Welcome to "Alumni Advice," a new series on the FIDM Blog featuring advice from FIDM Grads on everything from internships and FIDM resources to networking and risk-taking.

After graduating from business school with a marketing degree, Emily Robertson left her small coastal home in Maine to study Merchandise Marketing at FIDM. She interned with Bebe, where she advanced to jewelry assistant merchant. Other jobs followed, including working at a celebrity media relations firm, before Emily went to Canada and worked for Hillberg & Berk.

Emily recently launched her own jewelry line, Mprint.

"Take advantage of every resource FIDM has to offer: the speakers, trend forecasting sites, staff, career advisors, and so much more. Every single part of the FIDM experience will help you decide what path is right for you." -Emily Robertson

Interior Design Alumna Summer Jensen is profiled on page 148 of the March issue of Angeleno. The Hawaiian native has worked on projects such as Venice Beach's Dry Tour (later made over to Code Venice), high profile residential projects throughout L.A., and a recent collaboration with architect Russell Shubin. Summer's company, Hawk & Co., is mentioned as a being one to watch for in design.

On Friday night, FIDM Alumna and current Fashion Star contestant Johana Hernandez held a viewing party for around 120 people at TRU in Hollywood. Johana had plenty to celebrate -- she sold her chain detail ruffle hem tulip dress to Macy's for $55,000 in the premiere episode. The dress has already sold out.

Priscilla Barroso, another FIDM Graduate on the show, is currently selling her moonlight polka-dot romper at Macy's.

You may watch a short video of Johana's viewing party here.

As a Buyer for kids and accessories at True Religion Brand Jeans, Merchandise Marketing Alumna Stacy Ogawa's job includes all kids denim and sportswear, along with hats, belts, underwear, and fragrance. "I assort, enter orders, track orders, and make sure that all merchandise makes it to the floor set properly," says Stacy, who was previously at GUESS. 

"FIDM gave me the right information and math skills with great teachers who have been in the industry, and helpful Career Counselors. FIDM has a great base of graduates who are willing to hire FIDM students, and Buyers know the curriculum taught at FIDM, which gave me a leg up on the competition. I could not have gotten my internship interviews or first buying job without FIDM."

Love Culture Assistant Buyers and FIDM Alumni Tammie Jeon and Anne Kitagawa visited FIDM yesterday to speak with students in the Premier Merchandise Product Development Group. They gave an overview of what it's like to work as a Stylist and an Assistant Buyer for a big retailer such as Love Culture.

Tammie Jeon graduated with a Merchandise Product Development Degree in 2012, and started her career at Love Culture's downtown Los Angeles headquarters in Visual Merchandising. She soon transitioned into a position as a Stylist and an Assistant Buyer for the retail chain. She gave excellent insight into what hard work it is to be a stylist. She is responsible for hiring models, as well as styling each head-to-toe look for the site. They shoot 150 styles in a 6 1/2 hour time period, and they produce an average of 4 photo shoots a week.

Tammie said she learned a lot about how to best manage her time in the MPD program, which is a great skill to have for any career in fashion.

Anne Kitagawa, a 2011 FIDM Fashion Design Alumna, knew ever since she was a child that she wanted to attend FIDM. She started at Love Culture as an intern, and once her internship was finished, she was hired full-time to work in Visual Merchandising. After two years, she was brought onto the accessories department as an Assistant Buyer. Anne advised the students, "Internships really help, even if you're not getting paid. Jut getting the experience makes it worth it."

FIDM's Premier Merchandise Product Development Group has special access to guest speakers and networking opportunities throughout the year. Academically superior students qualify to join this exclusive group.

Serge Borukhov, a Merchandise Marketing and Bachelor of Business Management graduate, is the store manager of the first Z Zegna store in the U.S. The younger, more contemporary collection of the Italian luxury menswear house Ermenegildo Zegna chose the Beverly Center in Los Angeles for its first retail store.

Visual Communications and Entertainment Set Design Alumna Kaitlynn Wood has had a flourishing career since graduating from FIDM. She has been a freelance set decorator, set designer, and buyer on feature films such as The Artist, Hitchcock, and the new Halle Berry film, The Call. "Everyday is a little different depending on what part of the process the movie is in," she explains. "You do research, or paperwork for prepping, search for items, analyze the characters, or go on meetings with the designers and director to learn more about what they're thinking or what they want." 

