Misconceptions About Working in Fashion

The 9 Most Common Misconceptions About Working in Fashion

Because it's more than just shopping, attending Fashion Week and every scene from

'The Devil Wears Prada.'

Whether you're a seasoned fashion veteran or just starting out in the industry, chances are you've been type-cast as a character from The Devil Wears Prada by those outside the business at some point during your career. While certain stereotypes are sometimes steeped in truth, more often than not, they're usually false. Below, peruse the most common myths about working in the industry, debunked.

1) If you work in fashion, then you must know how to make clothes. When you tell somebody you work in the industry, the first response is always, "Oh, you're a designer?! I can't wait to wear your clothes!" The fashion industry is a business—there are dozens of different career options available, from buying, marketing and PR to editorial, styling or tech, plus so much more. The majority doesn't actually create the clothes, though.

2) Fashion Week is one big, glamorous party. While Instagram may make it look like nothing more than a stylish celebration of glamorous front rows, celeb-studded after-parties and carefully-curated street style looks, there's actually a lot of behind-the-scenes hard work that goes into Fashion Week. The shows don't just put themselves on, after all. The bi-annual event(s) involve a lot of running, hustle and very little sleep. (But we won't lie: there's a little bit of celebrating and champagne, too.)

3) Miranda Priestly is every fashion boss, ever. The myth that everyone working in fashion is a complete bitch has stood the test of time. Like any other industry, there will always be catty people, but just because we're well-heeled doesn't mean we automatically have a nasty attitude to go along with it. The industry is small and most of us are colleagues and friends—we're certainly not clawing each other's eyes out.

4) Fashion people don't eat. While we may love our kale and juice cleanses, we also know the importance of carbs. Case in point: the line at Hearst Cafeteria for pizza or burgers and the dessert station always outweighs the line for the salad bar. Plus, we're always on the hunt for the chicest spots to eat, and we're never afraid of a little indulgence.

5) Everyone only wears expensive, head-to-toe designers. If anyone can appreciate the thrill of a good find at H&M or Zara, it's fashion people.

6) We spend all day shopping. For most of us, shopping doesn't make up a fraction of what our job entails. Unless your title is personal shopper, you really don't spend your day in a store.

7) You'll never spot a fashion person in flats. When it comes to working in the office, a lot of us turn to booties, flats, or even sneakers for running around—we save the statement heels for after-work events.

8) We spend most of our time at parties, dinners and events. Fashion insiders often make appearances on the social scene, Instagramming all the fun events they attend, but that's just a small portion of the job. Plus, we work around the clock—meaning we're still plugged in at these after-hours events.

9) We want to give everyone a "fashion makeover." Every pop culture reference to the stereotypical fashion person includes a dramatic makeover moment, but we don't really have the desire to transform everyone into our definition of "style." Plus, working in fashion doesn't automatically turn us into stylists and personal shoppers for our friends and family—we're in the age of embracing personal style and individualism, after all.