Determining what to wear to work is never easy, but it can be even more of a challenge when your occupation isn’t the typical desk job. In a bid to shake up our own work wardrobes, we're seeking the advice of some of the best-dressed working women. Next up is Kaiva Kaimins, founder of floristry design studio LoverGirl. As Kaiva works between events, flower markets, private clients and a studio space in East London, we asked her what workwear means to her and which key pieces she relies on for each of the (very) different roles her job demands.

You’re the brains behind floral concept and social media storm LoverGirl [previously My Lady Garden]. How did you kickstart your career and how did it lead to your current position?

I completely fell into floristry by accident! I came to London on a gap year when I was 18, and ended up staying. I was a nanny, spent a summer in Portugal working at a surf hostel, working in bars, everything. My mum had really wanted me to study at university, so to keep her quiet (sorry mum!) I chose a floristry course in London. It was super classical, and didn’t really appeal to me at all in the beginning. The style was so traditional.

I started out right at the bottom as a rookie interning in flower shops by day and working in restaurants by night. I then started freelancing, practicing where I could and developing my own style, eventually starting my own studio back in London in 2020. We focused on weddings and then, bam, COVID hit, and I had to pivot to stay afloat. We started doing weekly flower deliveries, and even had a shop when restrictions were lifted. Five years later, and we have a global brand, flower studio, online store, an in-person flower school and a beautiful community with merchandise launching very soon! I’ve been working in the world of flowers for over 9 years now, and it has totally flown by.

How does what you wear to the office differ from your off-duty and weekend wardrobes?

Honestly, it’s quite similar—lots of layers and textures . The main difference is if I know that I'll be getting messy with flowers and materials or not, so my outfits really depend on the type of work I'm doing. If I'm in the studio doing admin or laptop based work, I still like to look and feel my best and dress more on the "cute" side, whereas if i’m on site, it’ll be more of a sporty vibe, but I'll always have a lip gloss in my bag. To me, getting ready is similar in both dressing and [flower] arranging—colour, layering and texture are key parts in my floral designs but also key to the way I style my outfits.

You’ve worked with some of the most influential brands in the industry and have a client roster that boasts the likes of Gucci, Ganni, Dior, Cartier and Selfridges. How do you set about coming up with a concept, and what gets you most excited about working on any project?

I have synesthesia so my approach to all creative projects is super sensory. I think about how ideas make me feel, if colours have a melody or I might think about how the idea feels and tastes etc. I get excited by making mood boards, playlists and painting with watercolours! There's lots of experimenting and most of my ideas come to me while i’m in the water—swimming, in the bath, in the ocean... you name it! I love translating ideas into floral compositions.

What was your first "pinch me" moment or a time you realised something you’d worked on had an impact?

I’m lucky to have had so many pinch me moments, but receiving the call for my first book deal is absolutely up there. I pitched the idea to a few publishers and worked really hard to get the idea to come to life, and it worked!

As a Forbes 30 Under 30 awardee, the global reach of your work has been acknowledged alongside equally major upcoming talent. What advice would you give to young women thinking of setting up and starting their own businesses?

Just go and bloody do it. Just start. Go for it. The world is your oyster, and you are the shucker! Things will fail, but try again. Once you get over the idea that things need to be perfect or will always work from the get go, it gets a bit easier. Failure is part of the process. Your ego might hurt a bit, but keep learning! Stay curious! Learn some more. Surround yourself with people that inspire you. Ask questions, and listen to your gut relentlessly.

What does a typical day look like for you?

It changes every single day! But I like it that way. I lived in Mexico recently and came to London every two months to be on site for big projects, and to teach at our Flower School. While abroad, my day started with a 7am start with clients on upcoming projects, planning launches, digitally designing mock-ups, managing our team in London and focusing on big projects including our re-brand! That was huge, and I needed time to focus clearly and to fix my work/life balance. I love my job, but London was burning me out, a tale as old as time. I’ll be based in Europe from this summer, and back to London for specialist projects. While i’m here in London, i’m working in the studio, on site, making content and getting messy on site visits. If we’re working on a larger scale project, it's likely you'll find me up a ladder somewhere!

