“You want an internship to really expose you to the reality of whatever industry you are entering, otherwise it is not worth your time – Nadiya Mazurczak

Nadiya Mazurczak and Shonte Shannon, both interns at Los Angeles-based Chic Little Devil PR (check out our interview with them), share insight on the world of celebrity styling and wardrobe placement. Their responsibilities as interns have given these two students irreplaceable knowledge in this competitive industry.

What is your background?

Nadiya: I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication with a concentration in Public Relations and a Minor in Communication Studies. I have worked in the fashion industry since my senior year of college and haven’t turned back.

Shonte: I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications, with an emphasis in Broadcast, Print Journalism, and Public Relations, as well as a minor in Spanish.

Why Fashion PR?

Nadiya: I have always had a genuine love and appreciation for fashion, so I decided to apply my degree to an industry that I am passionate about. Fashion is undeniably a form of self-expression, which is ever-changing and requires an artistic approach. It certainly never gets boring, especially when you have the opportunity to work with so many talented designers. It is exciting to be a part of the brand exposure process. I quickly discovered that developing solid relationships and having strong communication skills is what drives PR. I simply felt, what better way to work in a publicity-oriented position than to be a part of something that thrills and interests me.

Shonte: I have always had a very strong interest in the entertainment industry and celebrity pop-culture, which go hand in hand with the fashion industry. As a journalism student, my prior internships and work experience were with television networks that centered around entertainment news, so keeping up with the latest fashions and emerging trends was a skill that I only needed to have, but also have a natural knack and passion for.

“You need to work hard at both the glamorous and not so glamorous sides of the industry.” – Shonte Shannon

What is a recent success story that you have been a part of?

Nadiya: There are quite a few success stories, but I will start with this year’s Cannes International Film Festival. Chic Little Devil Style House attended for the first time and styled various top celebrities for red-carpet premieres and tons of exclusive, fabulous soirees. It was great to be a part of such a renowned international event and helping to secure press coverage for our amazing designers. I have also been fortunate enough to help dress a plethora of notable celebrities for high-profile events such as the Emmy’s, MTV Awards, and the Grammy’s, as well as assisting in securing press coverage with various widely read publications such as NYLON, Teen Vogue, People Magazine, Genlux & 994. Also, our offices and showroom serves as a venue for tons of photo shoots, music videos and television shows, which is truly exciting to lend a helping hand behind the scenes. Lastly, I can’t forget to mention our amazing designers. That in itself has been a trip. It is great to see the impact that I am contributing too, which results in their continued growth and success. Not only do you see where their inspiration lies, but we get to make a difference in exposing their talent to the world, which is gratifying.

Shonte: Since I have started working with Chic Little Devil Style House, I have been very fortunate in helping secure major client placements in several top fashion publications and weekly/lifestyle magazines, including Lucky, Teen Vogue, People, OK!, and Star. I have also had the opportunity to dress a range of celebrities for red carpet premieres and award shows such as this year’s Grammy, Primetime Emmy, and Teen Choice Awards. What may have been among the most exciting ventures to have been a part of thus far is helping prepare for this year’s internationally recognized and highly coveted Cannes Film Festival. This was the company’s first time attending the event, so it was great being a part of such a huge project. We styled several top celebrities and achieved huge press for our clients, so it was very rewarding.

What challenges are attached to your job?

Nadiya: Working within PR means that you always have to stay one step ahead of the game. Now working in Fashion PR serves as a “double whammy” because the industry changes so frequently. You must always be anticipating that change or underlying opportunity and go after it. This is not your average nine to five job because it truly takes dedication in and out of the office. As long as you stay passionate about what you do, the extra hours and efforts that are applied become worth it. Every job has its own unique challenges. Learning what it takes to overcome them, specifically through an internship, prepares you to face them head on. You want an internship to really expose you to the reality of whatever industry you are entering, otherwise it is not worth your time.

Shonte: Public relations is a very fast-paced and deadline-driven environment. In order to be successful and produce results, you must always be one, if not two or three steps ahead. It is all about making things happen rather than waiting for them to occur, and exceeding the expectations. A good publicist is always working, even outside of the office. You’re constantly looking for ways to promote and expand your brands and clients. Because I am so passionate about what I do, I enjoy working hard, but it definitely requires dedication, time, and endurance.

What is exciting about your internship?

Nadiya: This internship has been such a rewarding experience because I have learned so much in such a short period of time. Here, we learn by doing. They give us the leverage to be able to make good decisions and contribute to the success of our designers, who are so inspiring. Boring is certainly NOT in our vocabulary. The time here has been especially valuable because you learn from so many people within the industry (designers, stylists, editors, co-workers), and one quickly finds out whether they are cut out for it or not. It is certainly not for everyone and takes a special work ethic to keep it together and focus when it gets chaotic. You are pulled in a million different directions on a daily basis, but I guess you can say, that is what gets my blood flowing.

