So you want to work in fashion?

It's a new year with a whole new beginning. Amongst your New Year's Resolutions is surely to spruce the old the resume and get some fashion experience! I have talked extensively about pursuing an internships in New York City, (which if you have any interest in I highly suggest you go for it!) but what if you plan on staying in the true, north, strong and free land of Canada? Well lucky for you there are oodles and oodles of opportunities to dip your feet in the fashion pond! Read on my friend and feel inspired!

1) Volunteer!


The best way to gain some experience in the fashion industry is to volunteer and be prepared to work for free! Like or not, that is just the way it is. There are tons of fashion events and charities that occur in Toronto that are great way to get your hands wet, especially if you do not have a lot of fashion experience to begin with. Some places to try are the Toronto Fashion Incubator, who regularly look for volunteers, contacting LG Fashion Week and signing up for Magnet Creative's, a Toronto-based fashion marketing company's, intern newsletter.

2) Work in retail!


Many of you may already do this and if so I suggest you take full advantage of it. If you love the fashion industry, you would be surprised by how much you can learn working in retail. Use your part-time job as an opportunity to really get to the know the clothes by observing new trends, fit and quality. Ask your managers about events or new things happening with your company and grill your district managers whenever they make store visits.

3) Intern!

There are many fashion-based companies in Canada that offer fabulous internship programs with great, priceless opportunities that you will use for the rest of your fashion career! Places to contact are luxury department store, Holt Renfrew which offers corporate-based internships and Toronto-based fashion designers. If the magazine world is something you want to conquer, I highly suggest applying for an internship with FASHION, FLARE or ELLE Canada. These are each highly respected and highly fabulous magazines that would surely teach a lot to any editor-in-chief in training. And here's an insider tip if you want to intern at a magazine, apply EARLY, like yesterday. Magazine internships are highly competitive and fill up faster than you can say, Christian Louboutin.


4) Be Aggressive!


The fashion industry is competitive so if you really want to get your foot in the door you must be determined to never give up. If you want to learn more about a certain company and opportunities they have for you to partake in, I highly suggest calling or emailing them directly that way you will be able to hear right away what your options are and if the company is right for you. Also don't give up if you don't always get the response or the experience you were hoping for, remember when one door closes another doors opens!

5) Study!


Whoever said that fashion was for the absent minded was sadly mistakenly. Before applying for any job, it is important to know a thing or two about the company, that way you will know what you are getting into and you will be able expand your knowledge of the fashion world. It is also really important to keep up-to-date on what is happening in the fashion industry from trends to events to insider news as well. Fashion is constantly changing and it is important to keep up with it so you are not left in the dust. Some of my favourite sites to visit are, Style.com, Fashionista.com and Styleite.com. You can also sign up to some really great newsletters from, Flare.com, WhoWhatWear.com and the really fabu' Canadian job website, StyleNinetoFive.com. Or you can always visit www.AmandasFashionSpot.com! I am more than happy to fill you in on all the fashion information you need!

So now that you know how to conquer the Canadian fashion world (keep in mind these tips can be applied to wherever you live) get up and get out there! Time is not moving any slower! Good luck with your fashion endeavours and come back to let me know how everything goes in the comments, Facebook or Twitter!

Enjoy and happy new year!

Amanda
amandasfashionspot@gmail.com
https://twitter.com/AFSpot

Print is NOT Dead!

This past year, the world celebrated a new invention that was predicted to change the world of magazines and that was the IPAD!

Although no one can really deny the impact the IPad has had on how we live and breathe fashion one thing is for sure, the high-tech touchscreen has not affected the beloved print magazine as expected. You see, the IPad gave birth to the digital magazine something that glossies such as ELLE, Interview and Glamour all became a part of. However, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, end of year sales for digital magazines have plummeted since their initial debut. For example, GQ's November edition sold its lowest number since its first digital issue and Glamour's sales have dropped 20% since its first digital version in September.

I am all for reinvention and new forms of creativity expression but there is something about a print magazine that is just not captured in a digital magazine. As much as I love online versions of fashion information, when it comes to reading the full magazine, I must say that I favour the print edition and with these statistics it looks like the rest of the world does not disagree. With the way the world is changing the online presence of fashion only continues to evolve and it is nice to see that it can happily coexist with the traditional print magazine.

How do you feel about how the internet has affected print magazines? Let me know in the comments, Facebook and Twitter!

Enjoy!

Amanda
amandasfashionspot@gmail.com
https://twitter.com/AFSpot

It's a Shopping Contest!

Don't just love when all you have to do is enter in some of your contact information into a database and then voila, you have a chance at winning a shopping spree? Well you are in luck because Club Monaco, FASHION magazine and Shopbop have all teamed up for a fabulous and fashionable contest!

Enter and you will receive a $1000 gift certificate to Club Monaco and Shopbop accompanied with a consultation with none other than a very wise and talented editor from FASHION!


If you are broke and in need of style guidance or just love shopping and want to meet a FASHION editor, I highly suggest you enter this contest!

Click here for more details and good luck!

Enjoy!


Amanda
amandasfashionspot@gmail.com
https://twitter.com/AFSpot

Sex and the City 2 Baby!

