Running in Converse: Or Schlepping...

Running in Heels, a reality show with a behind the scenes look at the life of fashion magazine Marie Claire has just launched on The Style Network. The show documents what it is like to work and intern at Marie Claire.

I’ve watched clips from the show and what struck me, as the most odd was how the interns were dressed. Some may say they are glamorous, even put together. Their sense of style aside, interns do not dress like these three ladies. Interns are usually poor because they are not getting paid thus they cannot afford to have $1200 Christian Louboutin heels in their wardrobe. Nor would they be able to tolerate being in heels for 12 plus hours a day because of what being an intern actually requires.

In the past I interned at a very high profile fashion magazine. My outfit of choice was vintage t-shirt, skinny jeans and yes, you heard me correct, Converse. I had to wear sneakers because of all the schlepping I was doing. Picking up from one PR showroom downtown and dropping off at a photo shoot all the way up in Harlem. Running around the city carrying garment bags with the merchandise totaling more than my rent, I clung to those bags with dear life. I was not taking a car service or even a cab. It was up and down subway steps for me. I was all over NYC looking for whatever item was needed by one of the assistants or editors at the magazine. You do get to go to photo shoots, however you will still be running around. There will always be something that is needed ASAP. Time for more running. I participated in some photo shoots that went almost 24 hours. Needless to say, being an intern requires you to have a non-stop supply of energy. It is extremely helpful if you have an addiction to coffee.

So we have settled that you will be running around. How do you think you will be treated while you are giving your all? You will be treated poorly at best. You will be yelled at and belittled. It is all part of the system. Kind of like a sorority, they beat you down to build you up. That being said, only the strong survive. Interning is great because it weeds out all the people who think they want to be in fashion because it sounds cool from the people who want to be in it because it is theirpassion. The treatment and exhaustion aside, interning at the fashion magazine was one of the best learning experiences I have had. It was extremely hard and trying at times, but no one figures things out about themselves and what they want in life when times are easy. You need the blood, sweat and the tears. I learned an exorbitant amount. I like to refer to my time at the magazine as “fashion boot camp.” I even know that I literally gave it my all because I was diagnosed with mono at the end of my internship. Gold star for me.

The only thing that is glamorous about interning at a fashion magazine is knowing the only direction your career can go is up, that you will not have to be an intern forever. Only advice I have for anyone wanting to work their way up in the ranks of fashion? Please do yourself a favor and wear comfortable shoes, preferably Converse.