By Mary Caitlyn Ward

Not everyone lives in New York or LA, and plenty more people are nowhere near Chicago, Miami or San Francisco. So how exactly does one live a fashionably fabulous life when they’re stuck in the doldrums of a small town? Mary Caitlyn Ward has a few tips for you to make it happen.

why me; why fashion:

I love fashion. It’s as simple as that. I’m not sitting here trying to feed you cliches about how instead of counting sheep at night, I count Louboutins or how I refuse to respond to anything other than my blog name. I just want to emphasize that fashion is a part of me to my very core. And believe me, it chose me not the other way around. Living in Alabama and telling someone you want to pursue a career in fashion is

like telling your parents that you’re planning your financial future around winning the Florida lottery. They just look at each other and sigh. Because, though, there is a chance, the chance is one in millions. The southern environment that I was raised in  wasn’t exactly conducive to my passion. And despite my down-home upbringing, I always felt as if there were something…more. Southern belles are imbued from birth to like certain things and act certain ways. We’re supposed to be as sweet as the tea we drink but as sharp a sandspur. And when asked what they wanted to be when they grew up, my demure peers would answer “a second grade teacher” or “a nurse,” and the words would roll off their tongue like honey from a spoon. Well, I, too, want to teach. I want to teach you how to incorporate trends while still looking polished and pulled-together. And I, too, want to help others. I want to help you look like a million bucks for under a hundred.

can you do it? YES, I can:

I always get asked, “what makes you different?” or “what makes you think you have what it takes?” I always tell the non-believers that some people spend years, decades, and sometimes even their entire lives to find something they love, something they are truly passionate about. But I am not one of those people. I have known seen the tender age of five that I wasn’t like most. When the other kids were playing tic-tac-toe and putting paste in each other’s hair, I had my 64 ct of Crayolas designing outfits that would make Barbie jealous.

be fearless:

Everyone always says “do what you love” or “pursue something you’re passionate about.” That sounds like it would just be common sense, right? Well, not really, because most people are scared. That’s where you have to be different. If you are starting off from a point of disadvantage like myself, a.k.a. Alabama, then you have to be twice as fearless and twice as motivated as the pair of heels sitting next to you.

You have to put yourself out there completely. If you don’t reply to that job lead or apply for that internship, someone else will. You can’t be afraid of failure because if you are, you’re setting yourself up for failure before you even get in the game. If your school offers fashion clubs, join them! You can’t be afraid to take the opportunities that present themselves. If your school doesn’t offer anything like that, you should talk to someone about implementing one. If you get a few other interested students and ban together to present something to the SGA, you will see results. Either you’ll get what you set out to do, or you’ll know that you gave it your best, and who couldn’t appreciate that fact?
There are so many people interested in this industry nowadays, you have to have something that sets you apart. Starting a fashion club at your university is exactly the type of thing that can differentiate you from the other seventeen people that are going up against you for a position. If your school already has a club/program set up like this, be the president! It always looks better when you hold a position in a group than just being a member because it shows that you care enough to take a responsible role and make a sizable contribution on a regular basis. Being part of a group leads me into my next suggestion…

network, network, network:

Let your reputation proceed you. Don’t be afraid to let people know what’s up. If you love fashion, and this is something you are truly interested in pursuing, tell everyone. I’m not saying that your career goals should define you, but they are a part of you, and people should know that. It’s definitely true, where I’m from, that I could be more easily hooked up with a good sharecropper’s number (landline, mind you) than a publicist or an editor. But that doesn’t stop me from telling people what my ambitions are. People say that when you’re going to a job interview, you should dress for the position for which you are applying. I agree. I even take it a step further, and try to play the fashion card any chance I get. This part is pretty simple. If you’re interested in fashion, dress like it. It lets people know that you are serious about your interests and it gives you an excuse to buy those cute peep toe pumps you’ve been eyeing. Do you need to look like you stepped out of the latest Vogue spread on the regular? No. Do you need to look presentable and pulled together if your potential career revolves around aesthetics? Duh!
Because of my incessant fashion obsessing, my friends started to take notice. BCBGeneration was doing an ambassadorship at my university (yes, in Alabama. I was surprised, too), and a sorority sister of mine received an e-mail encouraging student interest in the program. Because she was not interested in the program herself, she could have easily dismissed the e-mail and went on with her day. But because she was ever-so aware of my fascination with the fashion industry, she forwarded the e-mail to me. After receiving it and applying for one of the positions, I was named a fall 2009 BCBGeneration ambassador for my university, which would not have happened had she not been aware of my fashion passion and sent me that e-mail. My point is, is that you don’t have to live in New York or L.A. to have connections into the industry, you just have to be a little more creative. Networking is important in most any career environment, but when your networking pool is smaller, you have to make sure everyone hears you splash.
hello, Google:

Technology is your friend. When you don’t have as much leg room with career-specific networking in your area, you need to pop open your MacBook, minimize Facebook, open a new tab with a Google search and get ready to take care of business. Unlike face-to-face networking, via the Internet you can’t expect immediate feedback. Though this is a bummer, it’s becoming less of an issue thanks to smartphone technology allowing e-mails to be sent directly to and from cell phones. Thank you, iPhone. (I’m team Blackberry, myself). If you’re reading this article, you’re already heading in the right direction. You’ve got to be willing, and you’ve got to be quick. The refresh button should get a lot of action because as soon as you see a lead posted or program listed on your school site, you have to jump on it. This step definitely requires some perseverance. When you log on to fashion websites, there are literally thousands of other interested viewers doing the same thing, reading the same article, and replying to the same lead. Don’t let this discourage you, though, because if you’ve mastered the previous steps, this one may be a piece of cake. As Oprah Winfrey eloquently said, “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.” And this is your chance.

be the absolute best:

Hone your skills. I know this should be implied, and I really shouldn’t have to cover this, but it’s solid advice. If you really are the best at what you do, you will succeed at it. Learn everything. If your school offers courses in fashion, you need to run, not walk, to sign up for those badboys because other girls would stab you with a nail file for that kind of opportunity. This is not the time to be a lazy fashionista. Digg every blog, save every contact, read every magazine, watch every runway show, and take every note in your merchandising class. Don’t let these steps at furthering your dream pass you by. If you work for it, you deserve it. So work for it, and work it well. For all of you fabulous fashion-hungry readers out there, if you truly have what it takes, throw on your green scarves, stand tall in your stilettos and carpe Chanel.