Introducing Her Campus FSU’s first themed week: Fashion Week. This semester, Her Campus FSU has created themed weeks dedicated to exclusive content we believe all of our readers should have access to. In honor of the events taking place across the globe, from February 15-19 we’re letting you in on the latest industry trends as the runways begin to come to life again. Keep up on the site for the next few days as we tackle everything from NYFW to Yeezy Season 3 to a killer fashion profile you don’t want to miss. *Names and information had to be disclosed and changed under contract of Fashion Week. Not all secrets can be revealed, but this is as close as we will get.
Name: Nicole Ben-Nissan
Major: Retail Merchandising and Product Development
Minor: Business
Activities: Delta Gamma Sorority, Brand Ambassador for Divas and Devils, Brand Ambassador for Henri Girl
Relationship Status: Single
Courtesy: Nicole Ben-Nissan
After her long five-day trip in New York City working at BCBG Max Azaria in preparations for Fashion Week, I sat down with Nicole Ben Nissan who gave me the inside scoop on her short-term internship and all the glamour and galore of what really happens behind the scenes. Looking fabulous as always, she gave me some inside tips on styling, landing the internship of your dreams and all the hard work it takes to make it to the Big Apple.
Her Campus (HC): How did you land this internship with BCBG Max Azaria?
Nicole Ben-Nissan (NBN): I know that every brand needs help for Fashion Week and takes interns so that was a brand I was interested in. I remember one of my sisters in Delta Gamma did the same internship two years ago and I asked her about it. A couple of months ago I found the contact for the Human Resource person.
HC: How many months ago was this?
NBN: I think October/November. I knew it was too late for fall fashion week so I thought whatever, I’ll aim to do it for spring. I emailed HR and said, “I am a retail student at FSU, I love your brand. My instinctive act for fashion aligns for what your team is looking for…” and I sent her my LinkedIn and resume. She was in contact with me back and forth and then we talked about flights.
HC: They pay your flight?
NBN: No, but it’s a paid internship. They are very accommodating to my class schedule.
HC: How were your professors? They were okay with you missing school?
NBN: They were very understanding. I literally missed a test and I made it up with no problem.
HC: What kind of work do you think helped you land the job?
NBN: I had five jobs in retail. I worked for Urban Outfitters. I was a main stylist for Core Boutiques in midtowns in the design district in Miami. I was in charge of merchandising the entire store. I did Divas and Devils for two semesters and I brought up their sales by a lot. I post on a lot of sorority pages with outfits people would like, like a photo of a dress and me in it and seeing if they’re still looking for a date function dress. I drove up their sales. Now I also work at Henri Girl.
HC: What’s your favorite job you’ve ever done other than the BCBG internship?
NBN: Probably Core because we can put together three floor picks for outfits and every day I would come up with new stuff and they would challenge me. I had to change five mannequins a week. I had to re-merchandise something if it wasn’t selling, switch things around. It was hard since it was a nine-hour job and an hour away from where I lived. I would open and close the store. I would make like $100 a day and commission if I sold a certain amount.
HC: So all of this experience helped a lot. Did you just go to New York to prep for Fashion Week?
NBN: I went to help prep for fashion week because a lot goes on the week before. There is a lot to prep for, a lot more then you’d expect.
HC: Oh really?
NBN: Yeah. It was insane, castings on casting, outfits have to be checked and rechecked and rechecked, models all have to be styled for their specific look and there’s photoshoots for the lookbooks.
HC: And you specifically helped prep for BCBG?
NBN: Well I was working for Max Azaria and Herve Ledger. Max Azaria is Herve and BCGB. Two different looks, two different price points and I interned with one of the head stylists, but my input was not valid yet.
HC: Why?
NBN: I was there to observe. I wasn’t the decision maker, I would do what they would tell me. Being in that atmosphere it’s so different, you open the doors and everything and see a glamourous world. There are espresso stands in every floor and you can make your own Caramel Macchiato.
HC: What exactly did you do?
NBN: I was trying to walk around and help out in any way I can. They would assign us projects and they have very very specific directions on what needs to be done. They could write a five paragraph essay about how to do one task. There are multiple people that look over everything. Everyone reports to someone.
HC: What was the most difficult task of the job?
NBN: I didn’t want to do anything wrong, there was a lot of pressure. Even if I went to pick up zippers from the supply closet, I worried I was getting the wrong zippers.
HC: Did you meet any of the designers?
NBN: I saw Luba Azaria. She’s super nice.
HC: Was there any day working that you enjoyed more than others?
NBN: The first day I worked with public relations and advertising, but I wasn’t as excited about that because it’s not why I went there. I helped them make spreadsheets with what shoes to use on the runway like whether they were high boots or ankle boots or whatever. Then we had to print mini pictures of shoes, cut them out and put them on a poster board and a lot of other logistical things.
HC: What about the second day of work?
NBN: The second day I worked on casting with models. The models that got called back where able to pick things for their goodie bags. Then wear some of the things they got and the photographer would take a picture of them making a peace sign.
HC: And let me guess, the pictures came out beautiful like always?
NBN: They are the most beautiful pictures you’ll ever see. I would help and tell the models what kind of clothes goes well with their complexion. Then whatever they picked to take with them, we would wrap the gifts for them.
HC: Where were the models from?
NBN: They were like Milan or Givenchy. Some would ask, “Is this going take a long time because I have to go to Calvin Klein after this?” Some modeled for couture like Dior.
HC: So speaking of designers, who’s your favorite?
NBN: To be honest, I am more into the edgier style. It doesn’t need to be designer clothes, like I find my best clothes at Goodwill! I went to the goodwill in Upper East Side and I got a DVF skirt for $11 and found Armani leather jackets. Probably not even as a designer, but as a person Sofia Amoroso who started Nasty Gal by putting stuff together from her garage. She started from online and now has opened a store.
HC: Have you found anything good from the Goodwill in Tallahassee?
NBN: I get my grandpa sweaters from Goodwill and everyone thinks that they are from Urban Outfitters. The Goodwill in Atlanta is pretty good too. I’ll wear a Free People dress that’s expensive, but style it with a cardigan from Goodwill.Â
HC: Did you get your inspiration from any fashion bloggers?
NBN: Something Navy is my favorite fashion blogger.
HC: For people who love fashion as much as you do and potentially want to do this, what advice would you give?
NBN: Take whatever chance you have at growth and any learning opportunity even if it’s just starting as an intern. Basically if you want something, there is a way to do it. You have to be in contact with the right people, ask the right people and be open-minded. You’re not gonna be doing what you want right away. Everyone starts off at the bottom.
HC: Now that fashion week is this week, what are you excited to see on the runaway?
NBN: I am not a Kendall and Kylie follower, but their new line is relatable to girls our age. They’ll be celebrating their line right before the beginning of the show, but I don’t think they’ll be walking in it!
If you don’t see Nicole working at Henri Girl, then you can find her booking her next internship in New York. Maybe next time she’ll be a trend forecaster for BCBG or working on their public relations. Whatever her next move is, we sure hope she continues to amaze us with her great fashion talent!