As you teach, create and run a business, you have to wear a lot of different hats. How do you stay true to your style whilst meeting the needs of your day-to-day?

I wear anything that makes me feel confident and my best self. As the founder, I have to set the tone of our work environment both with clients, and our team. I pride myself on a really encouraging, positive workplace environment and a fun, creative approach with clients so I need to feel my best, and this is often through what I'm wearing.

Who are your career and creative role models, and how have they influenced the way you grew LoverGirl?

I am really inspired by other entrepreneurs like Eshita Kabra-Davies of By Rotation and Estee Lalonde of Mirror Water. I love how authentic they are, and how honest they are with their community, it's something I strive to be. I truly believe authenticity and community is how you grow, and I'm really inspired by these two women in business in particular.

Who are your style icons, and how have they influenced the way you dress?

My inner child is my style icon. Some days when I have no clue what I’m in the mood for, I meditate and channel her energy. She truly loved to layer, wear anything fun and always was confident. I always get the most compliments on my outfits on those days!

How has your style evolved from when you first started out?

I am so glad I've developed a sense of style over the last decade, at one point I was so lost all I wore was my ex-boyfriends Carhartt T-shirts, and baggy jeans. I think that was both a comfort at the time, and also a deep insecurity thing. Now I love to play around, and wear things that feel good and excite me. There's no right or “wrong” way to dress, and once I started to play around, I started to love experimenting with fashion.

What’s your favourite go-to outfit, and how does it make you feel?

Probably a cute skirt, shirt and jumper, and a cap and loafers. A little bit preppy, a little bit sporty and always comfy. I am also obsessed with wearing men's jeans (specifically oversized STUSSY ones), with a comfy jumper and trainers. Or a thrifted striped shirt. I have far too many of those, they're a guilty pleasure! They make me feel really confident but refined. I’ll always have a touch of pearl on too whether it's a necklace, or earrings etc. It's my little ode to the ocean, my happy place.

What is on your vision board for 2024?

Romance, sunsets and sunrises, ocean swims, cooking, hi-fi speakers blasting Sade, starting my second business, writing my second book, experimenting with new ways of floral design, launching new products, cooking with friends, belly laughter, finding a place to call home in Portugal and finding glimmers in each day.

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Determining what to wear to work is never easy, but it can be even more of a challenge when your occupation isn’t the typical desk job. In a bid to shake up our own work wardrobes, we sought out the advice of some of the best dressed working women. Next up is Clare Richardson, celebrity stylist and founder of luxury preloved fashion boutique Reluxe. As Clare balances a busy schedule of A-list clients, editorial shoots and running a business, we asked her what workwear means to her and which key pieces she relies on for each of the (very) different roles her job demands.

You initially started out in styling and editorial, and have worked with some of the biggest names in luxury fashion and an impressive roster of celebrity clients. Did you always want to work in the fashion industry and what are your memories of starting out?

I studied at Central Saint Martins and had always wanted to be a journalist, but I was doing lots of amazing work experience and the styling came quite naturally. I loved the research element, and as a visual person, loved the idea of creating imagery that captured a moment in time.

How does what you wear to work differ from your off-duty and weekend wardrobe?

What I wear to work tends to be a bit smarter however, I always have a slight boyish element in whatever I wear. I wear my clothes and I'm on my feet all day, so they have to not wear me—everything has to be fundamentally comfortable first. That's why I love Phoebe Philo.

As an advocate for the slow fashion approach, setting up Reluxe and the recently opened Reluxe in Residence encourages customers to shop preloved designer pieces that are difficult to find anywhere else. When did the idea first come about and how did you get it off the ground?

I was always drawn to vintage or as we now call it, preloved. I enjoyed the hunt and idea of sourcing pieces that felt unique, or that no one else had. That then really turned into a passion for shopping more sustainably and thinking about the impact my purchases had on the world. I think being exposed to product through my brand consultancy as well as styling and seeing first-hand how we consume clothing is what really drew me to launching Reluxe Fashion. A place to truly celebrate the great pieces that my friends and community had collected over the years and give those pieces a second life.

