Life as a Fashion Intern

After having an interview for a paid internship the other day (which sadly I did not get) and speaking to 6 other girls at the assessment day, I've realised that all fashion interns have experienced the same soul-crushing treatment over and over. We chatted about this whilst eyeing up our competition and secretly thinking 'oh god please let it be me getting my first proper paid job.'

So here are just a few of the situations fashion interns are faced with every day ...

1. Trying to look like the latest Vuitton, Acne and Chloe cookbooks when you are skint trying to style out last years Primark.

2. Having to eat last nights dinner left-overs for your packed lunch whilst surrounded by Pret, Itsu and Benugo.

3.Having to look your employed friends in the eye when they ask 'do you enjoy interning?'and silently nod and smile because they just won't understand. 

4.Going to multiple interviews and being told that you are overqualified by some and under qualified by others! Will the vicious cycle ever end...

5. Finding yourself drooling over the samples that get thrown around the office like thrift-store garments.

6. Having to style out the comfiest flats you own as your bound to be sent out on a 40 minute wild goose chase around London.

7. Knowing you could go and apply for any regular office job but don't because you're so desperate for your dream job that you'll live with mum and dad until your 30.

8. Having to pretend that you haven't just seen Kate Moss enter the building, it's no big deal, and you haven't just texted your entire contact list to record the incident. 

9.Remembering when you thought that interning would be glamorous but have now come to terms with the reality that sometimes you even have to take the boss's dog out to do a number two (this one might have just been me)

10. Thinking it's the end of the day, oh no you silly intern you've just been given 4 more tasks to do before tomorrow morning, hurry along you little unpaid being...

Indy Work Experience

After my first week interning for the fashion desk at The Independent I thought I'd share how my experience has been so far ...

1- Before beginning my experience I was asked to sign a contract of consent which allowed me to refuse any tasks, and also said there may be times where I may not have any jobs to do. 

2- My first day was wonderful! The team which I was working with were very welcoming and eased me into my tasks as I was using a number of programmes which were new to me. 

3- Although I was not paid for this experience it has been worth the forty minute daily commutes into London!

4- I previously considered myself to have a reasonable amount of knowledge about the fashion industry, but have learnt a number of new things through article research and working alongside the team.

5- I have held real responsibility in tasks such as contacting brands PRs for specific duties such as requesting samples, as well as creating schedules for press release dates. 

6- I also assisted a menswear shoot in which I helped with a number of tasks. 

My first week has been great and I hope my second is just as good!

Thanks for reading!

K.