“The post-grad anxiety is very real.”
When I first interned at Fashion Journal in 2022, I by no means imagined the world that was about to confide in me. I obtained to interview iconic Australian designers, weigh in on matters circulating the zeitgeist (a memorable one was road-testing ‘manspreading’) and attend vital, intimidating occasions like model launches and gallery openings. Three years on, as FJ’s Assistant Editor, I can safely say it performed an important position in launching my profession.
There’s a sure bond that varieties amongst former interns. It’s not unusual to search out your self on an electronic mail chain or at an occasion with a stranger, swapping tales about the time you every interned in the FJ workplace. It’s a password to one thing higher – a group of kinds, an instantaneous friendship, a favour you possibly can all the time ask.
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Year after yr, the interns who’ve graced the workplace have introduced their very own distinct perspective – whether or not that’s a passionate accessoriser calling for males to embrace a ‘slutty shorts summer’, a global model-turned-writer baring all, an professional thrift shopper grappling with post-uni life, or a multi-hyphenate artistic filled with hidden skills.
The class of 2025 has actually taken the baton and run with it. Now we’ve reached the finish of the yr, we’re asking a few of our former interns about their summer time plans and what comes subsequent.
Parth Rahatekar
Daisy: You grew up in India earlier than shifting to Melbourne. How does your tradition present up in your private type?
Parth: I really like India’s textile and artisan heritage. Almost all my garments are custom-made with materials I’ve sourced straight from generational artisans who go to main cities for bazaars. The maximalism of India is one thing I’ll all the time champion.
If an outfit is mind-numbingly boring, what’s your secret to make it fascinating?
I believe everybody needs to be afraid of being known as fundamental and bland. I do know I’m. I put on equipment with a brazen disregard for guidelines, a penchant for bling and a bashful perspective. I simply do what could be the least anticipated and roll with it.
You additionally moonlight as a poet. How does writing poetry demand various things from you, in comparison with an article?
Poetry is for processing and therapeutic, the remainder of my writing is for expression. My ‘research’ for poetry is extra inward than perfunctory. I by no means know what I’ll unearth or what I’ll join with.
What was a spotlight for you whereas interning at FJ?
The backwards and forwards for AC settings! WordPress backend beating my ass! Finding out the lamb kebab place I appreciated for lunch was really vegan the entire time?
As a queer individual, do you see trend as a strategy to take up house?
I really don’t suppose I’m all for ‘taking up space’. I don’t purchase into the fantasy {that a} house isn’t mine to inhabit in the methods I imagine I should, queer or not. I’m extra all for creating extra areas for shameless existence. My trend is simply an extension of all the geographies and those who make me, me.
One of your early FJ items declared to males that final yr was a ‘slutty shorts summer’. Will this be one other slutty summer time?
Men, it can all the time be a slutty shorts summer time, however this yr, I would like you to [REDACTED], [CENSORED] and [TRUNCATED] in addition to attempt to [REDACTED] [CENSORED] [*********]. You know?
What are your summer time plans, other than sporting tiny shorts?
I’ve had an enormous yr, so I’m staying put for my first actual Aussie summer time. I’ll be cooking up new poetry workshops, in search of jobs in writing and advertising, and spending time with household who’re coming down for my commencement.
Maryel Sousa
Daisy: You moved to Melbourne three years in the past from New York. What do you like and what do you hate about every metropolis?
Maryel: I hate, despise and detest Melbourne’s public transit system. For the absurd value of $5.50 per trip, I get to be late to each occasion, no matter how early I depart. Now to the love. Potentially controversial opinion, however my favorite vego-inclusive eating places are in Naarm.
The concept of New Yorkers being ‘kind but not nice’ could be very true. I felt linked to my group in New York in an unstated approach, particularly when residing in Brooklyn. Moreso than right here, I believe. That stated, New York has a disproportionate variety of nepo infants and belief fund children working in artistic industries.
Why did you pivot from modelling to writing?
There had been a whole lot of causes I took a break from modelling: discontent, continual sickness, the pandemic, my research, profession stagnation. Ultimately, I needed to, wanted to show to myself that I may very well be extra.
What was the craziest outfit you’ve needed to mannequin?
Gucci despatched me down the runway for the AW18 present in a Lucha Libre-inspired balaclava, a velvet gown with metallic gildings, trainers, tons of bangles and bejewelled nipple tassels. Definitely not the craziest outfit ever, however I googled the present to get a refresher on the particulars and apparently, my look scandalised the Daily Mail.
What was your favorite article you wrote whereas interning at FJ and what was the hardest?
Favourite article: ‘Oops, I gave my algorithm an eating disorder’, from Issue 195. I’m extremely pleased with the content material of the piece, but it surely additionally boosted my confidence in having the ability to culturally learn the room. Given that SkinnyTok blew up just some months later and a great deal of related commentary began popping up, I felt like an oracle.
Hardest article: ‘I dreamt of becoming a high fashion model, here’s what it’s actually like’. Writing it was like exorcising all this nasty vitality that had been festering for too lengthy. But after it was revealed, I went dwelling and had a full-on panic assault – like, screaming, crying, throwing up. Even although my job had been in entrance of the digicam, this piece was the first time I’d been seen as the topic, not the object and that was unnerving.
