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Hi there!
Hi there!
How I went from working retail at a local mall to producing fashion shows at New York Fashion Week...
Breaking into the fashion industry can seem impossible, especially because it is still unfortunately a world where nepotism largely rules. However, it is very much possible to make your way in even if your parents don’t own a major fashion house or have personal connections at Vogue.
I’m living proof.
How I went from working retail at a local mall to producing fashion shows at New York Fashion Week...
Breaking into the fashion industry can seem impossible, especially because it is still unfortunately a world where nepotism largely rules. However, it is very much possible to make your way in even if your parents don’t own a major fashion house or have personal connections at Vogue.
I'm living proof.
THE BEGINNING
MALL JOBS, MANNEQUINS AND THE CHANGE OF A DREAM
I never thought I'd be part of the fashion industry...
As a kid, I grew up with the dream of being a performer. Voice lessons, dance recitals, acting classes - that was the entirety of my childhood.
I also loved making things beautiful. As a child, that meant making clothes for my Barbies and playing for hours at a time. As an adult, it would mean creating visual displays and styling models for photo shoots.
Slowly, fashion took over over my childhood dreams of being a famous Broadway star. So, it was no surprise that at 16 I got my first job working retail at a clothing store in the mall.
Retail gave me the opportunity to work while going to school and would continue to do so my entire college career.
In the end, I spent a total of six years in retail as a sales associate, personal shopper, store manager, visual sales manager and finally, as a visual merchandising stylist.
What started as a way to make money to buy cute clothes became the means and the hands-on experience I would need in order to take courses at FIT and later LIM.
Working and going to school full time meant that my time management skills had to be razor sharp, otherwise the carefully constructed schedule I had built would come crashing down.
Mornings and nights were spent at work. Afternoons were spent rushing to the train, commuting 1.5 hours to get to class, then racing back to relieve my boss and close the store. Homework was done on the train and every single weekend was spent at work.
This was the only way I could achieve my full time 40-hour a week status and still graduate.
...It was sheer madness and I have absolutely no idea how I managed to pull it off.
THE BEGINNING
MALL JOBS, MANNEQUINS AND
THE CHANGE OF A DREAM
I never thought I'd be part of the fashion industry...
As a kid, I grew up with the dream of being a performer.
Voice lessons, dance recitals, acting classes - that was the entirety of my childhood.
I also loved making things beautiful. As a child, that
meant making clothes for my Barbies and playing for hours at a time.
As an adult, it would mean creating visual displays and styling models for photo shoots.
Slowly, fashion took over over my childhood dreams of being a famous
Broadway star. So, it was no surprise that at 16 I got my first job
working retail at a clothing store in the mall.
Retail gave me the opportunity to work while going to school
and would continue to do so my entire college career.
In the end, I spent a total of six years in retail as a sales associate, personal shopper,
store manager, visual sales manager and finally, as a visual merchandising stylist.
What started as a way to make money to buy cute clothes became the means and the
hands-on experience I would need in order to take courses at FIT and later LIM.
Working and going to school full time meant that my time management skills
had to be razor sharp, otherwise the carefully constructed schedule
I had built would come crashing down.
Mornings and nights were spent at work. Afternoons were spent rushing to the train,
commuting 1.5 hours to get to class, then racing back to relieve my boss and close the store.
Homework was done on the train and every single weekend was spent at work.
This was the only way I could achieve my full time 40-hour a week
status and still graduate.
...It was sheer madness and I have absolutely no
idea how I managed to pull it off.
INSIDE MY WORLD OF
NYFW FASHION SHOWS
INSIDE MY WORLD OF
NYFW FASHION
SHOWS
MY FASHION SHOW EXPERIENCE STARTED AS A BACKSTAGE MODEL DRESSER...
Over the next 10 years, I would learn every single aspect of a fashion show.
During my time at FIT, I was introduced to the world of fashion shows and it changed the course of my life. I was HOOKED. The crazy energy and adrenaline backstage, the absolute precision – every second mattered and my head just spun.
Over the years, no matter what full-time job I had, I continued to volunteer for as many shows and events as I could in order to get as much hands-on experience as possible until I was getting hired to work them.
In addition to fashion shows, I worked on all kinds of live large-scale events including, award shows, film premieres, product launches and music festivals.
MY FASHION SHOW EXPERIENCE STARTED AS A BACKSTAGE MODEL DRESSER...
Over the next 10 years, I would learn every single aspect of a fashion show.
During my time at FIT, I was introduced to the world of fashion shows and it changed the course of my life. I was HOOKED. The crazy energy and adrenaline backstage, the absolute precision – every second mattered and my head just spun.
Over the years, no matter what full-time job I had, I continued to volunteer for as many shows and events as I could in order to get as much hands-on experience as possible until I was getting hired to work them.
In addition to fashion shows, I worked on all kinds of live large-scale events including, award shows, film premieres, product launches and music festivals.
