Name: Whitney Holt

Where do you live? Laurel, MD, USA

Area of study: MFA Fashion Merchandising

Day job / occupation: Program Assistant for National Science Foundation/ Mother

What qualities do you most value in others?

Of all things I value honesty and trust.

Depending on your area of fashion industry insiders:

Designer – Vera Wang, Blog – Fashion Bomb Daily (www.fashionbombdaily), Store – It’s Vintage Darling (consignment store in DC)

List a guilty pleasure:

I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE fashion magazines. I have tons and tons of magazines that I probably should throw away but everytime I try to I find myself somehow sitting down and reading them never making it to the trashcan lol. My favorite magazines are ELLE, W, and Vogue

What is your present state of mind?

I already have a B.A. (Psychology) and currently working on my MFA (Fashion Merchandising). I am very focused on my career goals and and dont allow too many distractions to get me off track. I am past the point in my life where all I wanted was to have fun living in a carefree world. I am very passionate about having a career in Fashion PR/Marketing so it’s not work to me, it’s simply doing what I have to do to get to my desired level in life.

What is your dream job?

I actually have two dream jobs! I would love to do PR/Marketing for Dolce & Gabbana and be a Professor teaching Fashion Marketing.

 What is the most important thing that people should know about you?

I put my all into everything that I do. I am for teamwork and helping those without wanting anyting in return. I am firm believer that you should help out as many people as you can in life, you never know who you may meet later in life or who you may need.

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Name: Christine Esoldo

Where do you live? Lancaster, Pa. with plans of moving to Los Angeles sometime in the next few years

Area of study: MFA in merchandising (I have a BA in journalism)

Day job/occupation: I work in digital marketing, content strategy/copywriting, and user experience. I’m also in the process of launching a pet photography business and I volunteer at my local Humane League as a photographer.

What qualities do you most value in others?

Authenticity, reliability, and the ability to laugh at oneself even through embarrassing moments. I also appreciate a good grasp of basic grammar and knowledge of the difference between “they’re,” “their,” and “there.”

Who are some of your favorite designers, journalists, bloggers, stores, etc?

I’m sort of a jewelry junkie, especially statement jewelry. My favorite designers include DanniJo, Fenton, Fallon, and Lulu Frost. I also love J.Crew jewelry and have recently purchased way too many items from JewelMint. And of course, you can never go wrong with Tiffany.

 List a guilty pleasure:

I might be embarrassing myself here, but I love watching reruns of Ghost Whisperer and I was super disappointed when they cancelled it unexpectedly (Melinda’s clothes were amazing and I loved her antique shop!). Nothing like a relaxing evening at home curled up on the couch with my beagles, sipping on a glass of wine, reading magazines, and watching Ghost Whisperer. I’ve also been known to watch reruns of The Hills while on the treadmill. Watching a good catfight really gets the adrenaline pumping.

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The Academy of Art University is centered in a city so richly diverse with different people, culture, and art. The setting is a breeding ground for inspiration and creativity, which students take advantage of through their outfits. Walking past an Academy of Art University bus stop, the array of distinctive style is impossible to miss. Of course, some students pay special attention to their unique wardrobes and stand out from the bunch. After interviewing a few students I realized that the major they were studying was often mirrored in the way they dressed.

Madison Chertow, who is a Fashion Merchandising Major has flawlessly found a way to turn her love of fashion into a future career. Her major pushes her to think and breathe fashion, and she finds inspiration from practically anywhere. She is “always on the look-out, what’s happening, what people are wearing, and always thinking about how [she] is going to incorporate what [she] sees and make it [her] own.” This way her clothing choices depend on what she is inspired by that particular day. Her outfits range from bohemian funky to classic and sophisticated. Today, she has chosen to show a more conservative side with black slouch pants, a plain black tank top with her favorite vintage fur cardigan from the 20’s. Bold statement pieces are what Madison is all about. Her BCBG knuckle duster clutch embellishes her hand elegantly as well as her timeless, gold Rolex watch. This rare vintage watch was passed on from her grandmother and she says “it is my duty to let it live on.” When asked, “Are you going to pass it down to your children,” she laughs and says, “No I’m going to bury this with me.”

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Emily Seger is a B.F.A. Fashion Merchandising student in the School of Fashion. She has had some amazing internships while at the Academy of Art University, and was nice enough to share some of her best experiences with us!

You have had some amazing internships – what was it like working with Public Relations Coordinator Erin Simpson at Benefit Cosmetics?

