Inside Fashion Week: What Cosmo’s Assistants Really Do
Go behind the scenes of New York Fashion Week through the eyes of Cosmopolitan’s up-and-coming fashion and beauty assistants.
Introduction: The Real World of Fashion Week Assistants
New York Fashion Week is often depicted as a glamorous event filled with celebrities, cutting-edge styles, and flashing cameras. Yet behind the scenes, a cohort of hard-working assistants shoulder much of the real action. For Cosmopolitan’s fashion and beauty assistants working their first Fashion Week, the experience is a defining career moment, full of lessons, challenges, and exhilarating highs.
The Assistants: Who They Are
Every major magazine relies on a small army of assistants. At Cosmopolitan, these junior editors and style interns are often recent graduates, driven by a deep passion for fashion, journalism, and the industry’s fast-paced culture. For most, Fashion Week marks both a dream come true and the ultimate initiation.
- Backgrounds: Many assistants attended top journalism schools or fashion programs, and completed internships at magazines, brands, or PR firms before landing the coveted assistant role.
- Career Ambitions: Their goals range from styling covers to running their own editorial departments—but Fashion Week is where these ambitions are stress-tested.
What Fashion Week Is Really Like for Assistants
While outsiders imagine assistants lounging in VIP seats and rubbing elbows with designers, reality is often much more intense. Assistants act as logistical masterminds, creative problem-solvers, and PR intermediaries, all while navigating hectic schedules.
- Nonstop Schedule: Days start early and end late, packed with backstage visits, fashion shows, desk work, and constant communication with editors and PR teams.
- On-the-Spot Decision Making: Assistants are tasked with securing guest lists, managing wardrobe, and coordinating shoots—sometimes at a moment’s notice.
- Learning Curve: For many, it’s their first time handling major events at this scale. Mistakes are inevitable but invaluable for professional growth.
What You Don’t See on Social Media
In the age of Instagram, Fashion Week looks effortless from a distance. Yet many assistants recount moments of high anxiety: missed calls from editors, frantic sprints to drop off garments, and struggles to maintain composure in stressful situations.
- Work Perks: Despite challenges, assistants enjoy exploring new trends, experimenting with their own fashion style (within reason), and meeting industry icons.
- Magazine Evolution: With Cosmopolitan rapidly evolving under new leadership, assistants help define the culture and direction of the magazine—making their behind-the-scenes role all the more critical.
Key Roles & Responsibilities
Cosmopolitan’s assistants juggle a range of unique tasks throughout Fashion Week. Their responsibilities include:
- Coordinating Photo Shoots: Managing models, stylists, and photographers, ensuring each shoot runs smoothly and meets publication standards.
- Market Research: Surveying runway trends and gathering inspiration for future editorial spreads.
- Product Testing: Trying out new beauty launches and reporting back on their effectiveness, sometimes for mid-show emergencies.
- Social Media Updates: Capturing behind-the-scenes moments for Cosmopolitan’s digital channels, from prepping looks to event recaps.
- Editor Liaison: Serving as the first line of defense when editors have last-minute requests or emergencies.
What others are reading
Inside the Fashion Assistant Mindset
Surviving—and thriving—during Fashion Week calls for certain traits and tools. Cosmopolitan’s assistants credit their success to the following:
- Tech Savvy: An up-to-date smartphone is essential for instant communication, photography, and social media management.
- Adaptability: Every plan is subject to change. Flexibility and a willingness to pivot are critical skills.
- Self-Presentation: The magazine’s creative freedom lets assistants develop their personal style, striking a balance between professionalism and trend-setting.
- Passion: A genuine love for fashion, beauty, and editorial work knows no substitute; the best assistants are those who channel their energy even when tasks feel overwhelming.
Firsthand Accounts: Lessons Learned
1. Expect the Unexpected
Assistants recount the thrill—and pressure—of running into unexpected challenges. Late garment deliveries, last-minute guestlist changes, and technical mishaps are par for the course.
- Problem-solving: No two crises are alike, but resourcefulness (and a sense of humor) help turn headaches into career-defining moments.
2. The Reality of Backstage Life
Backstage, assistants quickly learn to navigate curt designers, crowded prep spaces, and the constant buzz of media representatives. The ability to blend into the background while staying alert is key.