Sarah Trost, whom you may remember from Project Runway Season 8, recently served as Costume Designer on the independent film K-11, starring Goran Visnjc and Kate Del Castillo, and directed by Jules Stewart. Since the film takes place in a dormitory located within the L.A. County Men's Jail that houses the transsexual and homosexual population, Sarah had the challenge of costuming from items prisoners are allowed within the dorm, such as t-shirts, socks, sheets, and dental floss (used for sewing.) "Some items are dyed by means of Hawaiian Punch and mouthwash," Sarah explains. "It's quite an array of characters -- we even have a fashion show." 

K-11 will open in limited national release on March 15, 2013. 

After graduating from the Merchandise Marketing Program at FIDM, Joyce Burson worked as a manager at Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus, as a stylist for local and international celebrities, and on exciting award shows. She recently told the Cincinnati Herald, "My friends and family in Cincinnati would light up when they saw all of the newest and hottest clothes that I had brought back from LA."

She became inspired to open CutePieces, a boutique featuring the latest trends, a few blocks from historic Findlay Market in downtown Cincinnati. “CutePieces is for the woman and girl who knows her style, but also knows value," she adds. "It’s for the girl who is strong, smart, and driven, and is not afraid to take risks."

After much encouragement from family and friends, freelance fashion, beauty, and entertainment writer (and Apparel Industry Management Grad) Angelica Golden decided to launch her blog, The Savvy Girl's Guide to Life. Designed to make life less hectic and more pleasurable, the site covers everything from party ideas and recipes to the latest style and beauty trends. 

"I've always been the go-to girl for my family and friends when it comes to tips and ideas," she explains. "I love writing in any capacity, but what I like most about blogging is that, like fashion, it's such a powerful form of self-expression. My blog is written in my voice; it's my own ideas or experiences and I get to share them with my readers."

Fashion designer and style journalist Lela Christine Thompson is heading up the new "Fab Five Lifestyle" style and beauty section of the Los Angeles Wave. The L.A. native, who is also a seasoned public relations and marketing executive, has been working in the industry since 1980, and will lead a team of fashion reporters. Congratulations Lela!

FIDM Grad Monique Lhuillier's new Madison Avenue boutique is featured in the "Critical Shopper" column this week in the New York Times.

"Like the redoubtable Vera Wang before her, Ms. Lhuillier has been expanding her empire to include evening and ready-to-wear. She seems poised to take on menswear as well, with decor that is all discreet chromes and grays, modern wall sculptures and decorative geodes that wouldn't be out of place in a CEO's office—far from the foofy boudoir trimmings one might expect." Read more.

Monique Lhuillier; 19 East 71 Street; 212.683.3332

photo credit: New York Times

Matthew Hulsey went directly for his B.S. in Business Management, after completing the A.A. program in Merchandise Marketing at FIDM. When his Career Advisor suggested a posting for an internship at TJX, he went for it. Now he is in a full time position as Merchandise Assistant at the world's largest off-price retailer—the parent company of TJMaxx, Marshalls, Homegoods, and others.

"A Merchandise Assistant is basically the step before becoming a full buyer at our company," explains Matthew. With a specialized Bachelor's degree already under his belt, Matthew hopes to move from Buyer to upper management in the future.

Merchandise Marketing Grad Olivia Clark landed her dream job in the Merchant Leadership Program at Anthropologie right after graduating in 2012. She and two other applicants were chosen out of the thousand who applied for the selective program that consists of a one-year rotation covering all aspects of buying—a fast track to an Assistant Buyer position for the stores she loves.

"After the extensive application and interview process, I am so thankful for my education at FIDM," says Olivia. "It definitely prepared me for the mock-buying group presentations to a room full of senior buyers. I kept thinking how unprepared I would have been without that skillset." The job posting was brought to her attention by Career Advisor Nonie Hillier at the FIDM Career Center.

