Life of An Ex-Fashion Student

I'm back...and I have a new job (again)! From moving out on my own to quitting my job and starting a new one, I'm getting into all of the major life updates throughout the past couple of months I've been away.

As we approach the new year, tune in to also hear me talk about some of my new year's goals for 2024. As always, don't forget to rate, review, and follow the Life of an Ex-Fashion Student Podcast. Additionally, we now have a new Instagram account for this podcast: @lifeofafashionstudentpodcast. You can also find my personal instagram: @kristinamichelleang

I asked you all to share your burning questions about entering the fashion job market and as always, you guys did not disappoint! Tune into this week's episode where I share my hot takes on everything related to the topic of jobs in the fashion industry. We discuss everything from understanding the right path to take to how people dress at work. As always, don't forget to rate, review, and follow the Life of an Ex-Fashion Student Podcast. Additionally, we now have a new Instagram account for this podcast: @lifeofafashionstudentpodcast. You can also find my personal instagram: @kristinamichelleang

After a three-month-long break, I'm back and better than ever to share one of the hardest things I have ever had to do in my career: quitting my first full-time job. Throughout the past few weeks, I found myself lost and unable to find happiness in the work I was doing and that's when I ultimately decided to resign from my position. Join me in today's episode where we get super candid about the feelings that led up to my resignation as well as the lessons I learned from it. As always, don't forget to rate, review, and follow the Life of an Ex-Fashion Student Podcast. Additionally, we now have a new Instagram account for this podcast: @lifeofafashionstudentpodcast. You can also find my personal instagram: @kristinamichelleang

As an alumni of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and past recipient of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Design Scholar Suntchi Image-Maker Award, Eliana Batsakis is no stranger to success in the fashion world. Her work, which is characterized by the use of imaginative narratives, manipulated textures, bright color palettes, and bold silhouettes is what has made her work stand out amongst others in the industry. This year, she made her television debut as one of the many talented contestants on Netflix’s fashion competition series: Next in Fashion, Season 2 hosted by Gigi Hadid and Tan France. To say that is a big deal would be a complete understatement. 

In this episode of the podcast, Eliana takes us back to what life was like as a fashion student and how her career journey transpired from student to successful emerging designer. In our discussion, we touch on topics from everything from how she got discovered for Next in Fashion, how she turned doubt into self-confidence, and how being her most genuine self in the industry has gotten her thus far. You can find Eliana on Instagram at @elianabatsakis 

As always, don't forget to rate, review, and follow the Life of a Fashion Student Podcast. Additionally, we now have a new Instagram account for this podcast: @lifeofafashionstudentpodcast. You can also find my personal Instagram: @kristinamichelleang

Recently, I've been thinking a lot about the sacrifices I've made throughout my life to find success in my career. I've gone through many years of working in fashion while having sacrificed everything from my sleep and social life to my salary and position. In today's episode of the pod, I'm breaking down all of the necessary sacrifices I've had to make throughout my career in fashion and how they ultimately helped me reach immense success. As always, don't forget to rate, review, and follow the Life of a Fashion Student Podcast. Additionally, we now have a new Instagram account for this podcast: @lifeofafashionstudentpodcast. You can also find my personal instagram: @kristinamichelleang

On her journey to finishing her undergrad at the Parsons School of Design, UX designer, Sharon Kim joins me today in a conversation about finding direction and setting a foundation for yourself post-grad. As a Tech Youtuber and Lifestyle Content Creator, Sharon has grown her platform across 20k subscribers over the past year with over 600k views collectively. She was most recently a UX design intern at Amazon in Silicon Valley, which is one of the many experiences she shares with her audience on her channel. In this episode of the podcast, Sharon and I discuss our experiences at Parsons as former design students, our anxieties over job hunting in a recession, and our inspiration for what keeps us going on a daily basis. You can find Sharon everywhere at @sharonyeunkim

As always, don't forget to rate, review, and follow the Life of a Fashion Student Podcast. Additionally, we now have a new Instagram account for this podcast: @lifeofafashionstudentpodcast. You can also find my personal instagram: @kristinamichelleang

Going to Paris for the first time, getting invited to a Glossier opening event, and starting my own company: just a few of the many life updates I have for all of you in today's episode. Stay tuned to the end of the episode where I answer some of the most common questions I get about how and why I started my LLC. Don't forget to follow this podcast on Instagram at: @lifeofafashionstudentpodcast. You can also find my personal Instagram: @kristinamichelleang

The biggest lesson I've learned throughout my time in fashion is the importance of establishing one's individual brand voice and personal image. Especially in this industry, strengthening your own personal brand will serve you well when it comes to breaking into the mold of the fashion world. In the first podcast episode of the year, I'm breaking down my coveted tips on how to do just that. Listen as I discuss finding your niche in the industry, staying authentic and true to yourself, and the importance of building community in the competitive and complex industry known as fashion. Don't forget to follow this podcast on Instagram at: @lifeofafashionstudentpodcast. You can also find my personal Instagram: @kristinamichelleang

Ringing in the new year with a long overdue new episode: My 2022 End-of-Year Wrap Up. In this episode of the podcast, I'm walking you through some of my biggest career highlights of last year including attending my first Fendi NYFW show, graduating from the Parsons School of Design, getting into a mentorship program run by Dior, and so much more. Towards the end of my episode, I also share just a few of the things I'm looking forward to in this new year as well as some of the realities of the not-so-glamorous moments of 2022. Don't forget to follow this podcast on Instagram at: @lifeofafashionstudentpodcast. You can also find my personal Instagram: @kristinamichelleang

In an effort to take matters into their own hands and offer something to their peers that they felt their institution wasn’t doing enough of, Zhexuan (Katherine) Hu, Grace Gordon, and Helen Sotropa of the Parsons School of Design came together to create DIALECTIVE, a fashion collective that celebrates the upcoming generation of radically distinct independent talent. Along with their efforts, DIALECTIVE is hosting a runway showcase with up to 20 designers and 3-5 looks shown per designer. Together, the three have created something that is more than just a runway showcase, but a community and a network that invests a sense of belonging and support for their peers. DIALECTIVE is not just about the promotion of recent graduate work, but a collaborative space wherein like-minded individuals can receive feedback on their work during their thesis year and post-graduation. In this episode of the podcast, Katherine, Grace and Helen, talk on the mission of DIALECTIVE, their experience as seniors at the Parsons School of Design, what they're most excited about graduating college, and much more. You can find DIALECTIVE on Instagram at @dialective.xyz and their website dialective.xyz 

You can find Katherine, Grace and Helen on their personal Instagram accounts:

Zhexuan (Katherine) Hu I @kath.hu I @zhexuan___hu

Grace Gordon I @a.grace.g I @graceofgarb

Helen Sotropa I @helensotropa I @heso.us

As always, don't forget to rate, review, and follow the Life of a Fashion Student Podcast. Additionally, we now have a new Instagram account for this podcast: @lifeofafashionstudentpodcast. You can also find my personal instagram: @kristinamichelleang