How do you source pieces and what gets you most excited about sharing them with customers?

We source directly from our community, our network are some of the most stylish women around the world, many who I have been lucky enough to work and engage with over the years through my styling. And now two years in, we also have an incredible client network who are sharing their wardrobes with us.

What was your first pinch-me moment—a time you realised that something you’d worked on and pushed for had had an impact?

There are so many moments however, Jennifer Aniston wearing Reluxe Fashion in the WSJ was a highlight. She is so iconic, and it felt like a true representation of the community we were building. More recently, we partnered with denim brand Madewell in the USA on a preloved edit that launched online and across five of their physical locations. Seeing Reluxe Fashion on the shop floor on Fifth Avenue was incredible—for a brand and retailer to be embracing preloved alongside their edit is fundamental to us changing the landscape. Preloved, rental and repair are all becoming part of the broader conversation and that excites me.

Who are your style icons, and how have they influenced the way you dress?

I’m drawn to the style of women like Marianne Faithful, Joan Didion and Charlotte Gainsbourg. They are all daring with a rock n’ roll sensibility and yet each so timeless and refined in their approach to dressing.

How has your style evolved from when you first started out compared to now?

I’d say I was a little more experimental before, although that still carries through with my love for bohemian and free-spirited dressing. I think now I really try to maintain a sense of elegance while also embracing comfort, and not letting trends dictate too much.

What does a typical day look like for you?

Getting the kids ready for their day before I can start mine (which on a good day) means exercise before I head to the office to be with the team. Otherwise, I’m travelling or on set. But I rarely sit still!

What's your favourite go-to outfit, and how does it make you feel?

I tend to gravitate to big trousers, and a small t-shirt, always slightly boy-ish. For the winter, I layer with a classic knit paired with a great knee-high boot. Clothing for me is deeply personal, and it needs to make me feel both comfortable and confident.

What advice would you give to women thinking of setting up and starting their own business?

I’d say do it! There is so much power in taking a concept and idea to the world and finding ways to engage people with it. It’s a lot of hard work and it is important to surround yourself with great people that can help you along the way. I find strength in a number of other founders, and often find peers really are the best source of encouragement.

What top tips would you give those looking to make more sustainable changes to their wardrobes?

Really consider your purchases and think of each item as an investment, think about not only the now but how this product's life cycle could extend beyond your own wardrobe. Also don’t be afraid to bring pieces back, wear on repeat and repair - we all have those pieces in our wardrobe that deserve to be worn again.

What's on your vision board for 2025?

We have worked on some incredible projects with Reluxe this past year - from our Residence in Notting Hill through to partnerships with Gleneagles, Goop and Madewell which bought preloved into more physical spaces both in the UK and US. Next year, we are hoping to continue this exciting journey and hopefully find a more permanent home alongside our ecommerce site.

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Determining what to wear to work is never easy, but it can be even more of a challenge when your occupation isn’t the typical desk job. In a bid to shake up our own work wardrobes, we sought out the advice of some of the best dressed working women. Next up is Charmaine Chow, the founder and C.E.O of skincare platform GetHarley. As Charmaine balances the two juggernauts that are the tech and beauty industry,, we asked her what workwear means to her and which key pieces she relies on for each of the (very) different roles her job demands.

You initially started out in investment banking. How did you find the transition from starting out to launching the GetHarley platform, and what was the catalyst for change?

I grew up in Malaysia and got a scholarship to study Economics at the London School of Economics so I moved to the UK at 17. I thought that starting out my career in finance and investment banking would teach me valuable skills about business and that I would be surrounded by excellent people learn from. I was right, and it landed me my first job at Morgan Stanley on the Leveraged Finance desk.

As one of the few females in the industry at the time, a lot of consumer and healthcare-type deals would often land on my desk. That got me involved in a private equity transaction involving acquisitions of independent clinic businesses, and I understood the industry as an analyst, tracking market trends and studying profit and loss statements of clinics looking to be acquired. This is when my interest in the aesthetic dermatology industry was first piqued, and I really understood the potential of this market. However, the idea of GetHarley really only came to me when I experienced difficulty as a consumer myself. I was looking for the right skincare solutions for my own skin and kept experiencing obstacles in my search.