Apparel Industry Management Alumna Shayenne Huff was looking to build a company with her mom so when the opportunity to open All Tressed Up Blowdry & Beauty Bar in Palm Desert, California, they went for it. "It was a bit nerve wracking once we got the shop open, but the response has been incredible," Shayenne says. "Running and owning your own business is a lot of work, but the atmosphere we have created, the team we have put together, and seeing our clients leave feeling and looking great makes it all worth it."  

Caption: Reese Witherspoon, Naomi Watts, and Isla Fisher (at right, in Monique Lhuillier) at the Vanity Fair Oscar party

Stars dazzled in gowns by FIDM Alumna Monique Lhuillier on Oscar night, both on the red carpet and at the after parties. Kate Beckinsale make a statement in a strapless black gown with an abstract design and full 1950s-style skirt at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party at Sunset Tower. At the same event, Isla Fisher and Ginnifer Goodwin stepped out in royal blue confections (Fisher’s curve-hugging strapless gown had glamorous train, while Goodwin chose a short and sparkly pearlized shell design cocktail dress). Louise Roe, the new host of NBC’s Fashion Star, also donned Lhuillier on the Oscar red carpet. She chose a stunning nude and coral embroidered tulle gown with a full skirt. 



FIDM Graduate Alfred Tumblin will be showing his designs at Brooklyn Fashion Weekend. The weekend of fashion events and shows will feature emerging designers who will be paying tribute to iconic fashion designers. Alfred's Fall/Winter 2013 collection will pay homage to Alexander McQueen on March 3, 2013. 

You may purchase tickets here. 

Ashton Hirota has had an incredible career as a celebrity stylist for more than a decade. He's dressed some of the most famous names in music, such as Will.i.am, Usher, John Legend, Nicki Minaj, Azealia Banks, Scissor Sisters, and Omarion, among others. "I have the raddest clients and have had the opportunity to work on every award show, from the AMAs to the VMAs" explains Ashton, who began working with indie musicians at age 19, while still a student at FIDM, and was a former assistant stylist on American Idol.

"One of my most memorable moments though was being field side for the Super Bowl when I dressed Usher and his dancers. It was the most grand performance I had ever been a part of and nearly every American was watching what I created with my own hands, which was an incredible feeling." The Apparel Industry Management Graduate is also the owner/designer of Ashton Michael, an edgy men's and women's line.

The Oscars® came to FIDM to recently to film a six-episode web series, Oscars Fashion Face/Off, featuring Nick Verreos and three superstar FIDM Fashion Design Grads: Kevan Hall, Heathyr Lawrence, and Dominique Pearl David. Each day this week, Oscars.com will release one of the episodes (see the schedule, below).

In each episode, Nick interviews the designer and showcases their work and inspiration sketches for what the Best Actress nominees and host should wear on the day of the big show this Sunday. "My favorite part of the process was seeing the sketches," says Nick. "I’m a sketcher and I’ve been drawing since I was two, so that was a highlight for me." Each day, fans will be urged to go to the official Academy Awards Facebook Page to vote for their favorite sketches for each actress. The designer with the most sketches will be interviewed on the red carpet the day of the Academy Awards! 

"The Oscars are the crème de la crème of the red carpet award shows," says Nick, an alumnus and popular instructor at FIDM. "I love seeing one-of-a-kind haute couture, essentially pieces of art, on an actress." Here is the schedule of episodes for  Oscars Fashion Face/Off. Be sure to vote on the official Academy Awards Facebook Page: 

February 19 - Jessica Chastain Episode, Jennifer Lawrence Episode

February 20 - Emmanuelle Riva Episode

February 21 - Quvenzhane' Wallis Episode

February 22 - Naomi Watts Episode

February 23 - Host Seth McFarlane Episode

Lisa Vian Hunter, an Alumna of FIDM and NBC's Fashion Star, is competing on Seattle's Evening Magazine's fashion competition, The Look, all this week. Lisa decided to test her technical skills by appearing on the show where she is challenged to make dresses out of unconventional materials such as wallpaper and Goodwill garments.

We recently told you about FIDM Alumna Priscilla Barroso, who will be competing on season 2 of NBC's Fashion Star. We are thrilled to announce that fellow Grad Johana Hernandez, a Los Angeles-based designer, will join Priscilla in competing for a multi-million dollar prize of launching a clothing line in Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Express.

