Fashion Writers and Editors

About

Exploring this Job

To improve your writing skills, read as much as you can. Read all kinds of writing—not just fashion articles. Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and essays will introduce you to many different forms of writing. Try to write every day. Write your own reviews or articles about the latest fashions or trends in the industry. Consider starting a fashion blog. You can also work as a reporter, writer, or editor on school newspapers, yearbooks, and literary magazines. Ask a teacher or school counselor to arrange an information interview with a fashion writer or editor. Suggested interview questions include: What made you want to enter this career? What do you like most and least about your job? How did you train for this field? What are some key skills for success? What advice would you give to young people about preparing for the field and being successful on the job? How will advances in technology (e.g., AI) change the field? Perhaps you could even job-shadow a fashion writer or editor to learn even more about the field. Ask your school counselor or English teacher to help arrange these exploration opportunities. Finally, you can learn more about fashion writing and editing careers by getting involved in summer exploration programs in writing and editing that are offered by colleges and universities.

The Job

Fashion writers, also known as fashion reporters, correspondents, or authors, express their ideas about fashion in words for books, magazines, newspapers, advertisements, radio, television, and the Internet. These writing jobs require a combination of creativity and hard work.

The majority of fashion writers are employed by fashion magazines. These writers report on fashion news, conduct interviews of top designers, or write feature articles on the latest styles for a season. Fashion writers also work for newspapers with fashion sections (often a part of a larger arts-and-entertainment department), Web sites, or other media outlets.

Good fashion writers gather as much information as possible about their subject and then carefully check the accuracy of their sources. This can involve extensive library research, interviews, and long hours of observation and personal experience. Writers usually keep notes from which they prepare an outline or summary. They use this outline to write a first draft and then rewrite sections of their material, always searching for the best way to express their ideas. Generally, their writing will be reviewed, corrected, and revised many times before a final copy is ready for publication.

Fashion editors work with fashion writers on the staffs on newspapers, magazines, publishing houses, radio or television stations, and corporations of all kinds. Their primary responsibility is to make sure that text provided by fashion writers is suitable in content, format, and style for the intended audiences. For example, a fashion editor working for a newspaper would ensure that articles are timely and can be understood and enjoyed by the newspapers average reader—not just people in the fashion industry. On the other hand, a writer who is employed by a fashion industry trade publication would write about fashion trends, fashion houses, and other topics in a more complex manner for the publications audience of fashion designers, coordinators, and business owners.

Editors must make sure that all text to be printed is well written, factually correct (sometimes this job is done by a researcher or fact checker), and grammatically correct. Other editors, including managing editors, editors in chief, and editorial directors, have managerial responsibilities and work with heads of other departments, such as marketing, sales, and production.

Some writers are now using artificial intelligence (AI)–powered software to conduct research and write articles, but the research results generated by AI are not always accurate, nor is the "writing" of top quality. Editors are also using proofreading and editing AI software to save time. Some employers have strict guidelines regarding the appropriate usage of AI software for research, writing, and other tasks. Both fashion writers and editors must also be aware of AI writing and research tools and their organizations rules and protocols regarding their use.