Whether you’re just starting your fashion journey, studying, or already working in the industry, knowing how to use the right tools can make all the difference. I’ve taught thousands of fashion enthusiasts how to land their dream jobs in this industry. In this article inspired by what I teach in my Break into the fashion industry course, I’m sharing my favorite must-have tools that every fashion student and professional should know. You can also learn how to use in my courses for research, mood boards, portfolios, presentations, and more.
Ready to elevate your fashion skills and applications? Let’s dive in.
1. Pinterest: The Ultimate Mood Board Companion
If there’s one tool that creatives in the fashion industry rely on daily, it’s Pinterest. From stylists to editors to marketing professionals, everyone uses it to collect visual inspiration and craft beautiful mood boards.
My students use Pinterest to gather ideas for styling projects, campaigns, and editorial visuals. For example, when I assigned them the assistant stylist for a day project, they turned to Pinterest to build the mood board that captured the essence of their vision. It’s also a go-to resource when you’re feeling stuck or need a creative boost for your portfolio or class projects. It’s easy to use and very helpful!
2.Canva: Your Portfolio Best Friend
Canva is a user-friendly and powerful alternative that works perfectly for building resumes, portfolios, presentations, and even full-on fashion magazines. Professionals use it like a design software instead of the complicated ones.
In my courses, I show students how to bring their Pinterest boards to life using Canva. It’s where you combine your inspiration with beautiful layouts. I’ve had students create editorial spreads, professional portfolios, and stylish magazine covers. I use it myself to design slides for my courses and webinars. Its ready-made templates help you keep things professional, polished, and personal.
3. Tagwalk: The Search Engine for Runway Trends
If you’re wondering where to find high-quality images from the latest fashion shows, the answer is Tagwalk. It’s like Google, but for the runway.
You can search by season, city, brand, trend, or even specific themes. It’s perfect for those working on styling projects, researching trends, or putting together a presentation. In the Fashion Academy, we use it all the time for visual references and portfolio creation.
4. ChatGPT & DALL·E: to Create your Fashion Editorials
AI is becoming part of our daily life. Even fashion professionals have started to use it as a working tool.
I’ve taught my students how to use these tools to write better cover letters, generate article ideas, and even create stunning editorial-style images. During a recent masterclass, we recreated fashion visuals using just prompts and AI tools, no graphic design skills needed. These tools help you express your creative vision and build a standout portfolio with visuals that feel real and professional. It’s all in the prompt you give them and is very useful!
5. Vogue Archive: An Endless Source Of Fashion Culture
If you’re ever looking for editorial inspiration or researching a campaign concept, the Vogue Archive is your best friend.
It contains every issue of Vogue ever published, from the first edition to the latest. I often assign projects that mimic real internships in magazines or with stylists, and students use the Vogue Archive to study layouts, styling concepts, and editorial storytelling. It’s an endless source of fashion culture and visual ideas.
6. Substack: Stay Informed or Start Your Own Voice
Substack is a newsletter platform where you can subscribe to fashion insights or even launch your own.
We publish a daily newsletter with industry news and career tips, and I encourage students to follow (and create) newsletters to stay updated or build a personal voice. It’s perfect if you’re interested in writing, journalism, or starting your own digital fashion publication. It’s a great stepping stone and method to get you in the game and start publishing.
7. Google Arts & Culture: Museums from Your Laptop
Imagine visiting Chanel or Balenciaga exhibitions from the comfort of your home. Thanks to Google Arts & Culture, you can do just that.
This platform partners with top museums to let you explore fashion history, art, and culture virtually. It’s incredibly helpful when you need references for your styling projects, campaigns, or even essays about fashion and art.
8. Phia: The Google Flights for Fashion
Let’s be honest, designer fashion can be expensive, especially for students or interns. That’s why I love Phia, a platform founded by Phoebe Gates. It works like a search engine, using A.I, for fashion deals helping you compare prices and find affordable versions of the pieces you love.
It’s a smart way to look stylish without breaking the bank, and a great tool for discovering new brands too.
Did you know these tools?
These are just a few of the must-have tools we use inside the Break Into the Fashion Industry course. I’ve gone from being ghosted by 20+ companies to being noticed by Alexander McQueen, and now I teach the same method to students around the world.
Want to join the next session or learn how to use these tools like a pro?
Check out the course here and get ready to build your fashion dream career.
Let me know in the comments which of these tools are your favorites.
Let’s make fashion careers more accessible together!
