"Just go for it, dream big! I'd always rather say 'oh well' than 'what if,'" says Candi Matthias, a well-rounded farm girl-turned-fashion merchandiser from Readlyn, Iowa, who first transferred to Los Angeles four years ago in order to work in finance, and has since graduated from the Fashion Insitute of Design & Merchandising (where Season 6 of Project Runway was filmed). She currently works as the handbags merchandising assistant at Guess?, a global fashion brand based in downtown Los Angeles, which is a short commute from her home in Koreatown. The following is an exclusive interview on her transition from finance to fashion:
On high school:
I attended Wapsie Valley High School and participated in just about everything: football & basketball cheerleading, dance, band, show choir, speech, National Honor Society, class vice-president.
Did you win any awards in school?
Nothing that I really remember 10 years later
On working at Guess?:
My job is two-fold really: I am responsible for allocating all of our handbags and small leather goods to 150 stores throughout US and Canada. And I also assist in the selection of our assortment for each month's new deliveries, visit stores/competitive shop, and work with our visual team to ensure our goods are merchandised properly.
How long have you been there?
It'll be 1 year in September.
What is it like working there?
It's much more analytical than most people realize. You have to constantly analyze your business, sales, markdowns - and react to what is going in all environments that can affect sales. It's a fast-paced industry in general as what customers want is always evolving so it's our jobs to keep up. I get there at 7:30 every day so it's also very tiring to work there, haha.
Why did you move to LA?
I had the opportunity to transfer to the LA sales office when I was working with Principal Financial Group. I've always wanted to live in a big city and LA is pretty much as big as it gets so I was very lucky to have been given the chance.
How did you make the move from working for The Principal Financial Group to being in the fashion industry?
I had heard of a school in LA called FIDM and I applied after some careful consideration and told myself if I was accepted I would just go for it and make the switch. Once I was in school I worked internships at BCBG and TJX Companies and thus began my move from finance to fashion :)
Was it a long thought process for you to decide?
Yes because I had made such amazing connections with everyone at PFG and I had been with the company for 6 years. It was difficult to give that up and go into such an unknown industry for me at the time and also I knew financially that going back to school and changing careers would be a little bit of a set back. But with all of that aside I knew in the end I really wanted to try to pursue what I am truly passionate about.
Did you like fashion as a little girl?
Of course! I loved playing Barbie as a little girl but I was always making my own outfits for her out of scrap fabric and styling her in crazy ways. And I loved my grandma's old costume jewelry, I could play dress up for hours.
How did you know you wanted to get into fashion?
Because getting dressed has always been one of the highlights of my day. A great styled outfit makes everything better. And I wanted to be a part of this industry because it's what excites me.
What are you favorite things about Los Angeles?
1. The ability to be outdoors almost year around - i love hiking, going to the beach, outdoor theatre and movies, artwalks, food truck festivals, Hollywood Bowl...
2. There are a million amazing restaurants to try
3. Every kind of shopping imaginable
4. And I love that so many people move to LA to follow their dreams. It's a fascinating place to live.
What does Des Moines or the midwest have that LA doesn't have?
Wal-mart! Haha. But, seriously, I have to drive forever to find one here. And I miss fall. Layers, scarves, boots are my favorite to wear and LA doesn't really have seasons to wear great transitional outfits.
On working in the fashion industry:
On really stressful days I try to remember why I put all the effort in to switch careers in the first place. And having friends in the industry who understand the craziness is key to remaining calm.
If students here wanted to try to get into the fashion industry, any words of wisdom/advice?
Network. With everyone. It's so important in this industry, whether you're in LA or Iowa, to meet people and make connections. Even if you're a student, make business cards or something similar and attend events, speakers, school clubs....anything where you can meet and connect with others in the industry. And just go for it, dream big! I'd always rather say 'oh well' than 'what if'.
Candi is featured as part of a series for Fashion’s Night Out Midwest.
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