Amy Astley is the editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue, with no fashion background when she started, she made it and now she has one of the most prestigious fashion jobs.
She spent her teenage years training to be a professional ballerina, an experience that she compared to her current role as fashion editor regarding the behind the scenes efforts and the beautiful result people see only at the end.
She graduated in English literature and moved to New York City to start an internship as es editor-in-chief assistant at House & Garden. In 4 years she became the editor at the decorating department. She worked very hard and did everything her boss wanted as well as she could.
When House & Garden first closed, a writer who had left for Vogue the year before, recommended her to Anna Wintour and so she started working at Vogue in the beauty department and became the beauty director soon after joining the magazine. Hand selected by Vogue matriarch Anna Wintour, Amy became the founding Editor-in-Chief of Teen Vogue at just 34 years old.
Her job today is about assembling a great team of editors, stylists, writers and photographers and getting the best out of them. She guides the team, oversees the large digital platforms, social media, Youtube channel, and the website.
She wakes up every morning at 5:30 am and starts the day by looking at Twitter and Instagram and reading the New York Post, The New York Times, Women’s Wear Daily and Business of Fashion. She arrives at the office every morning by 9:00 am. Then she meets with photographers, stylist and editors to discuss the upcoming photoshoots. She spends lots of time brainstorming features and web ideas with editors. She does email 24/7. Her evenings are always devoted to fashion-industry events like award ceremonies, benefit dinners and cocktail parties.
Her story is a source of inspiration and teaches us that to become an editor and work at a magazine there isn’t a specific path to follow or school to attend. There could be different ways, what it is important it’s to focus on your job and do it the best you can.
Amy Astley has some fantastic career tips for you on how to become a fashion editor that you will surely love :
1.
“You can’t do this kind of job in your small town; you can’t way wishing that you could work in the fashion business. You need to move and go where the opportunities are.”
2.
” Network like crazy because if you don’t know anyone in the industry, someone in your life might know of someone who can help.” She got her first job at House & Garden because one of her mother’s friend had gone to college with a woman who worked in HR.
3.
“Early in your career you may be asked to do things that you don’t feel are worthy of your education or that don’t seem explicitly related to your career goals , but if you do them well, they can inspire people to put their faith in you and give you the work you do want.”
4.
“When you are at the intern or assistant level, your job is really just to make other people’s job easier. I want to promote people who solve problems and are enthusiastic and eager to take on more work more responsibility.”
5.
“Be prepared to arrive at the office before your boss does and to stay until after she leaves, so that you’re always there.”
6.
“Don’t fixate on the head of the company or the editor in chief, the smarter move is to impress the person you’ve been hired to help. Then that person will sing your praises to her boss.”
7.
“Don’t just think about how to make yourself stand out. Study the people you admire. ”
Keep an open mind and be curious about everything .The beauty of magazines is that there are so many different paths forward. Mine wasn’t direct, but it made me a better editor.
So inspiring and motivational ??
I am an aspiring editor just like you and I loved your advice. Growing up in NY is beneficial but, making your way in an internship program is a bit tricky! 🙂