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A Day in the Life of a Freelance Stylist & Editor at Fashion Week

Yes, there are matcha lattes involved. In collaboration with Oxygen.

Martina Keenan
Fashion Week
jessica minkoff
Devon Blackwell
Graphic:
Ashley Combs

Any successful freelancer needs to master the ability to organize, keep short- and long-term goals in mind, and stay focused on tasks at hand, even as they shift from one project to the next. And these skills are truly put to the test during the busiest times of the year. For stylist and fashion editor Jessica Minkoff, that certainly includes fashion week.

A freelance creative, as well as adjunct professor at NYU, Minkoff has over a decade of experience in the fashion industry. She's well versed on what to expect when schedules run from early morning presentations to late evening dinners with out-of-town colleagues or industry peers. But she's just as savvy on some of the practical tools that power her through and keep her multifaceted career in check.

In preparation for New York's biggest return to an in-person fashion week schedule this September, we're taking a closer look at exactly what a day in Minkoff's life entails leading up to and during the main event. This includes routinely taking notes on new trends as well as her personal tried-and-tested tips, such as afternoon pick-me-ups thanks to iced matcha lattes or using Oxygen's mobile banking app to conveniently keep on top of her spending habits. After all, once all the practical necessities are met, Minkoff can get back to her favorite part of her job: "reflecting on connections and memories that I have made and seeing a final product come to life after putting hard work and energy into it."

Scroll on for a closer look at how Minkoff balances it all in a day.

jessica minkoff
jessica minkoff

How does your workday get off to a strong start?

"I like to start my day by swimming laps at the YMCA. It allows me to clear my head and disconnect before taking on the day's tasks."

Leading up to fashion week, what are your usual expectations for your schedule, and how do you prepare for them?

"Ahead of fashion week, I know that there won't be much time to plan for anything, so I tend to focus on getting as organized as possible before the craziness starts. That means prepping everything from outfits to coffee meetings and important projects. I make a lot of lists on my phone and use those as a guide."

What do your responsibilities look like during fashion week (even if no two days are exactly alike)?

"The most important thing is to keep track of the trends that I see on the runway and on the street. At the end of each day, I usually go through all of the shows and write down emerging trends. I also save down my favorite looks so that I have them on hand for any projects that may come up throughout the season. Posting highlights on social media is also a great resource for me because I can easily go back to my stories archive if I forget something along the way."


The most important thing is to keep track of the trends that I see on the runway and on the street. At the end of each day, I usually go through all of the shows and write down emerging trends. I also save down my favorite looks so that I have them on hand for any projects that may come up throughout the season."
jessica minkoff
jessica minkoff
jessica minkoff

As a freelance creative, what are some financial tips and tools you use to empower yourself?

"My parents always stressed the importance of saving money (as much or as little as you can, depending on life circumstances) because you never know what is coming around the corner. Having a cushion of savings to fall back on enables me to manage my finances with confidence and comfortability."

How do you utilize your Oxygen account and its resources to make the financial elements of your life more manageable?

"The Oxygen app is extremely easy to use and allows me to track all of my purchases with minimal effort. As a creative who is always juggling multiple projects while on the go, I really value this. Plus, the Fire card is so visually appealing, which makes everything better."

An inevitable midday slump hits. What do you do?

"An iced matcha latte or frozen yogurt usually helps me to regain the energy I need to make it through the second half of a fashion weekday."

jessica minkoff
jessica minkoff
The Oxygen app is extremely easy to use and allows me to track all of my purchases with minimal effort. As a creative who is always juggling multiple projects while on the go, I really value this."

What about big financial goals and purchases? How do you go about planning for them?

"I have a rule that I cannot invest in a new handbag without getting rid of one that I no longer use. That being said, before I can even plan to set aside finances for a new purchase, I have to be ready to part ways with something that I already have. This prevents me from over-spending on accessories and forces me to be strategic with the pieces that I do end up investing in. Right now I have my eye on a vintage YSL bag from Hedi Slimane's days. Time to start thinking about which bag has got to go…"

In what ways will this coming fashion week be unique from those you've already experienced?

"This will be my first fashion week post-COVID, so I am even more excited than usual to see the new collections and reconnect with friends and colleagues that I haven't seen in a very long time. Plus, it will be really nice to be on the go and busy for consecutive days!"

When it's finally time to wind down, what's the best way to recharge for the next day ahead?

"Post- fashion month, I like to disconnect from technology and reflect on all of the beautiful collections that I saw from New York to Paris. I find that fashion designers' jobs are very demanding, and I truly appreciate all of the hard work and effort they put into everything that they create. By taking time to reminisce about all of the newness, I feel like I am paying respect to them beyond those few moments that I devote while at the shows themselves."


Learn more about Oxygen here.


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