In my late twenties, I struggled with my skin—I had many issues like acne, scarring, eczema—and I was growing tired of all the confusion and what I felt was misinformation in the skincare industry. I craved a trusted voice to guide me through the thousands of options for my skin. I visited a lot of different practitioners, but always found it difficult to stay consistent with one treatment plan because the experience was so incredibly cumbersome; it was all waiting in clinic receptions, phone calls, emails, and trouble scheduling.That was when the idea of GetHarley came to me: an end-to-end platform that helps consumers discover just the right skincare solution for their skin, powered by knowledgeable practitioners they can tap into at the click of a few buttons. Want a consultation? Text in, jump online. Want products? Click a few buttons, they come to your door. GetHarley really came to me from the perspective of a disgruntled consumer.

How does what you wear to the office differ from your off-duty and weekend wardrobe?

My work and off-duty wardrobes do not differ much. At GetHarley, we believe the foundation of joyful work starts when you are able to bring your whole self to work, and to me that ranges from getting to live your personal values at work, to wearing what makes you feel most comfortable. Our ethos is "come as you are", as long as it is in line with the role you have within the company..

Most days, I prioritise comfort and practicality. I like things that don't require endless cycles of steaming or ironing. Matching co-ords are great, because they make your outfits look just a bit more coordinated and elevated while taking no mindspace at all. Sometimes my work involves evening dinners and events, this is when I make time to get a bit more creative and dress up, choosing heels over my trusted runners.

GetHarley now has some of the most influential and respected clinicians in the industry on the network. How do you discover new clients and what gets you most excited about connecting them with consumers?

Since launching in 2019, we now power and have a growing network of over 1,500 practitioners across the UK and Ireland. Our tagline is “powered by knowledge not hype” because we aim to always bring the expert back into every skin health conversation. This means that we are only ever as good as our practitioner community, so we take building this community very seriously.

Our practitioners are those who share the same passion and ethos that we do about skin health and patient care. We meet practitioners through a thorough onboarding process where together we assess whether there is a mutual fit between them and GetHarley. We explore elements like years of experience, qualification type, skincare training and their reasons for wanting to partner with GetHarley.

As for the consumer, there has never been more choice and confusion in the skincare industry. Three new skincare products are launched every hour and the result is a fragmented marketplace where the consumer is often overwhelmed by choice, without a professional voice to guide them. We are in a unique position to cut through the noise in this crowded market and connect consumers directly with skincare professionals who have dedicated their careers to understanding and treating skin. By widening access to world-leading skincare expertise and products, and bringing them into the homes of thousands of people (many who otherwise would not or could not travel to the practitioner rooms), we get to encourage better skin health for so many people. I suppose because I have experienced firsthand the emotional and physical pains of having tricky skin, this part of my work really brings me meaning.

What was your first pinch-me moment—the moment you realised that something you’d worked on and pushed for had had an impact?

Our mission has always been to empower people to look, feel and be their best selves at every age. I am proud that after five years of our business, we continue to provide a service that serves and delights the patients. Seeing our 4.8/5 Trustpilot score where patients regularly recount how GetHarley, alongside their practitioner, have enhanced their skin health journeys and in some cases, changed their lives, was and continues to be, a pinch-me moment. This means the most to me that we can play a part in helping patients feel more confident in their own skin.

I'm also always grateful for the opportunity to be a champion of quality for our practitioner partners. In the early days when the pandemic was still at large, many practitioners told us that GetHarley had become a lifeline for them as they were not able to operate as usual during those uncertain times. The fact that we were able to help keep businesses afloat, especially as a start up, was a very surreal moment for sure!

Who are your style icons, and how have they influenced the way you dress?

