Fashion Tours: Travel the Fashion World

by Marianne Salina
Fashion School Review Columnist

March 23, 2007

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What could be a better precursor to fashion school--or perfect celebratory post-graduation gift--than a grand tour of the world's fashion capitals? Get ready to have a life- and, perhaps, career-altering trip to Paris, London, New York, and a few unexpected fashionable destinations.

Globe Trotting Inspires Your Fashion Career
It may sound extravagant to take a full-blown tour of the world's most fashionable destinations, but can you really put a price on inspiration and hands-on experience? Travel gives you an intimate understanding of things that come only from experiencing them yourself.

See how fashionable French women in Paris walk, arrange their scarves, and relax with graceful ease in breezy outdoor cafes. Check out trend setters in Paris' Latin Quarter, where Sorbonne students swarm. Watch how models mix with artists, famous actors, and fashion designers as they linger over late breakfasts at corner bistros in New York's Soho. These kinds of scenes, only visible in the most natural and unscripted moments of life in the most fashion-forward cities, can serve as a source of profound inspiration for those pursuing a career in fashion.

Fashion Design Travel on a Budget
How can you pull a fashion-design tour like this off if you don't have a trust fund? Check out how the New York Times budget travel columnist Matt Gross makes his way around European capitals and other expensive destinations without breaking the bank. You can also get travel tips from books designed for people on a budget, such as "Let's Go" and "Fodor's." They update their guides regularly to make sure you are getting the most accurate information about where to stay and what to see.

Traveling with Fashion School Friends
You can also pull a group of fashion school friends together and share your expenses. Rooms will are cheaper split two or more ways and you'll have the added bonus of sharing your experience with a fellow fashion design aficionado who will be just excited as you are to examine an expertly-laid window dressing or well-crafted costume at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

When you start getting concerned about the cost, or the time, spent delaying your fashion design work, remember that you have your entire life ahead to invest in your career in fashion. Fashion school is work too, so take the time to enjoy yourself, see the world, and glean inspiration from experiences that come around for many only once in a lifetime.

About the Author
Marianne Salina is a freelance writer in Spokane, Washington. She writes about pursuits in education and degree opportunities.

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