3. The Importance of Teamwork
Fashion Week isn’t a solo journey. Networking, clear communication, and sharing responsibilities allow assistants to survive intense periods and build friendships that last beyond runway season.
What Sets Cosmopolitan Apart
With a new editorial vision led by trailblazing editors, Cosmopolitan expects its assistants to be bold but thoughtful. The magazine’s culture treasures creative ambition, open-mindedness, and willingness to rethink what a women’s publication can be. Besides fashion coverage, assistants help diversify content and push boundaries in beauty, lifestyle, and even news.
- Creative input: Assistants are welcomed to pitch ideas and help shape story direction, making every task a potential springboard for career advancement.
Advice to Aspiring Fashion Assistants
For those looking to break into fashion media, current assistants and editors at Cosmopolitan recommend:
- Build Connections: Networking is everything. Ask around for introductions, and don’t hesitate to reach out to established industry figures.
- Show Genuine Interest: Let passion drive your application, as editors can spot authenticity.
- Gather Experience: Graduate from a program that offers practical magazine work; bring a portfolio to interviews that shows real, published clips.
- Be Resourceful: Every job landed so far happened through a friend, former coworker, or mentor. Leverage your network at every step.
- Stay Open-Minded: Every part of the industry—including the difficult bits—is more rewarding than most traditional jobs.
Tools of the Trade
| Essential | Why It’s Needed |
|---|---|
| Smartphone | Instant updates, photography, time management, and team communication. |
| Stylish, comfortable wardrobe | Long days require outfits that balance professionalism, confidence, and function. |
| Press Pass/ID Badge | Critical for backstage, venue, and event access. |
| Notebook & Pen | For jotting down contacts, scheduling, and quick notes at shows. |
| Beauty essentials | Emergency fixes for hair, makeup, and skincare during high-pressure moments. |
Evolution of Fashion Assistant Roles
Fashion assistants have long been underestimated, but shifting media trends and editorial priorities have transformed their jobs. Today, assistants are expected to contribute ideas, manage complex digital platforms, and master event operations.
- Content Creation: From snapping viral-worthy social media photos to drafting trend reports, assistants generate much of the material that defines the magazine’s public persona.
- Adaptation to Change: Publications, including Cosmopolitan, increasingly expect assistants to bridge traditional media and digital-first strategies.
FAQs: Fashion Assistants & NYFW
Q: What qualifications do you need to be a fashion assistant at a magazine?
A: Most assistants have a degree in journalism, communications, or fashion—and relevant internship experience. A keen eye for style, strong writing skills, and the ability to multitask are core requirements.
Q: How do you get backstage at New York Fashion Week?
A: Assistants are given press passes through their publication and must coordinate access with PR teams. Backstage, they often support editors, assist with interviews, and oversee shoots.
Q: What is the typical day for a magazine assistant during Fashion Week?
A: The day starts early with emails, scheduling shows, prepping outfits, attending runway events, gathering trend inspiration, and handling emergency tasks from editors—all while capturing moments for social media.
Q: What are the perks of being a fashion assistant?
A: Highlights include meeting industry icons, access to exclusive events, experimenting with fashion looks, and contributing to editorial content reaching millions.
Q: How do assistants handle mistakes?
A: With resilience and quick problem-solving. Every misstep is a learning opportunity and part of the professional journey.
Conclusion: The Making of a Fashion Career
For Cosmopolitan’s fashion and beauty assistants, working Fashion Week is more than a resume builder—it’s a testing ground for creativity, grit, and teamwork. Far from being mere background players, they shape editorial direction, set trends, and inspire future generations of magazine professionals.
Their experiences serve as both real-world preparation and proof that anyone with ambition, resilience, and a flair for style can carve a path in the competitive, exhilarating world of fashion.
References
- https://ed2010.com/uncategorized/chatting-brooke-shunatona-cosmopolitan-com/
- https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/fashion/advice/a4744/nyfw-assistants/
- https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/fashion/advice/a6379/how-i-made-clothes-for-john-galliano/
- https://fashionista.com/2013/01/cosmopolitan-is-hiring-a-freelance-fashion-editor
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