First Look: Missoni Spring 2012
See the full Missoni Spring 2012 men’s collection from Milan right now at GQ.com.
That is a very long story! here goes: in college (I went to nyu), I had internships at Conde Nast from sophomore year through senior year. I started out at house and garden in the marketing department, but once I got my foot in the door I just decided to never, ever leave! After marketing, I tried the editorial side, working in the style department. After that, I jumped to public relations. THEN I worked on “special programs.” I wanted to try out as many departments as I could, meet as many people as possible, and figure out what I thought I wanted to do.
In the beginning on my senior year, House & Garden folded. I had a friend who worked at Domino magazine, so after H&G ended, I interviewed at Domino and ended up as an intern there working on putting together a week-long shopping program in Chicago. It was a lot of fun, and I loved my co-workers. I was super happy, and even happier when I was offered a job as marketing assistant when I graduated. I was pumped just to have a job, and didn’t give that much thought as to whether or not it was the job I wanted, or the direction I wanted my life to go.
Needless to say, by the end of the first week I realized that marketing wasn’t a great fit for me, even though I loved my co-workers, and was learning a lot. I ended up applying to grad programs in curatorial studies and decorative arts, but just as I sent my applications in, Domino folded too! I thought I was cursed.
SO, my applications were in, but I was suddenly jobless. At Conde Nast, when a magazine folds they place assistants in temporary 3 month “trial” positions as “rovers.” When it was my turn to meet with HR, they started off by telling me about all the marketing positions that were open, but I finally worked up the guts to tell them that what I really wanted was to write for Teen Vogue or Vogue. It was the most amazing stroke of luck that Eva needed an assistant. HR sent me to meet with her, and she took me on as a rover. I was literally ecstatic. Like, beaming from ear to ear, jumping around and fist-pumping happy.
The first few weeks were really challenging, since I came from a completely different background. But, I was committed to learning and absorbing as much as I could, and doing the best I could. I threw myself in to everything, wrote blog posts CONSTANTLY, and realized that this job was a perfect fit for me. I knew I was guaranteed only three months at Teen Vogue, but after my first month, I interviewed with Amy Astley, and I was offered the job full-time. I was gloriously happy - and when I got my acceptance letters from my grad programs, I turned them down, and decided to see where this adventure went. Two years later, I feel like the luckiest dog alive, working in an amazing environment, with a terrific boss, in my dream job. All’s well that ends well!
So, I guess the takeaway is to try everything, to not to say no to opportunities, unless you’re certain you’re not going to like it. Because I had such a varied background, Eva decided to take me on, even though I didn’t have a ton of beauty experience.
Also, don’t be afraid to ask for what you want. After that first stint in the style department at H&G, I knew that was where I wanted to be more than anything. I was honestly too intimidated by the cool fashion girls, and the whole fancy editorial style thing to even think I could be considered for a job like that. Once I finally worked up the nerve to ask, everything fell in to place. Obviously, timing wise I was very lucky, but knowing what you want and actively asking for it is super important.
Finally, work your tail off! When you’re given a task, no matter how tedious, time consuming, frustrating, physically exhausting, or odious, if you find yourself flaking out on it and saying “well, it’s probably good enough.” It usually isn’t. Just do it!!
Naomi Preizler by Pato Battellini for Harper’s Bazaar Argentina May 2011
Florence Welch of florence and the machine Friday at the Bonnaroo art and music festival in Tennessee
Miu Miu RTW 2010
