Today I’m extremely happy and honored to introduce you Marissa Galante, Fashion Director at one of the best luxury department stores in the world Bloomingdale’s. She got in fashion as an intern at Michael Kors and started working at Bloomingdale’s as an assistant personal shopper. She represents the perfect ambitious hard-working woman in fashion and set herself the goal of becoming Fashion Director by the time she turned 30, which she has accomplished! In this interview, she shares with us how she understood what job was made for her at the beginning of her career in fashion, her biggest career challenges, how an intern should be, how to progress your career in fashion within the same company, what she does as a Fashion Director and much more.
Enjoy it!
1.Hi Marissa! Could you please introduce yourself to the Glam Observer Community?
Hello! My name is Marissa Galante Frank and Iâm the Bloomingdaleâs Fashion Director for accessories and beauty.
2. What did you study?
Sociology at the University of Delaware.
3. What was your first job in fashion?
My first fashion job was a summer internship at Michael Kors. At the time menâs was a newer category for the brand and I helped the merchandising and sales team. I loved it so much that I went back during winter break.
4. Have you always dreamed of working in fashion?
Not necessarily. I have three older sisters, one of which I was always getting compared to growing up. She is in fashion and because of that I think I rebelled against the concept because subconsciously I wanted to prove that I had my own âthingâ. My first internship was actually in advertising. That internship helped me realize that I wasnât that interested in advertising (ha!) and that I truly needed something more creative.
5. How did you understand what job was made for you at the beginning of your career in fashion?
My first job at Bloomingdaleâs was an assistant personal shopper and this is when I met one of my mentors who happened to be a Fashion Director. I asked her so many questions and when I learned what her job entailed I knew it was for me. She and I are still very close to this day and Iâm so grateful to her for opening my eyes to this career that I didnât know existed. Iâm also grateful to my boss at the time who was so supportive of me for following my passion. He and I are still very close as well!
6. Youâre now Fashion Director at one of the best luxury department stores Bloomingdaleâs, what do you do?
As a Bloomingdaleâs Fashion
7. What do you like the most about your job?
I love finding what is fresh and new! I am an extremely visual person so when I see something different or exciting I naturally take a mental note. Seeing that small idea blossom into a big trend or theme is SO rewarding. I also love developing exclusive merchandise for our private label line, playing âdesignerâ is too fun.
8. What have been the biggest challenges throughout your career in fashion?
Iâm often my own biggest challenge. My job as Fashion Director is all about trusting your instincts and believing in your ideas, no matter how wild and crazy they may seem! I believe many women of my generation grew up with and suffer from the âgood girl mentalityâ. Society told us that being a âgood girlâ was important which means playing by the rules,
9. If you had to hire an Intern/assistant how would he/she be?
My favorite interns have been the ones who teach me something new. I LOVE learning about new brands, new trends, what their friends are wearing on campus, hot new artists, etc. I want to know it all! If I am working on a collection focused on a Gen-Z customer, I want to go in with a Gen-Z perspective and I always lean on my interns for that help. It is extremely important that interns are self-motivated, positive and team players. Extra points if you have your own personal style, extra extra points if it is different than mine.
10. What is the first thing you do when you get into the office?
Say hello to anyone on my team who is in the office already, I love the other fashion directors I work with and feel so lucky to be surrounded by such talented people. Then I check my email and drink my iced coffee. Then I usually get ANOTHER iced coffee đ
11. You started working at Bloomingdaleâs as Assistant Fashion Director for almost 2 years, then you became Associate Fashion Director and youâre now Fashion Director. What are your tips for progressing a career in fashion within the same company?
Work hard and be kind to people. Form relationships with colleagues on different teams throughout the organization. Positions and initiatives change constantly and you may end up working closely with someone that you didnât expect. Stay true to yourself as much as possible, do not let the behavior of others affect how you handle your work or manage your people.
12. You set yourself the goal of becoming Fashion Director by the time you turned 30. And you did it! Congrats! What actions have been necessary to achieve this big goal and to make sure you were on the right track?
Thank you!!! A lot of hard work, taking risks and taking the lead on projects that I was drawn to. I have a good relationship with my boss and I have so much respect for her. We try to have constant conversations about development, things that are important to both of us and the company as a whole. Each year I set small goals with my boss and tried to go above and beyond them.
13. Do you have any special morning routine that helps you get ready for a productive day?
I am a big breakfast person. There is nothing I love more than eating breakfast and reading the WWD Digital Daily on my couch.
14. What are your tips for those who want to start a career in fashion?
Ask questions and read everything you can! Read about all of the people in the industry you admire, read BOF and WWD, read magazines, do your homework and know about fashionâs past and present so you can find out where you fit in fashionâs future.
Want to kick-start your career in Fashion? Check out our online Course on How to break into the Fashion Industry and join other girls who already got their jobs at Dior, LVMH, ELLE…
