Fashionable Education

posted by guest

Aug 12, 2008 6:14AM

I live in the UK, but when I leave school at 18, I plan to work my socks off until I have enough cash to go to NY or somewhere to do a fashion course in journalism or marketing.

posted by guest

Aug 13, 2008 9:56AM

I know someone who recently graduated from a very good graduate program at FIT. They were the students who did the Christian Louboutin exhibit this past winter. She had a degree in math before getting into the program and plans to work in textile restoration and design. She loved the program and some of the other students in the small class already had interesting careers in magazines or design.

posted by fauvism3

Aug 14, 2008 1:36PM

Parsons=better for design

FIT=better for merchandising

But with FIT at least, don't bother becoming a full time student--you can take classes at night/online so that you can work during the day.

posted by guest

Aug 15, 2008 11:34PM

I would say that I agree with fauvism3. Parson's is definately better for Fashion Design and Fashion Photography. And FIT is better for Marketing and Merchandising. I plan on going to FIT to study Marketing and Merchandising and then go to Parson's (in a couple years) to study Fashion Design and Photography. I have never heard of Instituto Marangoni, but I am going to be sure to check it out.

posted by blythespirit

Aug 16, 2008 11:14AM

i'm with fauvism(parsons),unless you want the italy experience.I went to DOMUS milan for masters degree...only good thing was the networking/interning options...got me started,big names on resume(versace/spadafora/d&g etc...).
FIT faculty are the worst-dinosaurs,the lot of them.best thing that's happening a parsons is the selectivity-getting harder to get in,more portfolio based,to edit out the "i've seen the YSL bio special on OVATION,so i'm an expert on design..."crowd..

posted by rhcpanka

Aug 18, 2008 5:07AM

Im also considering Marangoni, but I really don't know if it's worth it...If someone went to this school, please share some information...

posted by guest

Aug 22, 2008 9:57AM

I actually go to LIM here... the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising, it's main building is on fifth ave. There's more majors than merchandising but it's more known for that. I'm really happy here and they work really hard to break you into the business. Also, there is a 98% lifetime placement rate and many of my friends who graduated here are now working for everyone they had aspired to work with. I'd check into here, I hear bad things about how FIT is ran.

posted by guest

Sep 01, 2008 11:57PM

First I would suggest you make a list of the pros and cons of all the schools. At the end of the day, it all depends on your willingness to put the work and make the best out of whatever school you attend.
One thing I would like to point out is, that it is very important for the school to have close ties with the outside world. They need to be connected to fashion houses and companies that you would like to try out while you are in your years of study.
That is how you get your foot in the door, specially in New York. I went to Parsons and I got and internship at Marc Jacobs before I graduated.
By the way when you come to NY, let me know, I am looking for someone to help me write a business plan for a fashion line.
hope this helps and let me know how it goes

Kookie-B

posted by NewBrahmin

Sep 03, 2008 5:46PM

As an LIM alum, I felt like I should have gone through a more general program elsewhere and be the girl who was into fashion. My personal feelings for the school aside, it shares several conjunct instructors with FIT and Parsons so depending on which you're comparing to tuition wise, you are either wasting or saving money (FIT is the most affordable). But like most education experiences, it's all about who you know. Granted there's a larger and more substantial talent pool at FIT and Parsons who may one day become someone important, but go out, intern your ass off, ask questions, volunteer, whatever. Fashion cannot be taught in a book, it has to be experienced since it's ever changing. When it comes down to it, where you went to school doesn't really matter if you know your shit and are a hard worker. Having a great sense of style and being pretty (and in most cases, rich, because fashion is not the most lucrative business) doesn't hurt either. I mean, Zac Posen never even finished college and he was the guest speaker at my lame graduation.

posted by guest

Sep 05, 2008 6:18PM

I wanted to go to school for fashion promotion and more of a marketing and promotions edge, so did a ton of research on this 5 years ago!

Parsons is more design oriented, they didn't have the exact program i was looking for at the time.

FIT did not really impress me when i looked at it, but i think for a more business and marketing edge this would be the better NYC choice.

I also research istituto Marangoni because they had the PERFECT program that i was looking for, but moving to italy was a huge commitment that i just couldn't handel.

The school I did end up going to thats not on your list is London College of Fashion, it is part of the University of the Arts London (same university as Central St Martins!). They have BA and MA programs and it is very difficult to get accepted as an American, which I think is a good thing. It ensure that everyone there actually knows about fashion and promotions.

So, Check out LCF!