THIS WAS INVALUABLE FOR THE NEXT STEP IN MY CAREER:
CORPORATE MARKETING & EVENTS AT RALPH LAUREN
What started as an internship at RL ended up being my ‘home’ for the next seven years. My time with the company proved to be one of the most important steps in my career as I was able to work in public relations, marketing, styling, ecommerce, events and online marketing – broadening my skill sets and strengthening my experience as a professional in ways I never thought possible.
After my time at Ralph Lauren and armed with years of experience, I was finally ready for the next facet of my career as a freelancer.
THIS WAS INVALUABLE FOR THE NEXT STEP IN MY CAREER:
CORPORATE MARKETING & EVENTS AT RALPH LAUREN
What started as an internship at RL ended up being my ‘home’ for the next seven years. My time with the company proved to be one of the most important steps in my career as I was able to work in public relations, marketing, styling, ecommerce, events and online marketing – broadening my skill sets and strengthening my experience as a professional in ways I never thought possible.
After my time at Ralph Lauren and armed with years of experience, I was finally ready for the next facet of my career as a freelancer.
PARTNERSHIPS & EVENTS
THE FASHION ARCHIVES
PARTNERSHIPS & EVENTS
THE FASHION
ARCHIVES
COMPANIES
DIZON, INC
BERGDORF GOODMAN
EVENTIQUE.
EYESIGHT GROUP
SOFIA CROKOS EVENTS
JENNIFER ZABINSKI EVENTS
BLUE REVOLVER INC.
RALPH LAUREN
OFF-WHITE
HETRICK-MARTIN INSTITUTE
NIKE
PRONOVIAS
AIR COMPANY
BOB WOODRUFF FOUNDATION
LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY
MACYS
NEIMAN MARCUS
SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
NEIMAN MARCUS
NINE WEST
SEVEN BAR FOUNDATION
TORY BURCH
CHRISTIAN SIRIANO
WISE & CO.
A CURRENT AFFAIR
VEUVE CLICQUOT
MAKE-A-WISH
TICKETMASTER
MERCEDES BENZ
GUCCI
BACARDI
EVENTS
JACK TAYLOR WELLNESS EVENT
HUMANE SOCIETY GALA
CCBF GALA
EMERY AWARDS
NY FASHION WEEK
AMFAR GALA
BG HOLIDAY WINDOW REVEAL
BG WOMEN OF DISTINCTION
NATIONAL MAGAZINE AWARDS
FASHION FOR RELIEF
WOMEN IN THE WORLD SUMMIT
NFL FASHION EVENT
TORTUGA MUSIC FESTIVAL
TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL
JEFFREY CARES EVENT SHOW
STAND UP FOR HEROES
POLO RALPH LAUREN SHOW
LED ZEPPELIN: CELEBRATION DAY
EXPRESS: ROCK THE SIDEWALK
AAFA AMERICAN IMAGE AWARDS
BENEFIT 7 BAR FOUNDATION
BARCELONA BEACH FESTIVAL
AMERICAN IMAGE AWARDS
GUCCI SUNGLASS EVENT – SPAIN
VEUVE CLICQUOT POLO MATCH
STARS FROM TOMORROW
MACY’S THANKSGIVING PARADE
BILL BLASS CHARITY GALA
DILLARDS KENTUCKY DERBY
VIVIENNE WESTWOOD EXHIBIT
UNICEF 70TH ANNIVERSARY GALA
SHOWS
DION LEE
KITH
N. HOOLYWOOD
VIVIENNE WESTWOOD
PAMELLA ROLAND
ZADIG & VOLTAIRE
BATSHEVA
CREATURES OF COMFORT
PRABAL GURUNG
NOON BY NOOR
ZADIG & VOLTAIRE
BROOKS BROTHERS
PETER PILOTTO
OSCAR DE LA RENTA
RACHEL ZOE
CELINE
MARCHESA
CHARLOTTE RONSON
THE BLONDS
ERIN FETHERSTON
STELLA MCCARTNEY
LAUREN RALPH LAUREN
MONIQUE LHUILLIER
VERA WANG
MANGO X JCP LAUNCH SHOW
ZAC POSEN
THEORY
MARA HOFFMAN
JEREMY SCOTT
RODARTE
THAKOON
COMPANIES
DIZON, INC.
BERGDORF GOODMAN
HOUSE OF WARIS BOTANICALS
GREAT JONES DISTILLERY
ANGELINA PARIS
MARIPOL
OFF-WHITE
LEWIS MILLER DESIGN
ANDRE WALKER
BLUE REVOLVER INC
TRESEMME
EVENTIQUE.