A lot of different people inspire my style, for different reasons but I am definitely all about simple and understated looks and making sure I prioritise comfort. It’s so important I feel like me in anything I wear. A big influence on the way I dress goes back to my early teenage years when my mum had a business of selling women’s clothes. One day after school, I remember following my mum to my aunt’s office where my aunt would gather all her friends to congregate in the ladies' washroom to try on the clothes my mum was selling. I distinctly remember this backdrop of a humble, gritty, ugly bathroom setting, contrasted with a group of women putting on clothes and coming out of the stalls, looking completely transformed.

That memory has stuck with me since and goes to show that what you wear and how you look really goes beyond the superficial. It impacts the way you feel and how ready you are to take on the world. That’s where my style comes from, wearing whatever makes me feel best at any given time. Whenever I want an instant feel good factor, I turn to Chanel jackets I’ve collected over the years. Beauty wise, the best look to me is one that makes you look like you’ve had a great night’s sleep or a holiday. Clear, dewy skin with minimal blush. Again, it’s about looking like a better version of myself.

How has your style evolved from when you first started out in banking to now?

Back in the day banking did have a prescriptive dress code. Men had to wear shirts, and pink was for Fridays only! Women mostly had to wear shirts, below the knee skirts, dresses, hosiery, closed toe shoes, and so I wore mostly the same uniform. I can’t say I miss it!

What does a typical day look like for you?

I normally try to maximize my sleep and get up 30 minutes before I have to leave the house. Usually that’s around 8am, for an 8.30 start. No day is the same though, and I like to have thinking time in the first half of the day, and evenings are generally for business meetings, community events and connecting with friends. Meetings usually take place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Fridays are creative days where I review assets, copy, do ideation meetings, and Mondays and Thursdays I try to position for thinking and planning time.

What's your favourite go-to outfit, and how does it make you feel?

My favourite go-to outfit is a co-ord sweatshirt and sweatpants from American Vintage. I love co-ords because they help me to instantly look like I have made a tonne of effort, but they just take five minutes to put on. Convenient and comfortable! Another one of my go-tos is a GetHarley sweatshirt (we release one edition every year for our team of GoGetters) and leggings. To be productive and creative, I really think you need to be in maximum comfort!

I also love a good Nap Dress from Hill House Home. They are well cut, can be dressed up with heels or down with a pair of sneakers, and bring a touch of femininity to any outfit. Some other brands I've been wearing a lot lately are Vuori, Lululemon, The Row, Loro Piana, Rag & Bone, and oversized cashmere sweaters stolen from my husband’s closet, and vintage sweatshirts stolen from my sister’s closet. I like wearing things of people I love, it’s like a virtual hug.

What advice would you give to women thinking of setting up and starting their own business?

Be clear about what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. When I started in 2019, it was definitely the flavour du jour to be an entrepreneur but there needs to be a true “why” to make it work in the long run. You need a reason that can sustain you through the most painful parts of the journey. For me, I always remind myself about why I went down this path—to reimagine and improve the experience in the aesthetic dermatology and wellness industry. If practitioners are finding it hard to do something, how can we make it better? How can we elevate a consumer’s experience? And remember; the market is a very efficient place! If your idea or solution could work in reality, it would already exist. You need real insight into the industry and pinpoint what other people haven’t seen, understood, or done before.

I think it’s important to think through your family planning and finances and how that fits with an all consuming entrepreneurial lifestyle. My belief is that you can’t have everything all at once, but if you time things well and are thoughtful, you can build the life you want to live over time.

 What's on your vision board for the next year?

Ooh big question! Given that it’s late into 2024, I am thinking more about 2025. I'm manifesting taking GetHarley global, new art in my apartment, new features on the GetHarley platform that will make life for practitioners and patients even more fuss free, and an extended family trip to Tokyo where lots of food is involved. Thankfully, most of this is already in the making.

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Choosing what to wear for a job interview can be a daunting task—especially if you happen to be interviewing with Anna Wintour herself. But the Vogue editor in chief revealed some wisdom that might actually put your mind at ease. In a new episode of the magazine's Go Ask Anna video series, Wintour answers a reader's question about what someone should wear for an interview at Vogue, and you can bet we're taking notes. 

