I’d love to sit here and tell you about how New York City has been nothing but high fashion, celebrity parties, and total glamour. But let’s be brutally honest- it’s not. It’s really not, especially for the average income, average looking, average student. While there have been some incredible nights and opportunities, my day usually looks like every other college student. I wake up, go to class, go to work, and then go home. 

The hardest part about living in such a glitzy and star studded city is the FOMO. Let me tell you. It’s NOT fun. (I mean FOMO is never fun but you get it.) Waking up and seeing your more genetically privileged friends walking for New York fashion week while you’re stuck babysitting is nothing but torture. Especially for someone who dreams of working in the fashion industry. I’m not here to complain, but rather to tell you that despite what ‘living in Manhattan’ LOOKS like, what its ACTUALLY like is completely different. 

New York is for the hard working. Or the privileged. It’s one or the other. If you’re blessed with the right genes or the right parents, you’ll get where you want to be with the blink of an eye. I’ve seen this first hand on more than one occasion. But if you work your ass off, you’ll get there too. When I first came to New York, I was persistent with reaching out to companies, and that work was rewarded with invites to NYFW. But this season, I slacked, didn’t keep up my blog, and paid for it. I didn’t get invited to attend any shows, despite my effort to reach out last minute. It just goes to show you have to be overly active in this city in order to get where you want.

But, I love this city. I love the opportunities and the people. It’s been a DREAM to live and work in this marvelous city. But I’m not giving up my dreams yet. Even if I didn’t get that Tommy Hilfiger SS17 invite. I’ve just got to work a little bit harder- so get excited and get ready to see more blogging! 

Xx,

Alessandra DeMarino