Like many young girls who played dress up with their mother’s Sunday best, Patrice Batson has long had dreams of working in the fashion industry; ultimately, she’d consider her goals fulfilled if she woke up one morning as the president of communications or marketing for an international fashion house. But for now, Patrice is fashioning her way up the ladder of the industry.
A graduate of St. John’s University, she got her start interning and freelancing with the likes of Versace, Seventeen Magazine, IMG Fashion, DKNY Jeans, and Iconix Brand Group. Currently, she is the International Fashion and Accessories Coordinator at InStyle magazine.
When not networking within the style industry or planning advertising campaigns for international fashion brands, she can be seen chronicling her journey in the fashion industry at TheSocialPea.com.
Here, she answers a few questions regarding what it means to work in the fashion industry.
TV shows (like Ugly Betty or The City) often attempt to dramatize what it’s like working in the fashion industry. How accurate would you say they are?
Sitcoms like Ugly Betty and reality shows such as The City, The Hills, etc definitely dramatize what it’s like in the industry. They always seem to add a touch of glamour and fabulousness that isn’t necessarily there. Just like any other industry, you have to work hard and pay your dues in the fashion industry as well. At the end of the day, the shows are just entertainment and I hope that the viewers understand that. I’ve had plenty of my interns come to work and think they will just sit and stare a computer all day long while gossiping a la Lauren Conrad, but that’s just the quickest way to get fired!
What advice would you give to an intern or a young professional trying to break into the industry?
One: Never take no for answer. Your bosses don’t want to hear that you can’t get them into the most exclusive restaurant or spa. They don’t want excuses; they want results.
Two: Develop a thick skin. This isn’t high school or college; no one is going to baby you. Learn as much as you can as soon as you can so no one has to tell you something more than once.
Three: Hard work pays off. There’s a big misconception that you have to have a trust fund or wealthy family to make it in the fashion industry and I’m living proof that you don’t. Every job that I got in the industry, I worked hard and proved that I was worth it. I still do things that are considered “intern” tasks and I don’t mind because that small thing could be the reason that someone remembers me and recommends me for my next position. This industry is all about relationships.
The fashion industry has more career tracks than just clothing designer, model, or magazine editor. What is your role at InStyle?
The business side of fashion such as advertising, marketing and public relations always gets looked over for the more glamorous roles like being an editor or modeling and designing. At InStyle, I am the international fashion and accessories coordinator in the advertising department. I provide support to help the sales team achieve revenue goals and targets (read: advertising pages). Luckily, I get to work on great accounts such as Louis Vuitton, Prada, Burberry, and Chanel… Just to name a few! One of the amazing things about my job is that everyday you get to do different things. One day I’m preparing a sales presentation for potential advertisers and the next day I’m managing and coordinator a trip to Europe for the publisher of the magazine. It’s definitely keeps you on your toes.
Aside from working with some of the biggest names in fashion, what are some of the perks of working in the industry?
The number one perk of working in the fashion industry is of course the clothes! I’ve had internships and jobs where I didn’t have to buy clothes for a whole season; that was amazing and my bank account loved it. Other perks are the events and the opportunity to network. Starting out in the fashion industry can be intimidating. Luckily we have social media networks like LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook to help make it less scary, but there’s nothing like making a connection with someone face to face. Besides, the public relations assistant you met last night at a party could be the next VP of Communications at Balenciaga one day; you really never know where anyone will end up so it’s great to nurture and build those relationships.
It’s not all glamour and fancy clothes, though. What are some of the drawbacks?
The drawbacks would definitely be the hours; it’s not a 9 to 5 job. Some days I’m in the office at 7 am and won’t leave until 7 or 8 at night. Luckily, there’s a cycle in the fashion industry. Some seasons (like fall and spring) are really busy because advertisers are trying to sell pages, and designers are getting ready for shows. Other seasons, such as summer, will be slow. I happen to thrive off of a fast-paced environment, but for someone who is used to things being a bit mellower, I would suggest picking another career.
How has your own personal style evolved since getting started in the industry? Do you pick up fashion tips easily since you are surrounded by it on a daily basis?
Being at a fashion magazine definitely makes it harder to lock down a specific style because one day you’re reading about rocker chic and the next day its bohemian glam, but I always pick up great fashion tips! The September issue of InStyle has definitely renewed my obsession with accessories; I’m looking forward to faux fur vests, riding boots and cocktail rings this fall.
As for my personal style, I don’t really think I have one. I like to try everything as least once--and if I love it, maybe even twice! I’m still young and experimenting with different looks and styles. I love the way Rachel Bilson, Olivia Palermo and Mirsoslava Duma (Fashion Editor at Russian Harper’s Bazaar) put outfits together. They’re always unpredictable yet still classy and feminine at the same time.
On a final note, is there anything you’d like to reveal about the industry?
I would like to reveal the fact that not everyone in the fashion industry is evil! We seem to have this misconception that we are unapproachable, snotty, or rude--that is very far from the truth. I’ve met some of my best friends while interning and working in the fashion industry as well as some of my greatest mentors. There are genuinely great people in the industry that just want to see you succeed.
Now with that being said, the industry didn’t get its bad reputation for no reason; there are definitely some divas amongst us as well. I’ve had plenty of “Devil Wears Prada” moments in the industry. For example, I had one boss that would force me to go on Match.com--she didn’t know how to use the internet herself--to find her potential dates, and if they went bad, she would take it out on me the next day. She was terrifying and coincidentally, Prada was her favorite brand!
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