"It's so interesting to me how people dress when they come in for interviews," Wintour says in the video. "Sometimes you feel they're wearing clothes that they just bought that morning or maybe the night before, and not something that in any way suits their personality and who they are. I think what everyone should remember, whether they're interviewing at Vogue or indeed anywhere, that we're not hiring your wardrobe. Your wardrobe is not going to be doing the job for you—it's who you are." In other words, never wear anything to an interview that doesn't truly represent your style. 

She went on to give an example of an interview outfit she considered to be particularly memorable. "I'll always remember a young man who came in in a dress and a handbag, and I gave him the job on the spot. You have to dress for yourself. I think it doesn't do yourself a service to fake it." Amen to that. Scroll down to watch Wintour's full video, including her thoughts on the Kardashians' style and her take on leggings. 

Shop Pieces With Personality 

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This story was originally published on Who What Wear U.S. and has since been updated.

Up Next: 9 Interview Dressing Tips to Help You Score Your Dream Job

When you tell people you work in fashion, one of the first questions (after "Ooh, what discounts do you have?" and "So is my outfit in fashion?") is usually a play on "So is it actually like The Devil Wears Prada?" An Instagram account @fashionassistants shares assistants' "get me the unpublished Harry Potter manuscript" stories, making it clear that Miranda Priestly isn't purely fiction. It's all too easy to overlook those making meeting requests and doing the morning coffee runs, but behind every fashion powerhouse is a great assistant.

It's extremely powerful to have a platform to shine a light on the flaws in any industry, however, we wanted to join this conversation by celebrating many of the brightest new talents. The hardest and most volatile time in your career is often at the start, so tips from assistants are arguably just as valuable as the advice from someone at the top of a business. We asked our followers to nominate fashion assistants who deserve to be celebrated, and out of the six I met, not one had an aunt who worked at Vogue.

Keep scrolling to see how London's new fashion talent landed their jobs and their tips on how to navigate what can be a difficult and intimidating career.

At Small Companies, You Really Can Work On Everything

Jess Benjamin is a social media assistant at The Fashion Digital, a social media agency. "I get to assist on shoots and help write copy for social posts for our clients," she says of her job. "With such a small team, you get to learn so much and help everybody in all aspects of the company."

When it comes to landing that first job, Jess says it is a numbers game. "If you look in my careers section on my laptop, I wrote cover letters to so many companies," she says. "I applied for this job on Fashion Workie—a website that has everything from the top jobs to two-week work placements. I'd definitely advise always looking on there and apply to as many places you can even if you don't think it'll be the right fit, as you don't know what you'll gain when you're there."

As for struggling to get any response from cold emails, Jess says, "Fashion is an industry that it is easy to think that everyone has connections and everyone's godfather works at a magazine. But people do appreciate hard work—if you show you are prepared to work hard, that is so much more important than knowing someone."

Be Open-Minded, and Try to Ignore Industry Stereotypes

Jess Crabbe is a press and talent assistant at modelling agency Models1. This area of the agency looks after people who are known for another job rather than modelling. "A big part of my job is I am in charge of all the dressing and gifting for events," Jess explains. "So when any talent is going to a premiere or a store launch, I'll liaise with PRs to sort their dressing."

Jess's main tip for finding your first role is to be open to anything and to try to forget your preconceptions about the industry: "It's a cliché, but be open to all kinds of opportunities. I love fashion, but you see The Devil Wear's Prada and attach negative connotations to what it would be like, but just be open." And when you're in the door, she advises you try to experience as much as you can to see which department is best for you. "As an assistant, it's important to try to be open to helping lots of people, as it will open more doors and help you work out what you're actually interested in."

Related: 38 Amazing Workwear Buys to Realise Your Office Attire Goals

So how did Jess get into Models1 in the first place? "I graduated this time last year and interned for three months with a company called Gleam that manages YouTubers and then was recommended for an internship at Models1. I interned here for three months and then was offered a job. One thing that is important is to make yourself not invaluable but super, super useful. If people see you taking on more responsibility above the assistant or intern bracket, it's only going to help you."

