Four Influential Women Dish on Career Success, Interview Outfits and the Secret to Networking

Four Influential Women Dish on Career Success, Interview Outfits and the Secret to Networking

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Are you posting a #WCW on Instagram today? If you haven't already, you should, because today is International Women's Day, a day when women all over the world are celebrating each other and the collective goal of building a more unified working world. And it's no secret that the fashion and beauty worlds are led by smart, successful women who not only influence the way we shop, dress and curate our top shelves (not to mention our Pinterest boards) but also inspire us with their amazing personal achievements and career stories. From nail polish moguls and fashion designers to editors and photographers, we interviewed four amazing women who filled us in on their work wisdom, career advice and (bonus!) what they wore to their first interviews.

Andrea Lieberman | Creative Director and Founder of A.L.C.

Describe your personal style in three words:
An effortless uniform.

Who is your style muse?
I celebrate personal style and have a deep appreciation for women who own it, from Sade to Ali MacGraw to Patti Smith.

Describe the outfit you wore to your first real-world job interview:
My first real-world job was in high school at a store called Style Counsel in SoHo. I showed up in Doc Martens and black pants with a homemade bum flap that I sewed on myself. My hair was half-shaved and dyed deep navy.

Tell us how you got your start in the fashion industry:
I have been interested in fashion from a really young age. I started taking classes at Parsons while still in high school, and I enrolled there for college just after. My first official step through the door would be my internship at Romeo Gigli.

What is the best advice you give to others who want to follow in your footsteps?
My advice: Intern, intern, intern.

What's your favorite and most effective way to network?
Authentically. For me, it's about finding common ground.

Name some female leaders you would love to have a working lunch with:
Michelle Obama. No explanation necessary. [Apple's] Angela Ahrendts because of her undeniable strength as a leader and her ability to engage both her organization and the community at large. Beyoncé: She is a force, a beautiful, dignified, creative who is continually pushing the boundaries.

SHOP: A.L.C. sweater | A.L.C. cashmere sweater | Christopher Kane trousers | rag & bone bootie

Deborah Lippmann | Celebrity Manicurist; Founder and Creative Director of deborah lippmann

Who is your style muse?
I'm lucky enough to work in an industry where I am surrounded by so many style muses and creative geniuses who inspire me every day. Between my editorial work, New York Fashion Week and red-carpet season, I am blown away by the talent so many of my dear friends possess.

Tell us how you got your start in the fashion industry:
When I was working at Frederic Fekkai, Martha Stewart sat in my chair and had a manicure with me. She told me that I was extremely talented, and I was flabbergasted-it was a big deal to me that she was even in my salon chair! A little while after that, Allure sent a reporter in undercover, and [the magazine] called the salon afterward to let them know I was going to be included in The Directory, a section of the nation's top industry spa/salon/stylist pros. It all happened within a year; I was blown away!

SHOP: deborah lippmann nail polish (seen here in Wild Thing, Higher Ground and Happy Days) | Proenza Schouler sweater | Victor Alfaro cardigan | Vince skirt

What is the best advice you give to others who want to follow in your footsteps?
I would say that if you have it in your gut and you want to try it, you have to go ahead. Go with your gut, and get as many mentors as you can. There's no one road to success. Estée Lauder didn't get to where she was the same way as Bobbi Brown. I'm not getting there the same way anyone else before me. Be true to yourself; be willing to listen.

What's your favorite and most effective way to network?
Talk to everyone you can, and don't be afraid to approach anybody!

What is the one piece of advice that sparked your success?
Take off your blinders and step into the unknown! If you're passionate about something, figure out a way to make it happen. But also know that owning your own company is a 24/7 job, and you need to be ready for that.

SHOP: Vince Camuto pump | A.L.C. coat | Tibi blouse | FRAME blazer

Kat Collings | Editor in Chief of Who What Wear; Executive Director of Editorial of CMG

Describe your personal style in three words:
Tailored, layered and trend-informed.

Who is your style muse?
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Blame it on coming of age during the Full House era, but their personal style as adults feels very signature and unique, which is hard to find in the age of Instagram.

Describe the outfit you wore to your first real-world job interview:
When I interviewed to be assistant to the cofounder at Who What Wear, I wore printed navy satin pumps, green trousers, a white trench-style button-down and a navy blazer.

SHOP: 3.1 Phillip Lim shirt | Topshop blazer | AG jeans | Gucci loafer | Topshop bomber jacket | Elizabeth and James bag

Tell us how you got your start in the fashion industry:
Internships! It's cliché, but what other way is there to prove your worth to the people who can give you a job? I interned at Who What Wear and kept the relationship going until I was able to land a job there.

What is the one piece of advice that sparked your success?
I don't believe this necessarily sparked my success, but I did come across a piece of advice recently that resonated with me: "Do what you should." It was on wrapping paper, of all places! I like how it has multiple meanings. Do the right thing. Do your work. Do what you're passionate about.

Name some female leaders you would love to have a working lunch with:
I'd love to have a lunch with female entrepreneurs who have built cult audiences around brands, such as Emily Weiss of Glossier and Tyler Haney of Outdoor Voices.

What is the best advice you give to others who want to follow in your footsteps?
Make people remember you.

Emily Soto | Fashion Photographer

Describe your personal style in three words:
Classic, chic, romantic.

Describe the outfit you wore to your first real-world job interview:
I was taught in school how to dress "professional," and I definitely bought a pantsuit with a white button-down and pulled my hair back. I cringe thinking about it, as it's so not me!

Tell us how you got your start in the fashion industry:
I am a self-taught photographer, and I knew after graduating from school that it was something I wanted to pursue, but coming from a very small town, I really didn't know where to start. I have learned so much from stepping out, saying yes to opportunities, and not being afraid of rejection or failure. I believe one of the most important things in the fashion industry is believing in yourself and being confident in your work.

Name some female leaders you would love to have a working lunch with:
Iris Apfel, Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres... I love that they have paved the way for women in so many different ways, and I would love to hear their stories.

What is the best advice you give to others who want to follow in your footsteps?
Love what you do. It's so important to stay passionate about the work that you are doing. As a photographer, I feel as if the best photos reveal so much of the photographer's sense of self.

What's your favorite and most effective way to network?
I love Instagram; it's an easy way to stay connected and up to date on what is happening in the industry.

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