2008 Woodie Awards
Industry Insider: SCW Student Studies at New York's Fashion Library
Judy Lefkowitz
Issue date: 5/13/08 Section: Fashion and Style
This past summer I had an extremely rewarding experience while working at Albright Fashion Library, a high-end designer showroom catering to top stylists who work on magazine spreads, advertising campaigns, editorials, books and more. The showroom staffers are the stylists to the stylists, assisting them with the varied looks and pieces needed to complete their jobs.
Albright Fashion Library was founded four years ago by stylist Irene Albright and today is a 7,000 square foot showroom replete with the latest designer duds in the heart of downtown Manhattan. The showroom features established designers like Dolce and Lanvin, as well as up-and-coming designers like Rachel Roy and Olga Kapustina. The inventory also includes remarkable vintage pieces alongside the latest styles straight off the runways.
On my first day I jumped right in and got down to business. I learned from the bottom up, quite literally. I spent the entire day in the shoe department, rearranging and editing the stock of heels, wedges, sandals and flats. Editing the showroom is something that is done often because there are always new pieces coming in and outdated pieces to be removed. I gained a sense of the assortment of shoes the stylists would be most likely to make use of and disposed of the rest. After getting to know the footwear and apparel a bit better, I began assisting the stylist in the shipping and receiving departments.
I was also involved in the buying process at Albright. Every so often, the stylists would take shopping trips to high-end stores and purchase new pieces to update the showroom. Hundreds of thousands of dollars of clothing is purchased during these excursions, but not all of these pieces are kept in the showroom. The stylists have to go through each item very carefully to decide whether it will be rented out as much as is necessary to cover its cost.
Working at a place like Albright definitely has its perks. The employees often take home free designer apparel from the showroom. Additionally, the employees are permitted to borrow the clothing whenever they want. I gladly made use of these great policies over the summer.
My colleagues at Albright were extremely warm and welcoming. They took me in and taught me everything they knew. I learned that styling is an essential element in the fashion industry. It is almost as important as the designers themselves. The stylists are the creative minds who match up the diverse pieces to create signature looks. Without their efforts, the clothes would be plain old tops and bottoms, just pieces without panache. Coordinating the elements in a way that highlights each aspect without overdoing it requires skill and experience, since styling is truly a form of art and self-expression.
Albright Fashion Library was founded four years ago by stylist Irene Albright and today is a 7,000 square foot showroom replete with the latest designer duds in the heart of downtown Manhattan. The showroom features established designers like Dolce and Lanvin, as well as up-and-coming designers like Rachel Roy and Olga Kapustina. The inventory also includes remarkable vintage pieces alongside the latest styles straight off the runways.
On my first day I jumped right in and got down to business. I learned from the bottom up, quite literally. I spent the entire day in the shoe department, rearranging and editing the stock of heels, wedges, sandals and flats. Editing the showroom is something that is done often because there are always new pieces coming in and outdated pieces to be removed. I gained a sense of the assortment of shoes the stylists would be most likely to make use of and disposed of the rest. After getting to know the footwear and apparel a bit better, I began assisting the stylist in the shipping and receiving departments.
I was also involved in the buying process at Albright. Every so often, the stylists would take shopping trips to high-end stores and purchase new pieces to update the showroom. Hundreds of thousands of dollars of clothing is purchased during these excursions, but not all of these pieces are kept in the showroom. The stylists have to go through each item very carefully to decide whether it will be rented out as much as is necessary to cover its cost.
Working at a place like Albright definitely has its perks. The employees often take home free designer apparel from the showroom. Additionally, the employees are permitted to borrow the clothing whenever they want. I gladly made use of these great policies over the summer.
My colleagues at Albright were extremely warm and welcoming. They took me in and taught me everything they knew. I learned that styling is an essential element in the fashion industry. It is almost as important as the designers themselves. The stylists are the creative minds who match up the diverse pieces to create signature looks. Without their efforts, the clothes would be plain old tops and bottoms, just pieces without panache. Coordinating the elements in a way that highlights each aspect without overdoing it requires skill and experience, since styling is truly a form of art and self-expression.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
LT
posted 6/27/08 @ 3:15 PM EST
Hi Judy,
I've been trying to find out how to apply for an internship at Albright, with no luck. How did you get the job? Thanks so much.
Jenaee Johnson
posted 7/22/08 @ 6:22 PM EST
Albright is a great place. You got a lucky break.
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