Fashion Star will premiere on March 8, 2013, featuring 13 talented designers who join celebrity mentors Nicole Richie, Jessica Simpson, and John Varvatos along with new host Louise Roe.

Check out our interview with Johana from 2010.

New York City-based Fashion Design Alumna Emily Cummings was recently promoted to Technical Designer in the accessories department at Aeropostale. "I now work on three categories: dorm, yoga, and active," explains Emily. "This new position is very exciting as it's 90 percent fashion driven. I am working with new fabrics, trim, and styles that will challenge me in new ways." She previously worked as an Associate Technical Designer in the boys category and worked in women's knits.

After graduating from FIDM, Emily had internships at Maximum Mama Maternity and Jin Wang in San Francisco, and moved to New York to work for Lauren Moffatt where she was hired as as Pattern Maker. "FIDM lays out a solid foundation for its students that helps prepare them for their chosen profession," she adds. "The classes complimented each other and each quarter built on the last, which allowed us to apply what we learned in past classes to current ones."

On the second episode of CBS's reality competition series The Job, which aired on February 15, 2013, five candidates competed for an editorial assistant position with Cosmopolitan magazine. FIDM Alumna Diandra Barnwell (pictured at right), who hails from Albuquerque, New Mexico and is currently an L.A.-based Samples Coordinator for an online retailer, won the job.

You may watch the full episode here. Congrats Diandra!

Fine jewelry designer and FIDM Graduate Joe Vilaiwan has created a show-stopping, limited edition collection of couture necklaces, cuffs, and earrings in honor of the new Disney film, Oz The Great and Powerful, starring James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, and Michelle Williams. A necklace and earring set (pictured above), for example, were inspired by the poppy fields seen in the film, while other pieces mimic the shapes of the Emerald City architecture. 

One of his favorites is a bad-witch-inspired mother-of-pearl necklace with a dark, looping thicket of beads in the form of shimmering feathers. "I love being able to translate soemthing that is so magical, that's illusion, to be something that you can actually capture and wear in real life," he recently told Disney magazine.

The new collection, in partnership with Disney Consumer Products, will be available at the FIDM Museum Shop, Palm Springs Art Museum, Mariel Boutique in Denver, Franklin Barry Gallery in Indianapolis, and more. Oz The Great and Powerful opens on March 8, 2013. 

Designer Shaun Samon's Autumn/Winter 2013-2014 menswear collection is featured on GQ's UK site. Prior to becoming a popular fixture on the London Fashion Week scene, he received three degrees at FIDM: Fashion Design, International Manufacturing & Product Development, and Advanced Fashion Design. Like Shaun, you can build on different degree programs at FIDM to create your own educational path. 

Cicely Parco visited FIDM last week to speak with students about where her career has led her since she graduated from FIDM in 2005 with a Professional Designation Degree in Merchandise Marketing.

Cicely came to FIDM with a degree from UCSB in Business Economics, with a specialty in Accounting. She worked for two years at Hot Topic after she graduated from FIDM, then went to True Religion, and is now working in allocation and buying at Civilianaire.

She advised the FIDM Students to speak up and not be shy at work. "Companies hire you because they want your feedback and opinion, and they really want your help." She was specifically referring to allocators.

"The allocators have the closest partnership with the field (stores). You guys would be the liaison between the corporate team and the field. They will come to you and you have to be able to translate their feedback into a go-forward strategy." Cicely explained that if you notice that certain stores are constantly running out of a certain size, it's OK to let the buyers and planners know that feedback so they can adjust accordingly in the future.

"It's really good to put yourself in the customer's shoes and take a look at the styles the buyers are putting out on the grid to see if it makes sense to you. Just because a senior buyer puts something out on the grid and says they are going to buy it, if you have an opinion about it and if you feel you know your customer really well, go ahead and voice your opinion."

"That was my greatest lesson, because in the beginning I was very soft-spoken. But then you start to see the numbers. It look me a while to figure out that I did have a voice, and that the voice was appreciated."

Cicely went on to explain the traits of buyers and allocators. "They are all very strong in different respects—it's one buying function. The buyers are very creative and are more product driven. The planners are very analytical; they're more high-level, very strategic. And the allocators are analytical, but very in-the-detail. Each person is valuable in their own position."

