Monday, March 07, 2011

On getting into fashion…

Some people are born knowing that fashion is what they want to do for the rest of their life. They start by crafting couture gowns for Barbie then designing their prom dress and finally going to design school full of confidence and assurance and a love for their craft. I wish I could have been that lucky. 

I've always had an interest in fashion, to a certain extent. I tried starting fashion lines on multiple occasions and even interned at a fashion magazine. Yet actually pursuing a career wasn't in the cards as far as I was concerned. I told myself I didn't know how to draw, didn't know how to sew, didn't want to be a starving artist and definitely didn't want to be considered a bimbo. So, for years I forced myself to go in the other direction. 

I pursued advertising, law and market research. I denied my love for fashion as frivolous, and told myself I had no talent. Until one day, miserable after several years of crunching numbers for a market research firm, I realized it—fashion made me happy. Reading about fashion, seeing fashion and wearing fashion was what I wanted to do. So, I embarked on a quest to be in the fashion industry. Going back to school wasn't an option, but I applied everywhere and for anything and hoped for the best. In the mean time, I wrangled my friends into doing photoshoots with me: They modeled and photographed while I styled. 

Finally, I got an offer to be a fashion writer and editor. I had no real desire to write—nor do I believe myself to be a particularly good writer—but I accepted and cut my salary in half.  It was now or never. So, now I write about what I love—most of the time. Sometimes, when writing about Kim Kardashian's latest ensemble I wonder what I'm doing here, but when I get to write about the collections and see fashion up close, I know I'm definitely on the right path. 

After going to fashion week and seeing the shows, going backstage, feeling the life of the industry—I know this is what I want to do. But I'm not sure this career path has a future in the city I'm currently living in (and moving back to New York isn't an option). I have, on occasion, thought of quitting to do something I hate for higher pay. But then I realize I'm happy doing what I' doing. 

So, to augment my celebrity-oriented day job and hopefully carve my own path in this crazy world, here's my attempt at starting a fashion blog. I may fail miserably, and posting is almost sure to be sporadic (because I'm admittedly a lazy ass), but here goes!

1 comment:

  1. Cecilia Artadi BriggsOctober 2, 2011 at 9:17 PM

    I just went through your entire blog (from Sept & all the way back to March ~ thus this current "page") ~ and I absolutely LOVE IT!!!
    You are very, very talented, Sasha ~ so savvy, so right on, so confident of your style and taste ... and I found your writing so engagingly descriptive!! I hope one day this fabulous blog of yours can be a source of a ton of income for you!!
    I am a good friend of your Mom. We were schoolmates (so we go back a long way) ... and eventually reconnected when we both lived in Hong Kong. Of course I knew you as a little girl and had always been really fond of you. I don't expect you to remember me (you were much too young) ... but I certainly will never forget you!
    You do us all proud!! You are a very interesting, colorful and creative young woman.
    I will absolutely look forward to viewing your entries ... and will rely on you keeping me "current" with fashion, interiors and food.
    Keep up the good work,
    Cecilia Artadi Briggs

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