Describe your best summer time morning.
It’s 7am, sunny and 25 levels in Noosa. My boyfriend and I hike to Tea Tree Bay, the place I swim in an Emma Mulholland on Holiday bikini and, for as soon as, I’m not stung by bluebottles.
Chloe Roussy
Daisy: You’re a real media multi-hyphenate, working throughout brief movie, images, writing and audio. Is your dream to freelance, or do you’ve gotten a selected job in thoughts?
Chloe: My final purpose is to be a full-time trend editorial photographer, however I’m eager to attempt a spread of various roles as I start post-grad. I’m additionally down to assist crew on my associates’ initiatives for the time being and see what different roles I’m all for. I really like that media is so broad and there’s a whole lot of benefit to having the ability to put on totally different hats. I’d by no means need to field myself into one position solely.
What undertaking are you most pleased with from this yr?
My capstone photograph sequence, Final Performance. The central motif is a Chinese opera singer determine who haunts a contemporary girl. This is considered one of my many works knowledgeable by my mixed- race background, and it got here from a really private place.
You all the time have the coolest hair. Where do you get it finished?
I’ve all the time been a DIY girlie, utilizing pink and purple box-dye, and giving myself layered cuts at dwelling. But I did settle for that bleach could also be out of my wheelhouse. I went to Viju Salon the place I confirmed my superb hairdresser, Moa, some inspo pics of the calico hair pattern. This included hidden bleach, sectioning for copper and bleach, and a raccoon tail on the facet.
I’ve managed to repairs it dwelling through the use of the Good Dye Young (a model by the queen of orange hair and considered one of my idols, Hayley Williams) semi-permanent dye in the shade Toxicity, and a purple hair masks from the chemist for the blonde elements. This does take time and effort, but it surely’s all the time price it.
What’s your bubble tea order?
I’m really big on making drinks at dwelling; it’s considered one of the highlights of my morning! I’m big on matcha, Thai milk tea, dalgona espresso (sure, even in the huge ’25), all that jazz. Tapioca pearls, nevertheless, are a little bit of a ache to prepare dinner at dwelling, so if I’m craving it, I’ll get a jasmine or oolong milk tea with black pearls, natural jelly and egg pudding.
What would your recommendation be to future FJ interns?
Whatever you’ve gotten the least expertise in, whether or not it’s writing or social media manufacturing, take the alternative to go outdoors your consolation zone. And don’t be afraid to share your concepts! It’s a judgement-free house and the excellent alternative to take dangers and collaborate with a very gifted staff.
Ariana Rigazzi
Daisy: Congrats on finishing your grasp’s! Between research, internships and work, you’ve been busy. Do you’ve gotten a life outdoors of the hustle?
Ariana: Thank you! This previous yr has felt so surreal and I’ve actually pushed the limits of how a lot life I can match into every day (my Google Calendar is horrifying). It’s been hectic and I’m very able to decelerate.
Having labored in the theatre business earlier than transitioning into journalism, I’ve so many gifted associates, and my free time is often crammed with seeing exhibits. Otherwise, a number of pasta, wine and debriefs with my associates or my ridiculously big Italian household. And op purchasing. A regarding quantity of op purchasing. It’s my vice.
Are you feeling able to enter the full-time workforce?
While I’m positively able to put the uni chapter to mattress, the post-grad anxiousness could be very actual. As a lady inching into her mid-twenties, the noise of what path to decide on when everybody tells you that is your interval of freedom is sickly overwhelming. Do you lock into the company grind or backpack throughout Europe? I don’t know! I’ve been making an attempt to belief my instinct, put myself on the market (even when it feels humiliating) and in the end put my needs into phrases. I imply, my life has labored itself out in the previous, so one thing has to work out once more… proper?
Your internship fell over Melbourne Fashion Week. What was the most stunning factor you noticed on or off the runway?
I actually hit the intern jackpot! Seeing Perple’s designs at the Opulent Tastes Runway was positively the spotlight. Although witnessing Charlene Davies’ road type IRL made my jaw drop. The baguettes in the bag footwear? The bok choy! It modified my life.
You’ve turn out to be recognized in the workplace on your affinity for pairing a skirt over pants. How did you are feeling the first time you tried it?
I worry it has turn out to be my complete model! In the winter of 2024, each picture I had saved on Pinterest was a skirt over pants. But each time I attempted it, I felt extremely try-hard. It wasn’t till my solo journey to Japan that I threw a skirt over my pants and by no means turned again. Being alone in a foreign country is extremely empowering however you don’t must be travelling to channel that. Life is just too brief to not have enjoyable along with your type.
What will you be doing over the summer time break?
I’m a freakish workaholic, so this summer time I’m forcing myself to close the laptop computer and be taught to loosen up. So, a number of seaside and plenty of studying. I’m additionally craving a brand new chapter and sensing a little bit of a private rebrand… Maybe I’ll go blonde? (I gained’t).
This article was initially revealed in Fashion Journal Issue 199.
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