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| Missy out promoting NATASHA MORGAN NYC eyewear in the city |
When you think of intern, you can image Anne Hathaway running down the street of a busy NY city for her devil of a boss. Well, at least that's what I think of. NYC is an "intern" city, with many working at some of the most popular magazines, fashion companies, or on Wall Street. We got a chance to ask a NY intern some questions on her experience. Melissa Hazeldine is interning for NATASHA MORGAN NYC, a fashion accessory and eyewear line. Melissa or Missy is aiding Zomnia Vasquez, a photographer and business partner of Natasha Morgan. Missy is an Apparel Merchadising major at Auburn University.
How is interning in NY? Anything like "Devil Wears Prada"?
It is definitely difficult adjusting to life in New York. I honestly wouldn’t give it up for anything. There are the occasional coffee runs, pick ups, and silly errands you have to run as an intern, but there are also a lot of perks as well. To be honest, it is quite like the movie. My other friend who is interning here for Alexander Wang sent me a text the other day that read, “currently running around like Anne Hathaway”. If that answers your question, haha.
What is a typical day like for you on your internship?
Responsibilities and daily tasks range on a day to day basis. I mostly help out on photo shoots. When I am not working a shoot, I am editing photos for social media sites to promote the brand, helping clean eyewear, going out into the city to promote the eyewear, etc. My second day on the job I worked a 14 hour long day at a shoot for Vogue Mexico. I have never been so excited/nervous/stressed out all at once in my life! I also shoot street fashion from time to time. I go out with a stylist, he/she picks out the person who strikes us as fashionable, we give them a pair of our eyewear, and my job is to shoot them looking fabulous in their outfit with the eyewear pulling everything together.
What advice would you give to interns to make them stand out?
Do not be afraid to be yourself. Companies are looking for individuals with personality and interests outside of fashion in order to bring something new to the table. For example, my bosses love the fact that I am so outgoing and easy to talk to, my southern manners (Yes ma’am, No sir), and my reliability to follow through with tasks. Also, any extra experience and a strong resume definitely helps as well. I studied abroad in Italy for a semester and that played a large role in obtaining my internship.
How is working in the fashion industry in one of the major fashion cities?
It
definitely is overwhelming at first, but you’d be surprised at how
easy it is to fit in. I absolutely love it here and am dreading going
back home to finish school. You meet SO MANY people here, so it is
imperative to always be dressed to impress and respect everyone you
meet. You never know if the person you run into at a bar on a weekend
out with friends just so happens to play a huge role in the fashion
industry. For example, I met the denim designer for Ralph Lauren the
other night at a rooftop BBQ and ending up networking with many
others that same night.
How do you feel about entrepreneurship and fashion? Do they work together?
They go hand in hand, in my opinion. In order to get anywhere in the fashion industry, I have found that you must put out money, do free jobs, and work extremely long hours on your own before obtaining your goals. I respect Natasha Morgan more than anything after learning that she has put so much of her own money into this business before making any sort of profit. It’s all about drive and how much you really want something.
Find her internship online at :
Natashamorgannyc.com
Zomniaphotography.com
