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Chit Chat is your chance to mix 'n mingle– virtually– with movers and shakers in the Fashion Design, Interior Design, Graphic Design, and Entertainment industries.

This month’s guest is Stephanie Hite, FIDM Grad, founder of the red hot online boutique FamousStyle.com (formerly known as Celebrity-Knockoffs.com) and our Fashion Informant 2002 Grand Prize Winner. Read on to get the goods on her career as a style savvy stargazer and find out what this fashion insider thinks about the latest trends.

 

1. What was your first industry job?

 
 

STEPHANIE: In high school I worked at American Eagle Outfitters and Ann Taylor Loft, but it wasn’t until I moved to Los Angeles that I got my first “real” industry job.  I worked in a design room as an assistant for the clothing lines Bisou Bisou and True Meaning.  I did a lot of work for Bisou Bisou such as making line sheets and picking the trims for the garments.

  
 
 
2. What do you love most about your job?
 
 

STEPHANIE: I love the fact that when I wake up in the morning, I am excited to go to work.  My success depends on how hard I work and that is such a great feeling.  I am a creative person and throughout my life my ideas have been passed off as someone else’s or overlooked.  Now that I work for myself I am in charge of my own destiny.   

 
 
 
3. What inspires you?
 
 

STEPHANIE: I am inspired by all the positive people that surround me.  I really have so many great people in my life that inspire me everyday.  They really help me believe that I can do anything.  I also find my inspiration through the things I read.  I read everything I can get my hands on. My favorite things to read are fashion and celebrity magazines, business and marketing books, and newspapers.  It is amazing how much a single paragraph can inspire me or spark a new idea for my business.

 
 
 
4. What's your favorite current trend?
 
 

STEPHANIE: I have two favorite trends.  I love the trend of pairing classic vintage pieces with your everyday look.  I am a big fan of vintage pieces from the twenties through the fifties. 

My other favorite trend is achieving a designer look for less.  I love bargain shopping and trying to find items similar to the ones I spot on the runway or on celebrities strolling down the red carpet.  That’s why I created Celebrity-Knockoffs.com to help find the bargains and similar designer looks for my customers.

  
 
 
5. Do you have a favorite celebrity icon? Who?
 
 

STEPHANIE: My celebrity icon is always changing.  Every week on my website I post who I think the celebrity icons and celebrity mishaps are for the week based on how they dressed the previous week.  As of right now I love Jessica Simpson’s style.  She has a classic look to her.  Jessica also knows what works for her figure.  Very rarely does she wear something that is not flattering.  I also am a big fan of Sienna Miller’s bohemian style.  I love how Sienna takes a lot of fashion risks and she puts outfits together that no one else could pull off.  In my opinion a true style icon is someone who puts together an original look that looks like no one else.  That’s something Sienna does so well.

  
 
“Actually being your FashionClub.com Fashion Informant in 2002 is what really sparked the idea of Celebrity-Knockoffs.” 
 
6. Tell us how the idea for celebrity-knockoffs came about.
 
 

STEPHANIE: Actually being your FashionClub.com Fashion Informant in 2002 is what really sparked the idea of Celebrity-Knockoffs.  A few months after receiving star treatment, I was trying to think of a way to create a clothing line around this idea.  I wanted to create celebrity looks for less.  Anything that looks great on a celebrity, I wanted to sell for a more affordable price. The idea really started to take off when I was in college at FIDM.  I would attend a lot of events, parties, and fashion shows and I wanted to desperately fit in with the crowd that was dressed head-to-toe in top designer clothing.  I had very little money in my pocket so I started to try to get a similar look for less.  After a while people started asking me where I bought my clothes.   I was even asked by the people dressed head to toe in expensive designer clothing.  After this happed time and time again, I knew I had a great concept. I just think it is crazy for women to charge a handbag or an entire outfit that is over a thousand dollars when they can barely pay their rent.  Believe me, a lot of women do this. On Celebrity-Knockoffs.com we sell affordable clothing and accessories that are similar to what top designers are selling in their current collections.  We also sell authentic designer jeans and accessories from the emerging designers.  We try to have a little something for everyone.  We just started and I promise you the best is yet to come.

