. You just need to have a love for what you're doing. It's not about thinking that it's the cool thing; it's about believing in it." - Anna Wintour

"Make things happen for yourself: "If you live in Idaho but dream of interning in New York, do your homework. Maybe you have a family member who has a friend whose son knows someone." - Andrea Lieberman

"Research as much as possible so that you have plenty of visual reference points to draw from. "Two photography books I love are Joseph Szabo's Teenage and Bruce Davidson's Brooklyn Gang." - Havana Laffitte

"Surround yourself with creative, like-minded people. As a fashion assistant in London, Nickerson made friends with young photographers and designers and spent her evenings and weekends styling ad hoc shoots with them."

"Whether or not you have experience, find creative ways to show what you're capable of. Before her first fashion-job interview, Santisi styled and snapped pictures of her own outfits, then turned the images into a mini portfolio."

"Don't wear too much makeup to an interview. People can be suspicious of anyone who tries too hard. You want an air of effortlessness." - Gucci Westman

"Once you find your calling, really go for it. I didn't know what I wanted to do. I got fired from my first salon job, but that gave me a good push." - Guido Palau

"For a quick fix, wear mascara, put light concealer on dark under-eye circles, and apply color on at least one feature: the eyes, cheeks, or lips. You'll look instantly vibrant!" - Pat McGrath

"Once a door is opened, make sure it stays open by always being reliable. I got started a little bit at a time; photographers here and there remembered me for shoots, until my reputation was finally proven." - Serge Normant

"Be flexible. No matter how much you plan, you can never be sure that everything will turn out the way it's supposed to. Make sure you're always able to change things at a moment's notice." - Bruce Weber

"Believe in yourself and your work, but keep your ears open to advice at the same time." - Abbey Drucker

"Don't take no for an answer. Prove to people that you're empowered, strong, and extremely hardworking." - Isabel Asha Penplien

"When you're starting out, you're not able to work with the best models or hair and makeup people, so you need to invent those people among your friends. Which of your friends loves hair, makeup, or play dress-up?" - Arthur Elgort

"Go above and beyond what's expected. If your boss tells you to read a particular article, why not read the whole paper? When I'm hiring, I look for people with that level of enthusiasm." - Lina Kutsovskaya

"Instead of being jealous of your peers, be inspired by what they do." - Serge Normant

"Don't go too fast, because of reality television, everyone imagines they can just be a fashion designer, photographer, or model. That's not the way things go. learn your craft." - Anna Wintour

"Ask yourself, are you this world is for you? Are you sure you are the right person to survive in this world-- the world of fashion, a world with no rules, no laws?" - Karl Lagerfeld