When it comes to internships, Cicely told the class that she looks for students who are driven, motivated, enthusiastic, and quick learners. She want students who understand the retail industry and the importance of what they're doing, who have a desire to learn, and, importantly, who understand the value of an internship. "Internships are helpful to me, but they're most valuable to the student. They are the best way to get real experience."

"I always knew I wanted wholesale sales. I was one of those people with a one-track mind," says Merchandise Marketing Alumna Jena Weir, owner of the downtown Los Angeles sales organization Jena Weir Sales. Jena transferred to FIDM after her first school, Michigan State, cancelled the merchandise major. "It was the perfect excuse to get out of Michigan," laughs the fast-paced entrepreneur whose fashion showroom in the Cooper Building carries accessory lines like Vanessa Mooney, Stela 9 bags, Jenny Bird jewelry, and Painted Bird shoes.

How did you decide on sales as a career?

When I was at school I worked in retail sales at Guess in Beverly Hills. I  always liked competing with myself, and striving to improve each month. I also love that every day is different in sales. It's always exciting!

Did you work while attending FIDM?

My last two months at college, I dropped in at the Career Center a lot. With their help I landed a part time position at a showroom at the California Mart, which got me in to the wholesale industry.

What are some of the satisfactions of showroom sales?

First of all, it's fun to be independent, running a small business. I like finding and growing small unknown designers. It feels like you're helping to change people's lives.

Speaking of growing, tell us about your company's growth.

Jena Weir Sales started in my apartment in the Wilshire district in 2008. I've tried to grow slowly, keeping an eye on overhead. About a year ago, my apartment was getting really crowded, with an assistant and other people coming and going so I took the jump and moved downtown. Now I have showroom space in New York, two full time employees and more part time staff. In fact, my current part time person in LA, I found through FIDM. When I came to speak to the Premier Markeing Group at school, she sent me her resume and she got the job.

TOMS Eyewear Product Development Coordinator and FIDM Grad Erik Soto visited FIDM last week to speak with students in the Premier Merchandise Product Development Group. In June, he will celebrate his one-year anniversary with the company, at which time TOMS will be sending him on a shoe-giving trip to South America for a week, as a thank you for his commitment to his work.

Erik shared his story of how he found FIDM and got his job at TOMS. He grew up in Blythe, California where he worked for a skateboard shop in high school. It was a small town, with only 100 people in his graduating class. He worked hard getting new brands represented at the store, meeting with sales representatives during his lunch break. He got Billabong, VonZipper, and Nixon, among other action sports brands, into the store. He knew he wanted to work in the fashion industry, and started at FIDM soon after he graduated.

Utilizing the FIDM Career Center, he followed job leads and got his first internship at Ed Hardy, working in production. During that time he also worked as a technical designer at One World, a plus size company. Finally, during his last quarter at FIDM, he met a TOMS recruiter at the FIDM Job Fair, and they brought him on with a paid internship in product development.

There were 20 people in the TOMS internship program—chosen out of the 10,000 who applied that quarter. They participated in dinners, events, pep rallies, and school visits. He was one of two interns who was hired at TOMS after the 6-month internship ended.

Erik is one of seven people who work in eyewear at TOMS. They are currently locking down the Spring 2014 collection, their fifth season in the year and half since they've been doing eyewear. This week he'll be traveling to New York to meet with Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus. TOMS is headquartered in Los Angeles, with about 200 people working in the corporate office.

FIDM's Premier Merchandise Product Development Group has special access to guest speakers and networking opportunities throughout the year. Academically superior students qualify to join this exclusive group.

Interior Design Alumna Jill Goldberg, of Hudson Interiors in Boston, is featured in the Ask a Designer column in Coastal Living magazine's February issue:

Where's your first stop when you're scoping out a coastal town?
JG: I always try to find an undiscovered vintage store where I can spend money on an unexpected treasure. I can't name what I'm looking for in advance, but I always know it when I see it!

Describe your favorite beach color palette.
JG: I love light tones of white, taupe, green, and coral. The colors remind me of the sky and sea, but in a newer way than blue.

Continue reading Coastal Living's Ask a Designer column. 

