NEW YORK, December 21, 2011/ FW/ — Entitled ‘Teen Vogue Fashion University 2011’, for the past five years, Condé Nast’s Teen Vogue magazine has hosted its annual event in New York City called ‘Teen Vogue Fashion University’, which is an amazing three-day seminar event “Where the Business of Fashion is Taught By Its Stars” for the future leaders of the fashion industry.
For this exclusive event, which is dedicated to educating young men and women who aspire to have a career in the fashion industry, many people apply, but only a select group of five hundred High School and college-aged students across the world are chosen by the Teen Vogue editors to attend. The applicants who are specially selected to attend Teen Vogue Fashion U. then have the incredible opportunity to attend various seminars taught by the top fashion professionals in the industry.
Also, at the event, Teen Vogue Fashion U. students are able to gain important tips and fashion industry advice from various speakers who are fashion leaders and style icons, including fashion and jewelry designers, fashion magazine editors and bloggers, costume designers, make-up artists, as well as the CEOs of successful fashion companies.
Fashion U. students also have the pleasure of attending exciting shopping events that Teen Vogue hosts at fabulous retail stores in New York City.
This year, I had the amazing experience of being a part of the Teen Vogue Fashion U. Class of 2011 for the sixth year that Teen Vogue has hosted its annual Teen Vogue Fashion University event.
At this year’s exclusive event, I had the pleasure of attending the seminars taught by fashion professionals including the prominent fashion and accessory designers such as: Michael Kors, Chris Benz, Peter Som, and Lisa Salzer, the jewelry designer of the line, Lulu Frost.
I also heard from powerful entrepreneurs such as: Rich Tong, the creator of Tumblr, Aliza Licht, SVP Global Communications for Donna Karan International, and Susan Koger of ModCloth, as well as from influential fashion journalists and bloggers including: Katherine Power and Hillary Kerr of whowhatwear.com, Simone Oliver, the Senior Fashion & Styles Web producer and journalist for The New York Times, Emily Weiss of Into the Gloss, Erin Kleinberg and Stephanie Mark of The Coveteur, and Arabelle Sicardi of Fashion Pirate.
After listening to many fashion professionals and hearing their success stories, the most advantageous and best advice that I learned during this weekend-long seminar event was the wise statement from the legendary fashion icon, Michael Kors, that “the key to success is to have a consistent point of view, but at the same time constantly evolve and experiment.”
Kors’ career advice stuck with me because in today’s society, it is important to know what you stand for, as well as what your clear defined goals are. Also, with the changing of technology, and with editorial work going from print to digital, it is crucial that one is able to adapt to the current changes that are occurring in the fashion industry, as well as in the media.
Other speakers at Teen Vogue Fashion U. 2011 included the fashion and accessory designers, as well as entrepreneurs such as: Alexander Wang, Jason Wu, Betsey Johnson, Rachel Roy, Eddie Borgo, Jessica Simpson, and Whitney Port.
Beauty industry professionals at the event included Dr. Howard Murad and Lori Jacobus of Murad, as well as Jessie Powers of Make Up For Ever.
There were also fashion buyers speaking at the event such as legendary Linda Fargo of Bergdorf Goodman and Brooke Jaffe of Bloomingdales.
Also, fashion stylist, Keegan Singh spoke at the event, along with fashion editors and bloggers including Amy Levin of the College Fashionista and Lauren Berger of the Intern Queen.
Sponsors for Teen Vogue Fashion U. 2011 included: American Apparel, Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), Clean&Clear, essie, Topshop, Clean Scene by Murad, Guess, H&M, Jessica Simpson, Sharpie, Trollbreads, Makeup For Ever, ABC Family, Glacéau Smart Water, and LeSportsac.
In conclusion, I highly recommend for girls and guys out there, who are either in High School or college and have hopes of pursuing careers in the fashion industry, to apply for a chance to be a part of this enriching, educational event because as a graduate of the Teen Vogue Fashion U. 2011 class, I have gained a wider, more expansive knowledge of what it takes to obtain and hold a successful career in the fashion industry.
Also, at Teen Vogue Fashion U. I was able to make industry connections and share a special and interactive fashion experience with both the students and the influential professionals throughout the event.
For more information on Teen Vogue Fashion University, check out:
Teen Vogue Fashion U.’s website:
http://teenvoguefashionuniversity.com/
Teen Vogue Fashion U.’s Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/fashionu
Follow Teen Vogue Fashion U. on Twitter:
@tvfu
Watch the live coverage from Teen Vogue Fashion U. 2011 online at:
http://fashionu.fora.tv/
[DARBY RADCLIFF]
Photos by Darby Radcliff and Arianna Padfield
