Work, Work, Work

Wow, I wish I'd taken requests sooner. Thanks for the posts and I've gotten some great, thought-provoking emails as well.

Number one most popular question: Where am I going?

I've got a book due in May that will be published by Bloomsbury in Spring 2009. (That's the book world for you.) It's The Jimmy Choo Story (and for those of you who have said it's boring -- come on! Tamara, Matthew, her dad, the polo-playing private equity guys ... I mean, ya can't make those characters up! Or at least I couldn't). After that? Dunno. I am kind of shocked at how bad department store internet sites are. One writer suggested I pen a column for one of them. I think I'd like to take it a notch further and help someone build it from scratch and edit the thing. I mean why have they all just sat back and let net-a-porter walk away with that business? But it will take some convincing to get them to allocate the funds, so if anyone has any other ideas, let me know. (LGoldsteinCrowe@gmail.com)

Number two most popular question:

How do I break into the business side of the fashion industry?

Since I never really worked in fashion, I'm not sure I'm the most qualified person to reply, but that's never stopped me before...

1. Do as many internships as you possibly can while you're a student. Not because you're going to learn that much, but because you'll meet that many more people and, like any industry, fashion thrives on connections. Tell everyone you meet what you want to do and ask if they know anyone else you should meet. Then meet them and repeat until someone offers you a job.

2. Pick out the company you most want to work for and send the C.E.O. long and flowery letters praising their superior intelligence and speaking especially favorably about anything you know was a pet project of theirs. C.E.O.s are the unsung heroes of the luxury universe and don't get nearly enough (or any) fan mail. "The way you recapitalized in 2004 was the work of genius! That fragrance license was the best deal I've ever seen done! The way you mange your inventory ... awe inspiring." Never, never, never under-estimate the power of flattery. Then ask for a meeting. If they are in another city, tell them you're coming to town to see friends and would love to see them while you're in town. Don't book your ticket until they've said 'yes,' and don't ever admit you weren't coming to town anyway. Ask them for their help, advice and, most importantly, contacts. Write a thank you note. Write to them every-so-often and ask if anything suitable is coming up on the horizon.

3. Pick an emerging market and master it. All the brands now see global expansion as the way forward and they all need people who understand the way the new markets work. Fluent Mandarin a plus.

4. There's also a less-structured route. Pick an emerging designer whose work you love and offer to work for equity. Running a small fashion company isn't rocket science. You'll figure it out and when they hit it big, so will you. It worked for Giancarlo Giammetti...

Question Number Three (because it kinda goes with 1 and 2):

Another writer asked about sources of information on styling.

A few of the stylists I know went to fashion school. But by no means all of them. I really do think that some people are just born with a great eye. But a great resource is the Sartorialist because he really explains what he likes about a look and what makes it work. Constantly ask yourself what makes that person look so great -- and what you would change to bring an average look together. Set yourself little tasks, like trying to make a really chic outfit from the selection in the sale bin at Goodwill. I'll never forget going thrift store shopping in Montreal with Anne Christensen, long before she became a famous stylist. Three of us came out with tatty sweaters we probably never wore. Anne came out with gems.

And speaking of gems, more of your questions tomorrow...