Style expert Lindsay Albanese appeared today on a special Valentine's Day segment of the 10:00 a.m. hour of The Today Show that was filmed at Santa Monica Place. The stylist and FIDM Alumna shared Valentine's Day lingerie picks with Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb. 

Watch the segment here. 

This year, the Art of Motion Picture Costume Design exhibition celebrates its 21st anniversary with 100 outstanding designs from 2012 films on view through Saturday, April 27, 2013 at FIDM's Museum & Galleries. The free exhibition will include costumes from the five films nominated for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design: Snow White and the Huntsman costumes designed by Colleen Atwood; 

Anna Karenina costumes designed by Jacqueline Durran; 

Les Misérables costumes designed by Paco Delgado; 

Lincoln costumes designed by Joanna Johnston; Mirror Mirror costumes designed by Eiko Ishioka.


Outstanding costumes on display from other films include The Hunger Games, Hitchcock, Django Unchained, American Reunion (costumes designed by FIDM Alumna Mona May), and End of Watch (costumes designed by FIDM Alumna Mary Claire Hannan), among others. In keeping with tradition, the exhibition will salute the previous year’s Oscar® Winner for Best Costume Design, The Artist (pictured above), with costumes designed by Mark Bridges.

The exhibition is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  

Merchandise Product Development Alumna Jessi Robb has had a successful career at Nordstrom, working as a Salesperson and Personal Stylist Manager and today as the Interim Customer Relationship Manager at the Mission Viejo store in Orange County, California. "I have the best job with the company, making new best freinds daily," explains Jessi, who previously worked as the Customer Relationship Manger at the Mainplace store in Santa Ana.

Jessi receives a list of around 200 customers each month from the corporate office and reaches out to them to learn about their shopping experiences. "FIDM introduced me to Nordstrom back in 1997," she says. "Here at Nordstrom, we are always looking to improve how we service our customers and stay on the forefront of fashion -- all concepts I personally learned during my time at FIDM!"

J.D. Luxe co-founder and FIDM Graduate Jordana Fortaleza is featured in a "Best Fashion Trucks" roundup in Los Angeles magazine. A hit at last year's Coachella, the J.D. Luxe mobile fashion boutique features a polished wood floor, white shelves, and plenty of bohemian-chic fashion finds. 

Merchandise Product Development Graduate Leah Davison has a new line of affordable Western show clothing, Hell on Horseback, designed for modern cowboys and cowgirls. A former collegiate Western and English competitor, Leah noticed a lack of affordable, quality custom Western wear so she decided to fill the niche. In addition to shirts, Hell on Horseback sells jewelry and t-shirts. 

Designer Jessica Barkley recently opened a shop in Laguna Beach, California, where she sells her line of daytime dresses, evening, and cocktail. Jessica Barkley Atelier also takes custom made orders. "Thanks to FIDM I know about merchandising, patternmaking, and marketing my line," says Jessica, a Peruvian native who first came to the U.S. as a Fulbright Scholar. 

760 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949-338-1408

The State has a story about First Lady Michelle Obama's fashion and two FIDM Graduates, Nick Verreos (who is also a popular instructor at FIDM) and Kevan Hall, are quoted: 

She has a pretty deep tool box and she knows how to use it, says Kevan Hall, a Los Angeles-based designer. "Every designer wants to dress her," he says. (She has worn his label.)

"Just like any woman, she wants to look pretty, and I think she's having fun with it. It must be fun to be a girl with a big White House closet," Hall says, noting all the events, galas and speeches to dress up for.

She looks comfortable in clothes that can be a little edgy, and, Hall says, women find that inspiring.

Nick Verreos, fashion designer, "Project Runway" alum and instructor at Los Angeles' Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, was the host four years ago in Washington of the California State Society's luncheon celebrating inaugural fashion. "It has been a great journey watching her," he says.

He credits her with putting daytime dresses back on the map. After years of women favoring separates and jeans, Obama came along in her sheaths and A-lines. Then they were a trend on runways, malls and Main Streets.

"I know I always gravitate to the woman who's not the wallflower, and the first lady is no wallflower," Verreos says.

She also makes "conscious choices" about what she's going to wear, knowing that people will take note - and read into it, he says. 

Pretty Little Liars Costume Designer and FIDM Alumna Mandi Line visited FIDM to talk with students about her career and share her insights into working in the entertainment industry.

