Helping Hands

Times SquareHi everyone and Happy December!

This week I wanted to keep it short and simple and brush on the topic of family.

Above all, I feel having a supportive family is key to finding your passions. Somehow I got extremely lucky to have parents who support my interests as well as my career ambitions. It’s not often you find parents who whole heartedly will do everything they can to help you achieve your goals. My parents go above and beyond for not just me but my 5 other siblings. They’ve always taken the time to watch my progress within school and my interests. Even from when I attended my summer classes my mom visibly noticed a difference in my work from when the class started to right when it ended. Having an extra pair of eyes look at my work as well as watch my progress is nice and reassuring that there’s always room for improvement. I mean, if we were all perfect then we wouldn’t be going to school now would we?

My siblings are really supportive as well. I appreciate how they always ask about my classes as well as what I’m doing in them. My 2 younger sisters love crafts and fashion so it’s always nice to be able to share things with them that I didn’t know before going through the Precollege courses.

I’m honestly over the moon grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to attend these classes and gain the experience I have. I know to some it’s not a big deal but not only is it fun for me, I also enjoy learning more about the industry and all the different paths you can take based on your desires.

At the end of the day, whether your parents support you or not, follow your heart and do what you’d like to do. Having the extra support is great but I can only imagine how it would feel to have no one. Though think about it this way, I can assure you that out of the 7 billion people in this world, someone will be interested in whatever it is you have to offer. I’ve been privileged enough to have the supportive parents I do but it goes to show, many successful people out there followed their passions and went out to do what they desired.

Thank you for reading and have a wonderful day!

-Emily Kelly

A Dip Into Magazine Design

Hi all!

In my class, Magazine Design, I’ve come to really enjoy and appreciate the amount of time and effort it takes to create a professional yet personalized magazine. Learning the techniques to make a magazine that’s eye catching and up to snuff is exciting!

Being that magazine design is, for the most part, solely based on computer technology, being familiar with the software is key. My professor was well aware that many of us have barley touched programs such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign; and has mentored us to be able to use it to our best ability. I’ll be honest, at first it’s quite difficult to grasp those few basic steps due to the numerous ways there are to executing one task, though surprisingly I started to catch on in no time!

Magazine Progress

Magazine Progress @ FIT

Thankfully, my skills have improved and even though at times I have to do tasks multiple times to finally achieve the exact design I’m going for, it’s all simply a process of trial and error. I feel I need to work on learning more techniques and tools within these programs that way it’ll allow me to create exactly what I picture in my head instead of having to move around my initial idea due to not knowing what tools to use.

Weeks are cutting close, now that classes are counting down one by one I’m finally starting to get a hang of the programs. This is great because I can finally start placing ideas onto papers, but also a little stressful because times running out and I’d love to finish a strong final whole magazine without weak ends.

Magazine Progress

Magazine Progress @ FIT

Overall I’ve genuinely learned a lot about the programs we use and I’ve also been inspired by the pieces my professor shows us in class. Initially, I hadn’t planned on taking this class but I’m glad I did because not only does it give you an introduction to color and design but it can also tie in fashion and its aesthetics which is always a plus!

Now of course everything is still a work in progress but I think it’s coming out nice and hopefully my final product will be great!

Thank you for reading and have a wonderful week! Also, have a happy turkey day!

-Emily Kelly

 

My Goals

Hey lovely readers,

Ever since I’ve started the precollege program at FIT, it really makes you look at your future in all aspects. It could be extremely stressful but also extremely enjoyable and satisfying. When you finally know what you want and how to get there. For myself, I have quite the grasp on what I want to do but also I am prepared for anything to come…I hope. My first choice college would have to be FIT, but if unfortunately I did not get accepted. I would like to go to SUNY Oneonta, and major in Fashion Merchandising and minor in Business Communications. Thinking about where I am going to be in 5 or 10 years makes me feel all kinds of nervous. But, I would like to have an internship or a job at a luxury brand like Marc Jacobs, Burberry, or Givenchy. I am so interested in how they start the new trends and how other brands follow. I would even love to work at a fashion magazine, working with the featured clothes and styles.