  
 
 
7. What's your best-selling item so far?
 
 

STEPHANIE: Our jeans are selling so well, especially our Hudson jeans.  The reason they sell so well is that they are a lot cheaper than on many websites.  Some of our new jean styles are more than thirty dollars lower than our competition! We want to be known for having the best deals, so we do our best to keep our prices as low as possible. 

 
 
 
8. What is the most challenging aspect of your job? OR Describe a challenge you faced on a particular job.
 
 

STEPHANIE: To cut business costs at the beginning I decided to actually build and design my whole website by myself.  To do this I had to read a huge stack of books about complex computer codes.  It took many months of trial and error, but one thing is for sure, it all paid off.  I achieved a great user-friendly website without anybody’s help. Once again I am all about the look for less.

  
 
 
9. How important are communication skills in your work?
 
 

STEPHANIE: One thing I quickly learned in the fashion industry is that communication is everything.  Communication and following up with my customers and sales reps is something I do every day.  If you have poor communication skills, your business will definitely suffer.

  
 
 
10. What advice would you give a high school student who is interested in starting his or her own business in the industry?
 
 

STEPHANIE: First thing I always say is go for it!  There is nothing like working for yourself.  I also advise all high school students who are interested in the fashion industry to read a lot.  You need to know what designers are designing what, how to pronounce designers’ names, and basically what the top designers are all about.  Once you learn about the best designers, you can understand the rest.  Coming out of high school I didn't know much about the top designers, but I quickly learned when one day at FIDM everyone had to talk about their favorite designer and I had no clue about half the designers mentioned.  Now I can go into a store and name the designer without looking at the label.  Like I said before, read everything you can.  Another piece of advice is to find work in a retail job at a clothing store or if possible in a design room of a clothing label.  I was always told learn on someone else’s dime before you start your own business.

  
 
 
11. What was your major at FIDM?
 
 

STEPHANIE: I majored in Apparel Manufacturing.  It is the business side of the fashion industry.  At first when I saw this major I immediately dismissed it because I thought it meant that you worked in a factory all day sewing the clothing for the fashion designers.  That’s so not the case.  Majoring in Apparel Manufacturing at FIDM taught me how to start and run a business, design and draw, and to sew clothing.  The reason I think it is the best major is because you get a taste of fashion designing and merchandise marketing, and it thoroughly teaches you how to start and run a business of your own.

  
 
 
12. What were some important lessons you learned while at FIDM that are helping you in your current work?
 
 

STEPHANIE:

1. Network - If you meet someone in the fashion industry, get their phone number.  Build a book of fashion contacts because someone is always looking for an assistant or knows someone who needs someone with industry experience.  It never hurts to keep close contacts.

2. Marketing – Marketing is so important in business and your daily life.  You have to market yourself. Try to make people want to listen to you and your ideas.  You have a talent or a gift.  Once you find it, let people know about it.  Nothing is going to be handed to you in the fashion industry.  You have to go after it by marketing yourself.

3. Communication – You have to have great communication skills if you want a good job.  I have seen people searching for a job, schedule an interview and never show up.  I have also seen people who didn't follow up with their customers and they lost a lot of business.

4. Be an Entrepreneur – Make your dreams come true.  If you want it bad enough and work hard for it, it will happen.

5. Stay True to Yourself – Don't compromise who you are or your fashion designs or ideas.  If you believe in something don't let anything or anyone prevent it from happening.

  
 
Do you have an eye for what looks right on yourself and on other people? A career in Apparel Merchandising could be right for you. Head to FIDM.edu to find out more about this and other design-related majors.
 
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