Instagram Is Now a Place to Find Jobs

Sipho Mathema works in a relatively new area of the industry, as she is an assistant for influencer Freddie Harrel. This involves helping Freddie in all aspects of her work from diary management to accompanying her on photo shoots. "I have followed Freddie on Instagram for a few years and saw she posted something about needing an assistant, and I was looking for something flexible, as I'm an illustrator," explains Sipho. "Instagram is the future way to find a job. I have done a few head office fashion jobs, so this wasn't my first job. I'm 30, so I have quite a bit of experience. Because Freddie's job is based on Instagram, it is the perfect platform to find someone for that role. If they follow you and are aware of what you do, it really helps."

"I think you can't be an assistant if you don't like the person," adds Sipho. "What Freddie represents is what I believe in. It's important that you have that. We are the same age, and she is obviously my boss, but we have a friendship as well. Influencers often work alone, so it's great to have someone to bounce off each other. The biggest thing I've learnt from her is to be positive and have that outlook. She never makes me feel less."

As for tips for being a fashion assistant, Sipho advises: "Don't overthink things, learn to prioritise and my number one tip is to always, always take notes."

You Can Teach Yourself to Be Super Organised

Polly Bartlett is the fashion assistant at Women's Health magazine, working on all the cover shoots and assisting with the fashion content in the magazine. "I started a bit later because after university, I fell into another job, but then I knew that I wanted to give this a go. I did internships at GQ, Style, The Times and more for six months. I just applied on the website for a work experience placement at The Debrief (which was my first job), and then once you've had experience, people will recommend you to other magazines in the building or people they know."

Assistant jobs require juggling many tasks and staying on top of admin, however, Polly says you can teach yourself to be efficient. "You have to be really organised, which doesn't come at all naturally to me, but that was something I had to learn quickly. I now make lists and lists and lists."

As for what she has learned from her boss, Polly says it is that you can be successful and friendly to everyone in your team. "My boss is really chilled out and still gets stuff done, so she's taught me that you can be kind and still be very successful," she says. "Fashion directors can have a reputation, but she's always so nice to everyone she meets."

Related: Summer 2018 Fashion Trends: The Only Looks You Need to Know

Make Your Own Contacts

Krissy Turner is the fashion co-ordinator at The Telegraph, assisting fashion director Lisa Armstrong and writing her own column about the high street for the newspaper. "I don't know if I've ever officially applied for a job," says Krissy. "It's always come from an internship or word of mouth or a recommendation." Krissy didn't know anyone who worked in the industry but emailed someone at Look Magazine in Year 11 to ask if they could help her with a school project. "They said yes, and I went into the offices, and when I was there, I asked if I could have work experience and got one week there. When I was there, I visited all the other fashion departments at the magazines in the same building. I then got three internships based on that one week and went back to those three magazines every single holiday in sixth form and university."

"When one door closes, another one always opens," says Krissy, who proves that you make your own contacts by working hard. "If you know the system and are trained, they don't want to let you go, so they will always recommend you to other places once you've proved yourself."

Krissy explains that you can learn a lot from seemingly boring tasks like transcribing interviews: "Lisa, my boss, does amazing interviews, and I looked through my transcription folder the other day and I had 32 just from her. I have never been bored by one, and I've had some that are two and a half hours long, but they are all so interesting, and I learn so much about journalism."

You Can Work in Many Aspects of the Industry at Once

Dora Marotta is a freelance fashion assistant, mixing her job as a personal shopper with assisting up-and-coming designers, stylists on photo shoots, commercial projects and social media campaigns. She has found that this mix helps her when brands are looking for people with broad experience.

"For me, having my own blog really helped," she says of her tips for breaking into the industry. "I got an internship at Vogue Spain thanks to my blog. It helps you to show people what you can do and is a place where you can just start."

As for how you can find freelance assisting jobs, Dora explains that she has found that LinkedIn and Facebook are a great way of finding freelancing assisting jobs: "If you search on Facebook for London styling groups, there are so many, and people post if they are looking for an assistant."

Next up, this stylish team shows it's always best to dress like yourself at work.