EYESIGHT GROUP
SOFIA CROKOS EVENTS
JENNIFER ZABINSKI EVENTS
BB’S BACKSTAGE
RALPH LAUREN
ELLIE AWARDS FOUNDATION
HETRICK-MARTIN INSTITUTE
NIKE
PRONOVIAS
FOUNDATION FOR AIDS
BOB WOODRUFF FOUNDATION
LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY
MACYS
NEIMAN MARCUS
SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
NEIMAN MARCUS
NINE WEST
SEVEN BAR FOUNDATION
TORY BURCH
CHRISTIAN SIRIANO
WISE & CO.
A CURRENT AFFAIR
VEUVE CLICQUOT
MAKE-A-WISH
TICKETMASTER
MERCEDES BENZ
GUCCI
EXPRESS
BACARDI
EVENTS
JACK TAYLOR WELLNESS EVENT
BERGDORF GOODMAN HOLIDAY EVENT
HUMANE SOCIETY GALA
CCBF GALA
EMERY AWARDS
NY FASHION WEEK
AMFAR GALA
BG WOMEN OF DISTINCTION
NATIONAL MAGAZINE AWARDS
FASHION FOR RELIEF
WOMEN IN THE WORLD SUMMIT
NFL FASHION EVENT
TORTUGA MUSIC FESTIVAL
TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL
JEFFREY CARES EVENT SHOW
STAND UP FOR HEROES
POLO RALPH LAUREN SHOW
LED ZEPPELIN: CELEBRATION DAY
EXPRESS: ROCK THE SIDEWALK
AAFA AMERICAN IMAGE AWARDS
BENEFIT 7 BAR FOUNDATION
BARCELONA BEACH FESTIVAL
AMERICAN IMAGE AWARDS
GUCCI SUNGLASS EVENT – SPAIN
VEUVE CLICQUOT POLO MATCH
STARS FROM TOMORROW
MACY’S THANKSGIVING PARADE
BILL BLASS CHARITY GALA
DILLARDS KENTUCKY DERBY
VIVIENNE WESTWOOD EXHIBIT
UNICEF 70TH ANNIVERSARY GALA
SHOWS
THEORY
PAMELLA ROLAND
HERON PRESTON
DION LEE
BATSHEVA
KITH
N. HOOLYWOOD
VIVIENNE WESTWOOD
GIORGIO ARMANI
ZADIG & VOLTAIRE
MISHA COLLECTION
CREATURES OF COMFORT
PRABAL GURUNG
NOON BY NOOR
PRONOVIAS
BROOKS BROTHERS
PETER PILOTTO
OSCAR DE LA RENTA
RACHEL ZOE
CELINE
MARCHESA
CHARLOTTE RONSON
THE BLONDS
LAUREN RALPH LAUREN
ERIN FETHERSTON
STELLA MCCARTNEY
MONIQUE LHUILLIER
VERA WANG
MANGO X JCP LAUNCH SHOW
ZAC POSEN
RACHEL ZOE
MARA HOFFMAN
JEREMY SCOTT
RODARTE
THAKOON
GET TO KNOW ME
A LITTLE ABOUT
GET TO KNOW ME
A LITTLE ABOUT
Maria
have given me extensive experience and a deep understanding of the inner workings of this beautiful and complicated industry.
As someone who has hustled her entire life - starting with nothing, no contacts and zero experience - I know what it feels like to be relentless; I learned firsthand how to keep knocking no matter the number of doors that slammed shut in my face.
My mission and heartfelt goal is to be the facilitator of your fashion career dreams so that you can make your professional goals a reality faster and with less setbacks than I had.
Whether you choose to download my free guides, work one-on-one with me through coaching services, join my members-only network or sign up for my signature course, I want you to know that I am here for you.
Together, we can make all of your fashion career dreams a reality.
have given me extensive experience and a deep understanding of the inner workings of this beautiful and complicated industry.
As someone who has hustled her entire life - starting with nothing, no contacts and zero experience - I know what it feels like to be relentless; I learned firsthand how to keep knocking no matter the number of doors that slammed shut in my face.
My mission and heartfelt goal is to be the facilitator of your fashion career dreams so that you can make your professional goals a reality faster and with less setbacks than I had.
Whether you choose to download my free guides, work with me through coaching services, join my members-only network or sign up for my signature course, I want you to know that I am always here for you.
Together, we can make all of your fashion career dreams a reality.
I love hearing from people in our incredible community and receiving messages about how I can help them accomplish their career goals.
So, let’s connect! My team and I do our best to get back to everyone, just let us know how we can help.
If this question is related to my courses or membership and you need support, please contact the team directly.
If you'd like to discuss projects within my freelance services or would like me to speak to your school or organization, please contact me here.
I love hearing from people in our incredible community and receiving messages about how I can help them accomplish their career goals.
So, let’s connect! My team and I do our best to get back to everyone,
just let us know how we can help.
If this question is related to my courses or membership and you need support, please contact the team directly.
If you'd like to discuss projects within my freelance services or would like me to speak at your school or organization, please contact me here.
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Further Your Fashion Career
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Feel Supported As You
Further Your Fashion Career
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