Sophomore fashionista Katie Massey had her dream come true this past summer when she interned in Manhattan for the world-renowned designer Oscar de la Renta. Her Campus Mizzou got the scoop about her glamorous summer in the Big Apple.
Her Campus Mizzou: How did you get the internship with Oscar de la Renta?
Katie Massey: It was actually really spur of the moment! I am a textile and apparel management (TAM) student and heard about an opening there through an e-mail for TAM students in April. I got in touch with Maria Hollenberg, who graduated from Mizzou with a TAM degree and now works for Oscar de la Renta. I had to fill out an application with my résumé and cover letter and explain why I was so eager to work with them. I heard back in May and flew out there in June!
HCM: How did you find somewhere to live on such short notice?
KM: I actually got really lucky! I didn’t know a single person in New York. I had no family and no friends there. I asked Hollenberg for advice, and she suggested I check out the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), which is where I ended up living. I was paired with a roommate just like in a dorm. The studio was in Chelsea. I had a gorgeous view of the city, and it was close enough for me to walk to the office everyday.
HCM: What was it like living in Manhattan compared to your hometown?
KM: I’m from Chicago, so I’m used to urban life. New York is much bigger, louder and more exciting, but also dirtier and way more expensive! The energy was absolutely amazing. There was always something fun going on. I can’t remember a single dull moment. The streets looked yellow to me because there were taxis everywhere! I felt like I was in an episode of “Sex and the City.” It was hard to navigate my way around, but after a week or two it was much easier.
HCM: What were your favorite things you did while living in New York?
KM: On the weekends I acted like a typical tourist and went sightseeing. The Statue of Liberty was one of my favorite places. I was able to go to every borough in New York except Staten Island. I really enjoyed seeing the different areas in New York and walking around the Upper East Side, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. I was lucky enough to have my aunt and uncle visit me, as well as one of my best friends. It was really fun to show them around! My absolute favorite thing I did was see the Alexander McQueen exhibit at the Met. I’ve never seen anything like it before! There were no glass barriers at the exhibit, so I got to see all of the clothing items and accessories up-close. It was absolutely beautiful. I also attended the Gay Pride Parade, which was so spirited and exciting. I have a friend who is gay, and Chelsea has a decent gay population, so the turnout was huge. There were flags everywhere and local businesses were so supportive.
HCM: What exactly did you do for your internship?
KM: I worked in the trims and fabrics department. My hours were Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for seven weeks. I worked with fabric, trims, zippers, buttons and clasps. When shipments of fabric came in, I would cut them into swatches and strips and label them. They would be taken to Oscar de la Renta himself, and he’d approve or disapprove them. It was nerve-racking knowing something I was working on was going to him! I was working on swatches for the Resort 2012 line. Each designer puts on some sort of line, and he is doing one for resort vacation fashion. I made Excel documents about the inventory. I had to be extremely careful because these documents determined how bills were paid and how much fabric needed to be ordered. I worked with the head fabric buyer, Ali Reboul. I also had to run errands. Sometimes it would be to Starbucks, but other times it would be running around to fabric stories trying to find matching swatches or going to other designers to drop off or pick up items. One of the coolest things I got to do was when I had to drop off sweaters at Bergdorf’s on the Upper East Side. I got to ride in Oscar de la Renta’s personal car with his chauffer. I went in the back door and saw behind the scenes of the department store, which was very interesting. I couldn’t believe I was sitting in the car of one of the greatest fashion icons of all time and being escorted by his chauffer. It felt like a dream!
[pagebreak]
HCM: You remind me a bit of Anne Hathaway’s character in “The Devil Wears Prada.” Did you feel like her this summer?
KM: In some respects, yes, like when I was running errands. But no one ran around in heels all day in the heat! Women (like me) would walk to work in gym shoes and then put on their other shoes right at the door. My boss was never like Meryl Streep’s character. I met him a few times, and he was not cruel in the least bit. He’s one of my idols, and I didn’t expect to meet him because he mostly worked with the design team. But he came in roughly three times each week. This summer I got to go to the Oscar de la Renta sample sale, which was only offered to employees and interns. I walked in, and it felt like the day after Thanksgiving. People were running around like crazy. Everything was offered at a ridiculously reduced price. I got discounted items, including a sweater, bangles and scarves. Another intern bought a dress that Rihanna wore! Everyone I worked with was very nice and welcoming. They wanted to help us interns succeed. I became very close with all of my bosses by the end of my time working there and still keep in touch with them. We e-mail each other to update one another on our lives. I also developed really close relationships with the other two interns. We would go to lunch, hang out after work sometimes and even shop together.
HCM: How fun – living in Manhattan and working with a famous fashion icon! Did you see any celebrities?
KM: I saw Heidi Klum in Times Square! She was doing PR for the upcoming season of “Project Runway.” Another time Barbara Bush came into the office for a dress fitting, and I got to meet her.
HCM: What advice do you have for women aspiring to get fabulous internships like yours?
KM: Starting early is so important in today’s competitive world. It’s crucial to start early and build your résumé. My number one piece of advice is to be persistent. If someone sees that you’re passionate about something, they’ll give you the chance to prove yourself. Don’t give up, as cliché as that sounds. Be confident in yourself. I never would have been able to succeed if it weren’t for my parents. They supported me through everything this summer. This was one of the craziest things I have ever done!
HCM: What do you think you’d like to do with your TAM degree?
KM:My dream job would be to style celebrities in TV shows, movies and commercials. I’d love to do something similar to what Laura Schuffman does. She styles celebs from “Pretty Little Liars” and has worked with Christina Aguilera in a magazine ad. I would never want a job where I’d be chained to my desk. I especially loved my internship this summer because I got to explore the city while I was working.