How To Become A Fashion Editor: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (2024)

Key steps to become a fashion editor

1. Explore fashion editor education requirements

   The educational requirements for a fashion editor are typically a bachelor's degree. According to Professor Margaret Oakes of Furman University, English majors, which is a common major for fashion editors, have widely applicable skills that can be applied in various careers. Pursuing an English degree can provide the necessary skills for a fashion editor role. Additionally, Betsy Hays, Chair of the Department of Media, Communications and Journalism at California State University, Fresno, recommends practicing content creation to advance in the field. This includes writing, taking photos, creating graphics, and producing videos to share information and tell stories effectively.

   Most common fashion editor degrees

   Bachelor's

   78.4

   %

   Associate

   10.8

   %

   Master's

   See Also

   Meet The Editor: Anna WintourCloset EditHow to Become a Book Editor in 2023: A Complete GuideFashion Copywriter job description

   6.0

   %

2. Start to develop specific fashion editor skills

   A fashion editor's role requires a range of skills, including the ability to draft and edit articles to maintain quality and relevance, plan and oversee content development, and use social media to drive reader engagement. They must also be able to conduct photo, video, and design research, and build stories in a custom CMS. Additionally, they need to be able to create innovative content solutions, manage contributor submissions, and work with design departments and editor-in-chiefs on planning themed issues. They must be able to attend fashion shows and special events to collect information on trends, and use social media channels to promote articles. As Dr. Christina Fisanick, Associate Professor of English at California University of Pennsylvania, puts it, "College graduates in 2021 and beyond, need all of the skills that English programs have to offer: critical thinking, effective communication, creativity, and flexibility."

   Skills	Percentages
   Photo Shoots	17.08%
   Adobe Photoshop	16.84%
   Editorials	5.65%
   Creative Concepts	4.21%
   SEO	3.93%

   Show more

3. Complete relevant fashion editor training and internships

   Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New fashion editors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a fashion editor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real fashion editor resumes.

4. Research fashion editor duties and responsibilities

   A fashion editor's main responsibilities include planning and overseeing content development, conducting research, writing and editing articles, and creating trend reports. They also manage social media to drive engagement and community presence, work with designers and photo shoots, and attend market appointments, press events, and trade shows. They must stay up-to-date on fashion trends and create innovative content solutions to engage advertisers. As Professor Margaret Oakes, Professor of English at Furman University, puts it, "Understand that you should be looking at a salary mid-career, not right now. And look at the possibility for promotion in your place of work - a small family business will not be able to or be interested in promoting you to a leadership position, so think about if you will need to move up or out."

   • Manage contributor writer submissions and make appropriate editorial adjustments adhering to copy-editor reviews and establish editorial guidelines.
   • Assign and edit news stories for the Bloomberg terminal and weekly industry newsletters.
   • Prepare market analysis on key petrochemicals.
   • Comment as a fashion authority on seasonal trends by competing publications; conduct interviews with industry experts to supplement original editorials.

5. Prepare your fashion editor resume

   When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your fashion editor resume.

   You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a fashion editor resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

   Choose From 10+ Customizable Fashion Editor Resume templates

   Build a professional

   Fashion Editor

   resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume.

   Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Fashion Editor resume.

   

   

   

   

   

   See Also

   How Much Does an Editor Cost? — Mary Kole Editorial

   

   

   

   

6. Apply for fashion editor jobs

   Now it's time to start searching for a fashion editor job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

   1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
   2. Consult your professional network
   3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
   4. Watch out for job scams

How do fashion editors rate their job?

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.