It’s the most wonderful time of the year.
Yes, I am completely aware the holiday season is already two months behind us now, so before you think I’ve gone completely batty, let me clarify: It is the most wonderful time of the year for fashionistas.
The fashion week season is upon us, with top-notch designers debuting their fall/winter 2012 collections in some of the most stylish cities worldwide (D.C. included!).
Christyanna Nguyen, a student majoring in Public Communication in the School of Communication, spent this past week attending fashion shows at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City.
“I went to see the Nanette Lepore show, and I figured while I was in the area, I’d help work the Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti show,” Nguyen said. “Alberta Ferretti was one of my first internships in fashion, so I always make sure I keep in contact with the PR team — they’re a great group!”
During her trip, Nguyen had the opportunity to meet Olivia Palermo, a certified socialite and one of the biggest tastemakers in the fashion industry.
“It’s cool to see all the most stylish people in the fashion world all in one place. The production of these shows are just amazing, sometimes surreal,” Nguyen said. “There’s just something so comical about weeks and weeks of preparation for a show that lasts about 15 minutes.”
While she is only a sophomore, Nguyen has already stuck her well-heeled foot through the fashion industry’s door, landing a few coveted internships where she learned to apply her communication background to fashion.
“I’ve interned for a handful of Italian designers in the Press Department, working with fashion editors and celebrity stylists to pull looks for their clients or upcoming stories,” Nguyen said. “The rest of my experiences include a lot of freelance … I work a lot of Lookbook photoshoots for online accessory retailers like ShopJeen.com, and I also intern for Refinery29 here in D.C.”
With the desire to work in the fashion industry one day, Nguyen makes sure she stays up-to-date on the latest trends for the upcoming season. She looks forward to embracing pastel colors, white shift dresses and bold accessories for spring.
“I feel like a lot of trends are really repeating themselves,” Nguyen said. “People are just becoming more creative on how to apply them.”
Nguyen marks Ashley Olsen and Nina Garcia as some of her biggest style inspirations, as well as one woman who hits closer to home: her Mama Nguyen.
“My mom has the best application to style,” Nguyen said. “She believes that you have to think randomly about what you love.”
Nguyen looks forward to her future in fashion and will continue exploring her opportunities in the industry.
“The goal is to put my passions to good use,” Nguyen said. “Right now I’m testing out the waters from print to Web editorial and celebrity PR for designer brands. I just want to learn as much as I can before taking on a full-time job.”
mbeard@theeagleonline.com
