Aspiring to become a fashion editor can seem like a daunting passion to chase, but boy-are the perks of having this job-the culmination of such a beautiful dream! If you live, breathe, and daydream about fashion, then you've just won half the battle. The other half is where you'll find yourself precarious at a crossroad, wondering how to take this passion forward. While we can't promise you that the road ahead will be easy to tread, we can with utmost sincerity say that with hard work, dedication, originality, honesty, experience, and the right attitude, you'll be able to blow any publishing company off its feet. Job Profile of a Fashion Editor Have you heard of Dorian Grinspan? If you haven't, then you must read about this Yale-going student who at the young age of just 21, is the editor of his very own fashion magazine-Out of Order. A feature ran in New York Magazine, trailing the intellect's timeline of how he veered from conventional subjects, pursuing instead an adventurous yet successful start-up. While he does have the right connections, it's his unwavering confidence, overall appeal, and congenial facade, that wins people over. Between classes and exams, Dorian finds himself amidst a whirlwind of responsibilities, which he welcomes as part of such an exciting job. Here are the responsibilities that fashion editors in general, are in charge of: Multitasking with Ease No one likes a hassled fashion editor who doesn't know what he's doing. Being organized, finicky about details, and animalistic about perfection and deadlines, will get you through the fashion business. You must be able to juggle between overseeing fashion shoots and attending designer meetings, to handling interviews and trips to fashion week. Flawless Writing To be a fashion editor means to have a creative knack for the written word. Whether it's using the right terminology or addressing a certain trend/designer, knowing which appropriate word or phrase to use, is a critical requirement. Grammar, punctuation, humor, sarcasm, critique-these are just some of the things you must perfect in writing. Editing like a Pro Besides immaculate writing skills, the job obviously calls for a precise and polished approach to editing. No one wants to open a magazine and spot an error or two, or worse-repetitive mistakes in every issue released. Reviewing your work before giving it the green light for printing, is an important habit to form as a fashion editor. While you may think that the first or second draft is good, a third or even fourth review will work wonders for your reputation as an editor. Keeping Pace with Trends and Market Releases Besides handling a ton of work at the office, you will also need to maintain a string of contacts that will keep you in the loop about upcoming trends, product releases, hot new designers, and the like. To be the first to know about what's going to happen before or as soon as it does, is what a good fashion editor is all about. That is what makes readers want to grab your magazine off the rack-because it gives them exciting updates they'll not get a bite of from anywhere else. Job Requirements of a Fashion Editor It's no walk in the park, sweetie-to become a fashion editor, you have to be ruthless, still keeping your behavior and approach in check. Competition is not just cutthroat, it's a blood bath to the finish line. When it comes to the fashion industry, it isn't easy to become one of the elite who get to work and collaborate with the crème of the crop. To help you on your way to fashion editing, here's what you'll need to be armed with: Get A Degree/Attend Fashion School Focus on (reputed) universities that offer courses specifically tailored to meet the prerequisites of a fashion editor's job. It should include subjects related to feature writing, web production, copy editing, photography, reporting, fashion merchandising, and the like. Journalism-centric courses (or fashion journalism) can be quite helpful for those trying to place themselves in the fashion industry. Get as much knowledge as you can not just from the classroom, but from fashion editors who've already made it in the business-read about their stories and the degrees they earned while working towards the very same goal. Apply for An Internship No editor in the fashion business-or writer, for that matter-can lay enough stress on how crucial it is to have an internship firmly tucked under your belt. Many of you may have let out an audible gasp or groan, but fret not. It's never too late to acquire an internship, although you'd be wiser to get into the game at least in your early/mid-twenties. The best time to do this though, is fresh out of college or while attending classes, to give yourself more time to quaff all that the industry has to teach. Dress the Part When you walk into an office, everyone is going to scan you from head to toe, trying to mentally guess which designer's outfit you're clad in. The truth is, no one knows your sense of style better than you do. Find a designer, fashion editor, or even celebrity, that can serve as an afflatus when you piece together your wardrobe. Stefano Tonchi, Christine Centenera, Melanie Huynh, Anna Wintour, Hamish Bowles, and Joanna Coles, are some of the best dressed fashion editors in the industry. Draw style inspiration from your favorites, and then build on it until you find a statement that defines you. Wear the Right Attitude Out of morality, remember who you were when you started out; do not let the industry change you into an unrecognizable person. Be courteous, engaging, genuine, and above all, patient. All of us weren't sculpted from the same mold, therefore one's shortcomings shouldn't be dealt with harshly. No one wants to work with someone like Miranda Priestly from the The Devil Wears Prada; rumor has it, that the movie was vaguely based on Anna Wintour's objurgatory approach towards coworkers. Valuable Words of Advice from Fashion Enthusiasts Their work is-as much as their words-a sempiternal source of inspiration for aspiring young men and women. Let's take a look at what they have to say for budding fashion editors. Working towards a goal cannot be accomplished without the right frame of mind, educational backing, hands-on knowledge, or the willingness to grow and learn. Some may say that you don't need a college degree to make things happen; at least you'll know where you stand when it comes to hundreds of other applicants. To make things a tad easier, start a website and write about the latest bits of fashion news, your favorite designers, and anything that you'd like to put out there about what you love. Also, take photographs of yourself in a fashion ensemble and offer style tidbits, so that it builds not just your fan base, but also your credibility.