THE #TRYHARD DIARIES: An Introduction to #TRYING to Make It in The Fashion Industry

I’ve played with the idea of writing this blog series for quite some time. As someone who has been-trying-attempting- and sort of mildly succeeding at smashing into the fashion industry on a small scale (I am ridiculously humble from years of bosses making me feel like the insignificant happy helper, bitter you might say? Oh, most definitely. But with a smile of course because, that’s how you take your abuse in this industry.), I have constantly been on the lookout for some form of fashion self-help - how-to you could say.

We’ve all heard the success stories from the pioneers in the late 80s, 90s, and even 00s. They all go a little something like, “Against my parent’s approvals I moved from so-so to try to make it in the big city, with just a couple thousand dollars in my pocket,” OR “I’m a trust fund baby dripping in Marc Jacobs with a Fendi Baguette on my arm.” (I think I had like $320 in bank account when I moved from Oregon to New York in September of 2014 and that’s generally the amount of money in my bank account at any given time.)

Low key, after having a brief stint at Fendi I am still dying for the tackiest Fendi Baguette I can find. Hello, Poshmark!

But, I’m honestly not interested in these stories. These stories were great and all and to be a wannabe publicist or a wannabe editor in party girl culture in the 80s-00s where both rent and I’m sure drinks were cheaper – it just seems like it was easier to meet like-minded individuals also scraping their way into the industry and getting press based on their cool party friends and connections.

I had read an article awhile back on British GQ that had a quote from William Rice in it about the ever-changing industry and how much harder public relations has gotten. He said the following about the music industry in the 90s and I feel like this 100% coincides with the fashion industry as well based off of all of the memoirs and “success stories” I’ve read or heard about; public relations back then were, “like shooting fish in a barrel. You'd buy someone a first-class plane ticket, give them a bag of cocaine and they'd give you a feature."
(The super interesting article in question can be found here: http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/purple-pr-music-london-profile )

For some reason after reading that quote I’ve always just been like, well shit… If this is how the Wild West of publicists and influencers worked back then, then I really came into play in the wrong decade.

My resume in the industry isn’t even nearly as extensive as let’s say a girl who probably went to the Fashion Institute of Technology or had a great-great aunt who worked at Vogue but, every internship, contract gig, glimpse at full time employment and fashion show I’ve had the privilege of being a part of has molded me in such a way that I feel like I HAVE to share these experiences with someone else. I’ve shared beds in tiny rooms, been traumatized by a past c-level celebrity boss, under paid and over worked, been told I’d never make it, I’ve lived on $30 a week, barely made rent, and have put myself into more debt than I care to admit. I’ve spent so long trying to find my own voice in this industry, that if I can provide some kind of insight to at least one person or give some kind of a glimpse into what it takes to make it on a very small scale – then I’ll feel like my life had more purpose then let’s say; the time I lead the charge to get a dress on Bella Hadid on the cover of X magazine wearing X brand. Though please keep in mind I still haven’t made it.

These are my #TRYHARD diaries. And I’m dying to hear about yours.