THE GLITZ AND GLAMOUR OF the fashion arena has attracted a huge number of people to work in the industry. It will be a difficult journey to success, but for some A&M students, it’s exactly where they want to be.
Even though A&M doesn’t offer a fashion merchandising major, students have discovered their own paths in order to one day work alongside some of the biggest names in fashion.
As an aspiring clothing designer, sophomore general studies major Rachel Bowers became interested in design when she was a costume designer in her high school’s theater department. Her work for the musical “Into the Woods” won her the Betty Lynn Buckley Award for costume design.
“Fashion is very influential on everyday life,” said Bowers, who hopes to major in marketing or accounting and then go to design school. “You know something about a person by how they’re dressed. It’s a way to let a different aspect of their personality out. I can help them express different aspects of their character and personality and just let it show.”
Bowers hones her fashion expertise as a member of the business school’s Student Retailing Association (SRA) and by avidly reading Vogue and InStyle. By drawing sketches on breaks or just going shopping to see what’s new, Bowers hopes to incorporate her ideas into clothes she would eventually like to make. She also practices by purchasing clothes from thrift stores and re-altering pieces.
Bowers views her involvement in SRA as an important way to “learn the ropes in a different way,” hoping to learn more about business in general before applying this knowledge to her goals.
“It’s just very difficult to start a business,” she said. “You have to make the inventory. It’s overwhelming. You have to get your name out there. Once you build a name for yourself, you can do what you want.”
But the fashion world isn’t run by designers alone – something sophomore business major Liz Person knows.
Person is planning to use her studies in marketing and communications in order to become a buyer or a personal stylist.
“I’ve always cared about making an outfit, that’s my thing,” said Person, who favors the coordination aspect of fashion.
After finishing her business degree, Person also said she wants to go to design school. She hopes to settle in California and work at a high-end retailer like Neiman Marcus or Nordstrom as a buyer.
“You have to be up at what’s in style,” said Person of being a buyer. “You’re the one who sets it.”
As one of the girls in charge of apparel for her sorority, Person has experience in planning outfits. Her fashion expertise is tested often when her sorority sisters come to ask her for her opinion.
“People associate me with that,” she says, “and I’m brutally honest.”
Person describes her style as one that changes everyday. Even though she’s a fan of the mainstream fashion reality shows like “Project Runway” and “America’s Next Top Model,” she makes her decisions based on her intuition.
“It’s what I feel is in style and what looks good,” she said. “You have to be honest. If you’re comfortable in what you’re wearing, you can pull it off.”
Bowers and Person say that Aggies have their own style.
“We have our own relaxed style,” said Bowers, who also notices Aggies’ fashion creativity on campus. “It works for us. We definitely incorporate a lot of maroon.”