Even though my goals are broad and time consuming, anyone who is determined can get anywhere they want in life. I know, so cliche. But starting a little bit smaller: My FIT precollege goals. I am starting my 5th week and obviously, I am loving it. I find the city very motivating and every person so interesting. I have my next project due this upcoming week for Fashion Forecasting and I am very nervous! We had to take an era in time and research about its fashion trends. We have to do an oral presentation, a mood board or a PowerPoint, and an essay. I really hope I do well, I worked harder on this than my actual homework. My goals in the class is to obviously do well and absorb every possible thing out of the lessons. Also, to really enjoy the city and my new friends.

I feel as though I grow every week. It is such an experience…from the commute to the class. I really need these next weeks to slow down! 

Introducing Precollege Blogger: Catherine

LyonsA “Formal” Introduction

       Precollege classes for spring 2014 have begun! For the next few months we’ll all be attending our selected course/courses, hopefully learning a lot, and pursuing our passions.

– Hello, reader! My name is Catherine and I am a spring 2014 Precollege student at FIT. I am 15 years old (16 in about 3 months) and I live in N.Y on Long Island. This past fall I took my first Precollege class, Creating the Fashion Figure. If you don’t know what this class entails it’s essentially the basics of fashion design. This course was a great starting point for me because I was not sure just where my interests in the fashion industry had lay yet. But being the mediocre drawer that I am, that course helped me realize that my interests and talents lay better with the business side of the fashion industry. Now with that positive narrowing of my future in fashion I gained, I start this spring semester enrolled in the course The Ins and Outs of Fashion Merchandising and I am very eager.

          Just like everyone else (I assume) enrolled in a fashion related Precollege course I love fashion and have loved it from a young age. I love everything about fashion, from its history, to just everyday street style, to high fashion, and etc. I love reading fashion magazines, books, and blogs, and watching fashion related movies and documentaries. And I don’t even want to know how many hours I’ve spent scrolling through the ever so important style.com. Everything fashion related excites me. I feel like a fashion “nerd” a lot of the time – that’d be the correct term I guess? (If not it very well should be!). But other than fashion (I won’t be deadly specific with this) some other interests and passions of mine I guess are quite typical things like art, music, and film.

          As I said before I am very excited for this Precollege semester. I’ve already been to one class of The Ins and Outs of Fashion Merchandising on March 1st. And so far I feel like this class is really tailored toward my interests in the fashion industry. Of course from the title of the class you can tell we will be learning about merchandising. But we also will be taking trips to The Museum at FIT and to stores around Manhattan. I’m very thrilled to be blogging and sharing this experience because I really feel that by the end of this semester I will have grown and have learned a lot as a person and as a lover of fashion. I hope to share as much as I can, thanks for reading!

Catherine

Chance or Choice?

This post is dedicated to all of the students going into senior year.

Is our fate determined by chance or choice? 

Personally, I believe it’s determined by choice. The choices I make each and every day contribute to the outcome of my future. But, without the chances I take in life, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Do you believe our fate is determined by chance or choice?

The effort that we all put into our work here, at FIT, is preparing us for our future. The hours that we dedicate to creating our artwork is our choice. These classes that we are taking are preparing us for our future. That’s why we must soak up all of the knowledge we are learning! Seniors, we have to apply the knowledge we have learned to our portfolio. We have to make sure we include some of our best work. What are you thinking of including? How have you been preparing for your portfolio?

I have mixed feelings for week three. It’s my last week here at FIT. What if I never come back? FIT is my dream. It provides everything that I need to be successful later in life. I am so nervous about applying to college in general. Will they like my creations? Am I up to par? What makes me stand out from the rest?

I am channeling all of these feelings into my artwork and creations. I am so determined to make my portfolio the very best it could be. I have hope. If you don’t believe in yourself, then who will?

We must all be sponges this week. Soak up all the information you can. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask your professor. I’ve grown a tremendous amount these past two weeks. I have learned to render some very important fabrics, which is necessary for my portfolio. I have now mastered the industrial sewing machine. I have even learned to use the over lock machine.. It’s my new best friend!!

There will also be a slideshow in the Cafeteria on Monday, July 23rd. It will show all the different majors for FIT and will give tips and information on applying to FIT. Seniors, definitely attend! An Admissions Representative will be there to hand out information and answer your questions!

Good luck to all seniors on applying to colleges!

“Don’t spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door” -Coco Chanel

Your Care Tag,

Bella