Panelists detail life in fashion business

One of the worst mistakes one can make in applying to a job at a fashion magazine could be sending in a 20-page cover letter, said Jeff Gordinier ’88, editor-at-large at Details, a men’s magazine.

Gordinier received such a letter on Friday, and instead of taking it seriously “the editors were just passing it around ... and mocking it,” he said, cautioning anyone against repeating that mistake.

Gordinier was a part of a two-person panel discussion on Friday night entitled “ShopTalk: A Dinner Discussion with Fashion Magazine Insiders.”

The discussion was held at The Underground Cafe and Restaurant and also featured Amy Preiser, a senior at New York University and intern at New York Magazine. Betsy Mullinix, associate sittings editor at Seventeen magazine, was slated to be a panelist but could not attend.

The panel engaged in an informal question-and-answer session with the 35 students in attendance. Using the students’ questions, the panelists portrayed life in the fashion publication industry, from behind-the-scenes operations to internship applications.

Both panelists agreed that perseverance was essential for breaking into the business. “It’s a combination of having a very focused drive and being open to accidents,” Gordinier said. Preiser also emphasized the importance of being proactive and having good networking skills.

Preiser clarified the common perception that fashion magazine staffers carry a certain self-importance about themselves and the industry. Though some do, that attitude is not necessary to succeed in the business, she said. “The best weapon on your behalf is a sense of humor,” Gordinier added.

For fashion-focused internships, Gordinier said a detailed understanding of the fashion world and the particular magazine is mandatory. Preiser urged students not to be worried about what might seem to be an atmosphere full of criticism. “Everyone’s receptive to the creativity,” she explained. “It’s a very creative environment.”

Jane Yum ’08 said she liked the intimacy of the setting and also noted that the two panelists’ difference in age and experience contributed positively to the discussion. “It was really nice to have two different perspectives in conjunction with each other,” she said.

The event was organized by Ed on Campus@Princeton, a student group dedicated to exposing students to magazine journalism that is affiliated with Ed2010, a national organization with chapters on about 20 college campuses. The Princeton chapter was founded by Jessica Marati ’08, who currently serves as president.

“As an aspiring magazine editor, I always find it interesting to hear from different people who work with different aspects of magazines,” Marati said. “I think they spoke very candidly about the magazine industry ... that’s something you can get only in a forum like this.”

“A lot of people who would be incredible writers and editors don’t consider magazine journalism as a viable career path because they don’t learn much about it at the University,” she added.