As a model in high school, Mandi has always loved the fashion industry and knew she wanted to study it in college. At the age of 17, she enrolled at FIDM and loved it. She told the students, "It changed my life. Not to say every class changed my life, but when you find a class and a teacher that you love, you know what works for you. I had a teacher who taught Trend Forecasting, and I just got her. I thought to myself, 'This teacher is going to change my life.'"

She advised the students to utilize the resources FIDM offers, such as the Career Center and the Library. "There are no libraries anywhere like this one."

Through the Career Center, she found out about a feature film costume design internship. When she arrived on set, she said she had no idea what to do, but she watched the way her supervisor worked. "She dressed the actors with speed, professionalism, and without doubt." So, Mandi told herself to "own it" and she went to work, impressing her boss who told her that day that she had found her calling.

"I'm not a stylist. I really don't know if you ask me what's hip. I know what I like, and I know because I'm good at what I do, what I like will set trends."

Her advice to costume design interns? "Be humble. Work hard. Don't be annoying. Don't wear heels." Visual Communications Student Johauna Mani is currently interning for Mandi, whom Mandi says is awesome. Mandi said she's probably had 20 people before her, and "Johauna will be the first person I call for something that pays and is amazing."

Mandi dresses every single character on Pretty Little Liars, which is not necessarily the norm for costume designers. She gives it her all, and it's the best-dressed show on television. "I love this more than anything I could ever do."

Footwear Design Alumna and freelance footwear and accessory designer Nalini Arora runs the LA Shoe Girl blog. From sketching and shopping to traveling and finding inspiration, her blog chronicles the exciting life of a footwear designer and consultant. "I would not have been able to accomplish all that I have thus far if it wasn't for the Footwear Program and FIDM!" Nalini says. 

Merchandise Marketing Alumna Tracy Wells, who created Laguna Hills, California-based Sayuki Custom Cosmetics, was recently profiled in the Los Angeles Times. 

"Tracy Wells' quest to create perfectly colored foundation for the masses arose from personal frustration: Born to a blond, Irish-English-German mother and a Japanese father, "My skin tone has both yellow and pink undertones, so I could never find foundation to quite match my skin," she says.

Not that she didn't have the expertise. A graduate of the Fashion Institute for Design and Merchandising who majored in merchandise marketing, Wells worked for Chanel, Estée Lauder, Benefit Cosmetics, Shiseido and Mary Kay. She noticed that her customers, just like herself, would buy several colors of foundation and mix them together hoping to create a match — with less than perfect results."

Read the full story here. 

Designer and FIDM Grad Farbod Barsum, who has fans such as Christina Hendricks, Molly Sims, and Mena Suvari, among others, was recently featured on Access Hollywood. Correspondent and Fashion Star host Louise Roe showed off one of Farbod's exotic bags during a segment on Golden Globes fashion. 

Watch a short video here. 

Actress Julianne Hough stunned on the 2013 Golden Globes red carpet in a Pre-Fall 2013 Monique Lhuillier gown. The dress has a full white tulle skirt and sparkling gold embellishments. Lhuillier majored in Fashion Design at FIDM. 

Merchandise Marketing Alumna Emily "Em" Robertson is the designer/owner of a new jewelry line, Mprint, that will exhibit at the FOCUS Summer 2013 Accessories Show at LA Market this month. While attending FIDM, the Maine native interned at Bebe and Macy's Inc. After working at a celebrity media relations firm, Emily worked for Canadian jeweler Hillberg & Berk.

Mprint jewelry ranges from a King Edward VII pendant and Honolulu Transit stud earrings to reeded edge chain bangles and rosary lockets. 

Assistant Editor at WGSN, Chris Tsuyuki graduated from FIDM in the fall of 2011 and recently returned to her alma mater to visit the students in the Product Development Premier Marketing Group—an elite group of students with special access to guest speakers.

Chris writes primarily for the juniors directory at WGSN, covering emerging trends in the market. She recently published a report for WGSN based on the 1995 movie Clueless, for which she interviewed 18 and 19 year old females. She wrote a trend analysis about the fashion of the film and how it's influencing junior girls style.