Benefit was great. I really got to see how the company works and how new products are launched. There is a really feminine energetic feeling to Benefit from their products, employees, even their offices are all pink!

And this came from a collaboration that LVMH did with the Academy of Art University in the Summer of 2010. What was that project like?

Oh that was a really interesting project. We had 16 hours to come up with a counter display idea for a Benefit product. I had no idea what product or LVMH brand they were going to give me! They were really testing their employees as well as us.

After the presentation I met a few people and was able to set up an informational interview at Benefit which blossomed into my internship there.

Last year after Marieke Van Der Poel visited your Fashion Trend Analysis class, you landed an internship at her company Proef. How did that come about?

Our whole class did a trend forecasting report about Italian fabrics, matching the next trends with the right look. It’s not only about a fabric, we had had to make an argument about why the trends we chose were relevant. Hersha was really great about getting us excited to reach out into the zeitgeist.

I guess Marieke liked my work, because as I approached her she had already written a note for me! My heart soared, seriously.

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Ami Wang with Armani Men’s Department Manager Maritza

Ami Wang is a B.F.A. Fashion Merchandising student in the School of Fashion. We chatted with her about her experience working at the Atelier, her new internship with Armani, and her plans for the future!

You were part of the class that helped to re-open the Atelier last year. What was that experience like?

It was an exciting experience. I witnessed and was involved in the transformation of Atelier from an Art Gallery to a multifunction retail store which not only offers a stage to showcase the students’ art work, but also allows their creations to be purchased by the outer world. This opportunity redefined the value of these works for the artists, giving them connection, confidence and credibility in their future career.

What was the most valuable lesson you learned while working at the Atelier?

As part of our team I contributed to the launching of Atelier and learned a lot from a merchandising perspective. I’ve given proposals to market Atelier and incorporate social media tools to promote the concept. I’ve built an experimental Atelier Blog (http://atelieraau.wordpress.com/). My 13 weekly hours working in the Atelier store also helped me to familiarize myself with a real retail environment. I got practise in areas such as giving customer service and communication, inventory control, Point of Sale cashier system, visual display and event planning. All these were the foundation that benefited my current internship at Giorgio Armani.

You recently started an internship at Armani on Post St – what are you doing with them?

My position at Giorgio Armani is the store assistant in the Men’s Department. I help with merchandising and product display to maintain the floor to Mr. Armani’s standard. Fortunately, I am given the opportunity to sell and provide customer service. I also was involved in the Giorgio Armani seasonal Made-To-Measure event. In addition I help with the Women’s floor and the Shipping & Receiving Department when it’s not busy at Men’s.

How did you find the internship and what was the interview process like?

I submitted my online application to the official website. And thanks to the advice from Mrs. Sharon Murphy and my Career Management instructor Clarissa Nicosia, I had a well- polished resume and portfolio which made me stand out amongst the competition. I got a phone call two weeks later and followed with three intense interviews the same week from the Store Manager, Men’s Department Manager and the Senior Sales Associate. The interviews went smoothly and I was offered the position immediately.

What has been the most challenging thing about working at Armani so far?

I would say the first day. Because I was unfamiliar with everything and I was so eager to learn. Otherwise, I love challenges and everyday is getting better. I’m learning new things each day and becoming more mature handling different work situations. The most gratifying thing is that I have gained recognition from the manager and my colleagues.

What is your most beloved item of clothing and why?

A black 100% cashmere men’s classic over coat. Giorgio Armani is known for its classic items with effortless design and exquisite tailoring. 100% Made in Italy, Giorgio Armani is all about the fit and the fabrics that define a luxurious experience.

What is your dream job?

Currently, I just want to grow with Giorgio Armani and prepare myself for any future potential career opportunities. I’m ready for new challenges!

Good luck Ami!

For more Student Spotlights, click here.

Learn all about alumnus Bertrand Pellegrin and his new book Branding the Man: Why Men Are the Next Frontier in Fashion Retail from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12. Journalist Aaron Britt journalist from Dwell Magazine and San Francisco Chronicle will be the host of the discussion.

Yes, you heard that right. There is a man who actually shops the globe for Anthropologie.

His name is Keith Johnson and he is the buyer-at-large (what an awesome title) for our favorite destination for boho-fantastical trinkets and treasures. The Sundance Channel will be documenting his every move (well, maybe not every move) as he treks around the world exploring stores, grasping inspiration and commissioning work from global artists to sell at Anthropologie.

Check out the promo:

The show premieres on Wednesday, Oct. 7. For more info, visit the Sundance Channel’s website.