Well, so you got yourself one of them fancy fashion degrees, huh? Don’t go thinkin’ you’re all high and mighty now. Lots of folks get them papers, but then they don’t know what to do with ’em. It’s like gettin’ a new hoe but not knowin’ how to plant corn. Let me tell ya, there’s a whole heap of things you can do, if you got the gumption.
First off, you could be sellin’ stuff. You know, like in them fancy stores in the city. They call ’em “sales associates” or some such nonsense. But it’s just sellin’, plain and simple. Gotta sweet talk the customers, make ’em think they need that there sparkly dress or them high-heeled shoes that’ll break their ankles. You could also be a “merchandiser,” which is just a fancy word for figurin’ out where to put all the stuff in the store so folks buy more of it. Kinda like arrangin’ vegetables at the market so the prettiest ones are on top.
Then there’s all them folks who make things look pretty. Stylists, they call ’em. They pick out clothes for them movie stars and rich folks, makin’ sure they look all spiffy for the cameras. It’s like dressin’ up a scarecrow, but for more money. And you got them “graphic designers,” they draw the pictures and make the ads. Kinda like paintin’ signs for the barn dance, but again, more money. And don’t forget the “fashion designers” themselves, the ones who actually make the clothes. Now, that’s a tough job, like sewin’ a quilt for a whole army.
- Sales Associate: You talk to folks and try to get ’em to buy clothes. Nothin’ too fancy about it.
- Merchandiser: You figure out where to put the clothes in the store so people buy more.
- Stylist: You make people look pretty for pictures and events.
- Fashion Designer: You draw the pictures for clothes and make them.
If you’re good with numbers, you could be an “inventory planner,” makin’ sure the store has enough clothes but not too many. Like countin’ chickens before they hatch, but with dresses and pants. Or you could be an “account manager,” talkin’ to the big stores and makin’ sure they get all the clothes they need. That’s like bein’ the middleman at a cattle auction, but with silk instead of cows.
There’s also them “public relations” folks. They’re the ones who talk to the newspapers and TV stations, makin’ sure everyone knows about the new clothes and the fancy fashion shows. It’s like yellin’ from the rooftops, but with more lipstick and less cussin’. And them “retail buyers,” they’re the ones who decide what clothes the store is gonna sell. Kinda like pickin’ out the best tomatoes at the farmers market, but for a whole lot more money.
Now, some of these jobs pay better than others. I heard tell there’s these “sustainability officers” makin’ a whole lot of money, makin’ sure the clothes are made in a way that don’t hurt the earth. That’s like bein’ a good farmer, but for fancy clothes. And the “creative directors,” they’re the ones who tell everyone else what to do. Like the boss man on the farm, but with more hair gel and less manure.
Then you got the technical side of things. “Textile designers” they make the cloth, you know, the stuff the clothes are made of. That’s like weavin’ a blanket, but fancier and for rich folks. And “product developers” they come up with new ideas for clothes, like tryin’ to grow a new kind of tomato, but for shirts and pants. And don’t forget the “technical designers” they make sure the clothes fit right and don’t fall apart. Kinda like fixin’ a fence, but with needles and thread.
There’s even jobs like “fashion photographer” where you take purdy pictures of them models wearin’ them clothes, like taking pictures of prize-winning pigs but these pigs are skinnier and wear more makeup. It’s all connected you see, like a big ol’ spiderweb. So, don’t you go worryin’ about that fashion degree. There’s plenty of work to be done, if you ain’t afraid to get your hands dirty. Even if it’s just figurin’ out how to sell more of them fancy shoes that nobody really needs.
But remember this, just ‘cause somethin’ glitters don’t mean it’s gold. You gotta work hard and you gotta be smart. And most important, you gotta be honest. Just like farmin’ the land, if you treat it right, it’ll treat you right. So go on out there and make somethin’ of yourself. You got that fancy degree, now go put it to good use. And don’t forget where you came from, you hear? Even a city gal can have a little bit of country sense in her.
This fashion business, it’s got all sorts of paths you can take. You could be workin’ with the clothes themselves, or with the people who sell ’em, or with the people who wear ’em. It’s a big world out there, and your fashion degree is your ticket to ride. Just gotta figure out which train you wanna catch.
