Elizabeth Rong - Fashion

Where did you do your placement?

I did 3 placements during my DPP year these were at:

• Alexander McQueen as a PR Assistant
• French Connection as a Retail and Visual Merchandiser
• Wedding Belles as a Store / Design Assistant.

Why did you do the DPP?

I knew after doing my 4 week placement as part of my course I wanted to do the DPP as I know it would give me more confidence.

What did you learn while on your placement?

I worked as a Press Assistant at Alexander McQueen for 3 months it was my job to check through the daily newspapers / magazines and take any press cutting relating to the label and put them into a press portfolio. 

 

I was also responsible for booking and sending out collection samples for the S/S and A/W collections to magazines and celebrities.  This included checking and packing garments, sending them out via the couriers and keeping track of the items and ensuring they were returned.

 

In addition to this I assisted at a press day for McQ at Elms Lesters Painting Rooms in London - my role was to ensure the garments were put into collections on the rails and suitably packed, checked to be transferred to the event.  At the event I was responsible for meet and greeting members of the press who were attending the collection previews.

 

Whilst I was at McQ I picked out collection items for a Vogue menswear shoot featuring Sting in New York.

 

My second placement was at a French Connection retail store where I worked as a Visual Merchandiser where I interpreted the store plans for collections and themes and was responsible for training other staff.

 

My final placement was at Wedding Belles where I assisted the shop owner by preparing the wedding dresses including pressing and ensuring the dresses were in perfect condition.  During my time there I had the opportunity to design a wedding dress which was made and put into the shop.

What did you like about the DPP?

It allowed me to do 3 very different placements which required lots of different skills, it gave me the opportunity to see what types of jobs and companies I might like to work for in the future.

 

Working at McQ as a press assistant has encouraged me to look at Fashion Journalism as a future career role which I had not considered before.

Why would you recommend that students should do the DPP?

I definitely think you can see the difference in students who have done their DPP and those that haven't especially when it comes to communication and giving presentations they are much more confident.

 

Do you have any tips?

Really think about where you go on your placement and be realistic sometimes finances can play in big part in what is feasible for you re: paid and non paid placements and if you need to move to London think about if you can share.

Site Map

Undergraduate courses
Postgraduate and professional courses
International students
Online courses
Services for business

Part time courses
Buxton College
School leavers 16+
About the University
Job vacancies

Research
Faculties
Departments
Press and Community
Staff search