Fashion Office Meetings 101: Tips for Aspiring Interns

As a fashion intern, attending office meetings will be an integral part of your experience. These meetings could be team-wide discussions, one-on-one check-ins with your supervisor, or brainstorming sessions. Since this will likely be your first experience at a fashion company, it’s important to prepare for fashion office meetings and know what to expect. I understand how intimidating they can look! Meetings have become an intergral part of my job a long time ago, but I remember the cold chills and the pressure when I had my first one. In this article, I will share tips for aspiring or beginner interns on how to behave at fashion office meetings.

The intern’s role during meetings at a fashion company

Contrary to what a famous scene from The Devil Wears Prada might suggest (when Miranda Priestly indirectly scrutinizes Andy’s shoe choice), dressing the part won’t be the biggest concern at your fashion office meeting 😉 Instead, it’s about preparation, learning, and proactive engagement.

Fashion office meetings are not just a formality—they are a gateway to understanding company operations, improving skills, and making a good impression. By preparing well and contributing effectively, you can turn these meetings into valuable learning experiences that enhance your career in the fashion industry.

Why Office Meetings Matter

Meetings are sometimes viewed as redundant, but in reality, they play a crucial role in:

• Organizing workflow: Meetings are moments when priorities and deadlines for the weeks ahead are set. 
• Giving feedback on your progress: Internships are structured experiences, so you will likely have to share your progress during brief one-on-one meetings with your supervisor. 
• Developing key skills: You’ll learn how to structure your work, when to contribute, how to communicate effectively, and how to manage tasks efficiently.
• Gaining industry insights: Meetings provide updates on company developments and strategies. As an intern, you can be among the first to learn top industry and company news.
• Building relationships: While meetings are not informal coffee breaks but formal encounters (at least the majority), they present opportunities to interact with colleagues and perhaps even connect with people from other departments that you don’t see every day. Catching up after the meeting is a great way to seek advice and strengthen professional relationships.
• Encouraging collaboration: Many projects require cross-functional teamwork with colleagues and other departments, so fashion office meetings provide a platform for aligning goals, brainstorming solutions, and fostering teamwork.

How to Prepare for a Fashion Office Meeting

Just like you wouldn’t visit a guest empty-handed, don’t walk into a meeting unprepared!

• Review the meeting agenda (if available): Weekly meetings usually don’t follow an agenda as they are just regular catch-up meetings. However, other meetings may focus on one or more specific topics. Familiarize yourself with them before your fashion office meeting. 
• Understand current projects: Be aware of ongoing projects, deadlines, and priorities so you can better prepare for them.
• Try to complete pending tasks before the meeting: If possible, wrap up tasks related to ongoing discussions so you can contribute meaningfully with updates and insights.
• Do some background research: If the meeting involves discussions about trends, marketing strategies, competitor analysis, editorial calendar, and so on, do some background research to be informed.
• Prepare questions: If you need clarification on an assignment or project, a meeting can be a great place to bring it up during the one-on-one meetings with your supervisor.
• Anticipate potential contributions: If the meeting covers a topic related to your tasks, think of potential insights or ideas you might share.
• Bring the essentials: Always bring a notebook or tablet and a pen with you—never rely solely on memory.

Observing And Learning 

In most cases, your role as an intern will be mostly to listen and learn from your supervisors and fellow colleagues above you. If you’ve never been in a corporate work environment before, meetings can be very insightful. You can learn about: 

• Common discussion points: Understand the most recurring topics brought up, depending on your department and what’s emphasized in your department’s meetings.
• Communication: Learn about the meeting dynamics and take note of how colleagues interact and present their thoughts.
• The overall structure: Get a sense of how meetings flow, from agenda setting to decision-making.

When attending large office meetings, to preserve the meeting structure and maintain a professional attitude throughout the meeting, do not interrupt your supervisors and colleagues, and speak up when there is a window for questions and suggestions. If you don’t understand something, pull your colleague or supervisor aside after the meeting for clarification.

Taking Notes

Taking notes during an office meeting is one of the key responsibilities of an intern. Often, companies assign interns the task of summarizing meetings, making your notes essential for reference. It will also be useful for you for the learning process. 

• Bring a notebook/tablet for notes and a pen—never rely solely on memory.
• Jot down important topics, key remarks, and next steps.
• Organize your notes effectively: Use bullet points to summarize and present key takeaways in a clear manner.
• Be prepared to draft a meeting summary email if required.
• Pay attention to deadlines and assigned tasks: Note project deadlines and who is responsible for each task.
• Use your notes to identify the tasks and priorities related to your role, but always confirm them with your supervisor as they set guidelines for your work. However, your ability to identify tasks and priorities will be appreciated and make you look even more professional and proactive. 

Sharing your ideas

We often say that sharing your ideas as an intern is incredibly beneficial, however, you have to time it right. Meetings are the perfect moment to do it! Show curiosity by following up on topics discussed.

• If you have an idea for a marketing campaign, a product that could sell well in stores, or a new article idea, and it aligns with the brand’s vision and goals, don’t hesitate to share it.
• Note that contribution doesn’t have to mean pitching a brand-new concept—it can also involve adding insights, offering improvements, or presenting solutions in an existing discussion.
• For instance, in a fashion buying meeting, if key trends and past sales are being discussed and you notice an important factor wasn’t mentioned, tactfully bring it up. Or if you have an idea about streamlining processes better or enhancing communication, share suggestions constructively.
• Frame your ideas strategically: Instead of just saying, “I think we should do this,” explain WHY your idea adds value.
• Be mindful of timing: If a meeting is running over time or another important discussion is taking place, you may want to postpone your suggestions for later.

Showing Enthusiasm and Taking Initiative

Often, during a fashion office meeting, a new idea or information can lead to creating a new task. 

• If an opportunity arises, volunteer for tasks that align with your role—but make sure you handle them before committing. Always prioritize your ongoing or urgent projects before taking on extra tasks.
• If your colleagues are assigned tasks that require extra hands, offer assistance to support the—even if it’s outside of your main responsibilities. Showing motivation to go beyond your responsibilities will set you apart and bring additional knowledge and skills. It’s a win-win!

Keeping a professional attitude

Fashion office meetings can be intimidating, especially for first-time interns. Some may feel too shy to contribute, while others might be overconfident. Being an intern doesn’t mean you have to make yourself smaller, but respecting the hierarchy and keeping a professional etiquette is also important. Finding the right balance is key.

• Mind your body language: Sitting up straight and maintaining eye contact signals attentiveness and engagement.
• Practice active listening: Show interest in what others are saying responding appropriately when necessary.
• Be mindful of your tone: When speaking, maintain a confident but respectful tone—avoid sounding too hesitant or overly assertive.
• No-phone policy: Avoid using your phone during office meetings unless it’s work-related.

There are many puzzles that make a good fashion office meeting. Do not overlook the part they play in developing your learning experience and professionalism and setting you apart as a valuable intern and teammate. To go deeper, read our article about how to stay organized at the fashion office.

Need help in securing a fashion internship? Register here for my free webinar where I share 5 effective strategies to break into the industry even without experience.