Shonte: Socializing and engaging with others is one of my fortes, so I really just enjoy having the opportunity to meet so many different types of individuals in the fashion and entertainment industries. From celebrities, designers, stylists, other publicists and more, it is great being able to interact, share stories with, and even learn from others who are just as passionate about and interested in the industry as I am. In addition, getting an up close and personal look at the work of so many amazing and influential designers and being among the first to view the latest collections and trends is both exciting and inspiring.

What is an example of a typical day in the office?

Nadiya: Our forte is celebrity driven outreach, along with entertainment wardrobe product placement. So, a typical day in the office for me can consist of any or all of the following: pitching to press, helping in-house or celebrity stylists, generating and distributing PR and Marketing material, researching new brands and clientele that are in need of further exposure, providing support to our colleagues within the department, shipping and organizing designer samples, email campaigns, trend reporting, and event planning. As a style house and PR Company, we are not only preparing to style for the next red-carpet or publicized event, but we are also very much focused on acquiring press coverage and further publicity for our clients.

Shonte: Since Chic Little Devil Style House is a celebrity style house, we are always preparing for the next big things that are happening in entertainment and fashion- award shows, movie premieres, show productions, and other red carpet events and parties. In addition to celebrity placement, we are also working on getting our designers/clients prominent editorial placements in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle publications across the globe. So every day consists of pitching our brands in some form or another and garnering as much exposure and recognition as possible. We also have up to 15 stylists and/or celebrities visit our office and showroom per day to select pieces for events and photo shoots, as well as designers meeting with our team in hopes of garnering representation and joining our amazing roster of clients.

What are your responsibilities?

Nadiya: My responsibilities lay within the PR division of Chic Little Devil Style House and supporting the designers that we represent, such as Sheri Bodell, Elaine Moriera, Pleasure Doing Business, Left Turn, Romona Keveza, Jerell Scott, David Alexander and Gasoline Glamour.

Shonte: Achieving client publicity and press by conducting outreach for television, film, and special events for top celebrities and stylists, as well as editorial outreach to leading print publications and online media in the fashion, beauty, entertainment and lifestyle arenas; promoting and presenting designers to celebrities, high profile women, and all others looking for the most innovative, in-demand fashions and accessories; seeking new, cutting-edge designers and brands who can compliment and add to our highly selective team of clients; providing expert style advice and wardrobe preparation and lending to celebrities and stylists; and managing client inventory and samples.

What aspects of the job requirements were a surprise to you?

Nadiya: The surprise was having the opportunity to really get involved in the styling aspect. You certainly learn a lot about what fits and flatters various body types. It helps to further understand your clientele and their target customer. Every individual is different, so it is great to be in tune with what works for different people. Also, working in fashion may seem like a fun job from the outside, and it certainly is, but there are many aspects of the industry that are not as glamorous as they appear. You have to get your hands a bit dirty sometimes in order to make everything run efficiently and effectively for the future. This includes data entry, keep everything in the department organized, packing, shipping and making sure that all samples are neatly hung on their hangers, as well as keeping the work place spic and span. You always have an appearance to uphold and the small details that you do not often think about are actually what allow your job to run that much smoother.

Shonte: Although fashion and entertainment PR can be very glamourous and exciting, there are still tasks to be done that are not so stiletto friendly. Running errands, cleaning and hanging garments, and organizing the workspace are all things that must be done in order for the rewarding and fun aspects to take place. There was actually a time when I was working alongside two other interns, and we were helping to produce this great on-air segment with Entertainment Tonight, featuring several of our designers. Upon learning that they were required to steam gowns and Windex display cases, the interns left right there on the spot. This is an example of needing to rise to the occasion and do what is necessary, no matter how tedious, to get the job done. You need to work hard at both the glamorous and not so glamorous sides of the industry.

In a few words, how would you summarize your agency?

Nadiya: Chic Little Devil Style House is truly cutting edge and one-of-a-kind. Known as the largest style house on the west coast, it is an all-inclusive, one-stop-shop that provides quality, tailored PR and Marketing for a roster of amazing, notable designers. It also serves as a significant resource for world-renowned stylists, as it houses an incredible collection of over 40,000 garments and accessories. More notably, the most prominent part of Chic Little Devil Style House is the employees and the passion behind their work. Everyone does their part to ensure that each client and project is met with utmost, quality service and are extended an applauded amount of support to each other in order to get the job done with perfection.

Shonte: Truly unique. There really is no other style house like Chic Little Devil Style House. We are the largest in Southern California and among the leading in the nation. We carry the most amazing, diverse selection of inventory from all over the world and represent an incredible and elite roster of clients. Each and every staff member is enthusiastic about what we do and pride ourselves on producing superior results and excellent customer satisfaction.