With Sex and the City 2 coming out in just a few days who can resist the squeals, the excitement and the cocktails that are inspired by Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha! Oh and the fashion! Who can forget the fashion! It is just me? Or did Patricia Field, up the style barometer with colour, scarves, and shimmery gold!

If you are die hard fan like me, you must enjoying all the magazines with none other than SJP gracing the cover. So why not check out the latest cover of FASHION magazine and read all about it!

Enjoy!

Amanda

Fashion Gives Backs: Strut for a Cure

As the temperature rises and the summer approaches us, so does the array of summer time fashion events. This is year we have a charitable fashion event to kick off the summer season!

On Thursday, May 27th, 2010 we have Strut for a Cure, a fashion and music experience that features the looks of Todd Lynn, an appearance by Canadian supermodel, Coco Rocha with a musical performance by Dragonette. This fabulous experience will be hosted by none other than Canadian fashion legend, Jeanne Beker and it all goes to benefit the Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation, an organization that focusses on finding a cure for children's cancer.

This event will be accompanied by delicious cocktails and tasty treats. For more information click here and be sure to support this fabulous event for a fabulous cause!

Amanda

Maybe by Sarah Catalfo is in the Top 10!

Congratulations to Toronto fashion designer, Sarah Catalfo for making it into the top ten of the Art of Fashion Design competition!

Among the other contestants, Maybe by Sarah Catalfo will be judged by Canadian heavy weights Brian Bailey, Shawn Hewson of Bustle Clothing and Project Runway Canada, David Dixon, Nicole Gouveia and Fashion Magazine's, Sarah Nicole Prickett.

I have no doubt that she will shine. If you are interested in attending the design competition taking place during Toronto's Nuit Blanche visit, www.artoffashion.org.

Amanda

Fall Inspirations: FASHION Magazine falls into autumns latest trends

Craving some biker jackets? Want some grommets, bright tights or sheath dresses? Click on the links below and watch FASHION Magazine's, Sarah Casselman and Susie Sheffman's take on fall's latest trends.

http://www.fashionmagazine.com/video/Aug09/SusiesMustHaves/

http://www.fashionmagazine.com/video/Sept09/KeyFallPieces/

Amanda

Photo(s) of the Day: The September Issue

Having being inspired by the highly anticipated film, The September Issue I thought it was fitting that I include the September issue covers of Fashion Magazine and Flare! The September issue of any magazine is always very exciting. If you pick up any of these you will give a little and get a lot for each of these are priced at under $5. Score!

Amanda

FASHION Magazine Fashion Lovelies Contest!

If you are a reader of Scott Schuman's, The Satorialist you may look at those fashionable people and think, Hey! I've got great style. I want someone to take a picture of my hot outfit.

Well, you fashionable readers here is your chance. FASHION Magazine is currently hosting a Fashion Lovelies contest in which it's readers can submit a full length photo along with your name and city to lovelies@fashionmagazine.com. Each photo accepted photo will be voted on by fashionmagazine.com readers and whichever photo has the most votes wins.

What makes this contest even better, is that the winner will receive a $500 gift card from none other than Holt Renfrew! How cool is that?

Follow this link for more details and send those fashionable photos! http://www.fashionmagazine.com/blogs/fashion-lovelies/2009/05/29/whos-the-loveliest-of-them-all/

Amanda

Canada's Next Top Model Has a Winner!

Congratulations to Canada's Next Top Model Cycle 3 winner, Winnipeg native Meghan Waller!

The blonde beauty won the modelling competition after a fierce battle where she had to strike a pose, strut down the catwalk and travel to New York City.

Best wishes Meghan! We look forward to seeing you on the cover of FASHION Magazine and showing what you got at fashion week!

Amanda

FASHION Magazine Cover August 2008

This is one of my favourite covers of Fashion Magazine. The colours are GORGEOUS and Coco looks ah-mazing.

Amanda

L’Oréal Fashion Week Spring 2009 Preview-NADA

Fabulous was the theme for L’Oréal Fashion Week’s spring collections and when it came to Nada, it was fabulous indeed. Being inspired by Athena, the Greek goddess of war, models strut down the runway wearing everything from a gold cocktail dress adorned with metal coins, high-waist grey pleated harem pants and a flowing belted magenta tent dress. The show was styled by former Fashion Magazine editor, Tammy Eckenswiller who brought a modern eclectic touch to the Grecian inspired designs. By styling the outfits with stacks of chunky gold bangles, cocktail rings and ornate chandelier earrings, the designer looks were ready to be worn right off the runway. Nada is known for taking inspiration from prominent women throughout history such as, Alexis Carrington from the 1980’s power soap opera, Dynasty and her spring 2009 collection did not disappoint. The collection included a colour palette of olive green, magenta, purple, white and gold. The clothing was mainly made up of sinuous silk and jersey skirts and dresses that were contrasted with braided shoulder straps and brown leather belts. A soft grey spaghetti-strap tank top paired with a high-waist white flowing skirt with a braided sash belt would be a perfect look for prancing around town on a summer day and for anyone who wants to show off their tough side, just slip into a pair of the distressed leather pants that were paired with a sleeveless top embellished with gold metal coins. Nada Shephard has once again brought out the strong, sexy woman in all of us with her spring 2009 collection and will no doubt continue to dazzle L’Oréal Fashion Week in the years to come.
Amanda