Not only does Chris cover the juniors market, she also writes for several other WGSN directories, including the vintage directory. She just wrote the City By City update for San Francisco, which is a large scale city guide. She writes the west coast art listings. She covers west coast music festivals, fashion tradeshows, the LA Textile Show, as well as LA Fashion Week. She covers retail, and recently published on a story on 2012 holiday messaging, including the visual merchandising, signage, and hangtags.

Chris said she had wanted to go to FIDM when she was 17, but her parents insisted she earn a BA degree first. So, she studied Creative Writing at CSULB, and interned at WWD.

She stressed the importance of internships, no matter what your actual job responsibilities are. She said that at WWD, mostly what she did was FedEx packages and steam clothes.

"But, if you work hard and you prove yourself, you can get a lot of amazing opportunities," she said. "They ended up taking me to LA Fashion Week." She also got the opportunity to do some writing and go on some of their photo shoots.

After earning her BA degree, she worked as a freelance journalist in the music industry, and worked in PR, film, and the legal field. It was at this point in her life that she decided to attend FIDM to study Product Development.

While at FIDM, she interned for a small indie designer, where she got experience helping her with all aspects of the design process, including sample fittings and patternmaking. "The designer took me to New York Fashion Week, which was an amazing opportunity," she said. "I also got to go on buyers meetings with her, and help shoot the lookbook. It was just a great experience."

Chris also talked about the merits of FIDM's Product Development program. She said to the students, "It's a really amazing program that you guys are in. It gives such a good overview from end to end of the entire process, so you can jump in at any point and be able to talk with everyone from pattern makers to textile designers. And that's very, very important—especially for me and what I do."

Arizona Foothills magazine has named Alumna Angela Johnson Best Local Fashion Designer for 2013. The fashion designer and instructor will appear in their "Best of" issue in March. Angela has gained notoriety for creating high fashion garments from thrift store t-shirts and is a regular fixture on the Phoenix fashion scene. 

NBC's reality competition show, Fashion Star, will return for a second season on March 8, 2013, with FIDM Fashion Design Graduate Priscilla Barroso as one of the 13 competing designers. Priscilla, a Texas native, designs the French retro-inspired women's label Crowned Bird and previously worked as a freelance stylist for Levi Strauss & Co. Celebrity mentors Jessica Simpson, Nicole Richie, and John Varvatos will return to the hit show, which has a multi-million dollar prize of launching a clothing line at Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Express. 

Abe Voytek, a Fashion Design Graduate who designs the label Dixon Rand, is featured on StyleSeek, the site launched by Instructor Brian Hawkins earlier this year. The men's line is inspired by his experiences growing up in Southern California, North Dakota, and Portland. 

Will.i.am, best known as the frontman of the Black Eyed Peas, has teamed up with Japanese fashion designer Masatomo Yamaji of the brand Rynshu. He tells the Daily Beast, "Rynshu is sthe coolest Japanese guy I've ever met," he says. "He's an amazingly talented designer." The duo are now in their third season together. 

The world-famous singer and producer dreamed of being a fashion designer as a child growing up in Los Angeles and attended FIDM before going on to find massive success in the music industry. 

Designer Kevan Hall recently debuted his modern-vintage Spring 2013 collection at his Los Angeles studio. California Apparel News has a full report of the intimate runway show:

"Hall’s use of structure brought a refined element to each piece, with subtle frayed trimmings and thin layering, emphasized by his signature patent leather and crocodile-belted bows and streamlined bustier bodices. Hall incorporated bow prints, ornate ribbons, ruffled insets, and deep, cutout backs that also brought a sense of freshness to the silhouettes."

Actresses Alfre Woodard, Virginia Madsen, and Teri Hatcher, along with singer Estelle, were in attendance to support the Fashion Design Graduate. 

Alumna Ashley Porter, who was recently profiled in Gambit New Orleans, creates jewelry inspired by southeast Louisiana with her Porter Lyons line. A school project at FIDM inspired her to design alligator belts, which led to a full collection including necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings. In addition to working with alligator skin, she also uses a lot of agate, Louisiana's state mineral, and a portion of the proceeds from the line go to wetland preservation. Prior to moving to New Orleans, Ashley worked for Balenciaga and Ralph Lauren in New York City.