Fashion Media’s Styling Course Provides Industry Experience for Students

从2024年秋季开始, Meadows’ Division of 新闻 will be rolling out a new curriculum, including a host of new classes for both its journalism and fashion media majors. Some students have been getting a preview of the new curriculum with a special topics course this semester — Styling & 视觉文化.

The Fashion Media students learn both theory and practical skills for careers and graduate education in fashion-related fields ranging from business and law to public relations, 社交媒体营销和创意指导. Many students in the program are considering a career specifically in styling, and the Styling & 视觉文化课程, which will be listed as FM 4500 under the new curriculum, introduces them to the five primary areas of styling: editorial, 商业, 个人, 名人与秀场. While there is a lot of practical know-how that that goes into styling a person for a photo shoot or an event, 它远远超出了陈列的衣服.

“Styling requires the ability to understand and think critically about history, 全球文化, 以及视觉文化,珍妮·戴维斯教授解释道, who teaches the styling course in the Fashion Media program. “It isn't something you can learn without hands-on experience.”

Fashion Media student Ellie Cogan works on set taping shoes for protection during an upcoming photo shoot.

And the Fashion Media program provides ample opportunity for students interested in styling. 今年2月，明星造型师K.J. Moody, whose clients include Beyonce, visited the class and led a review of student work. 那个月晚些时候, students learned a variety of practical skills, from tying ties to taping shoes to protect them during fashion shows and shoots. In March, students attended an editorial fashion feature shoot that appeared in the April issue of 360年西 杂志. 戴维斯教授制作并设计了这张照片, and her students lent a helping hand by preparing clothing, organizing merchandise and assisting with props. 一张拍摄的照片甚至登上了封面! The final portfolio project included an original photo shoot that required students to create and lead a creative team.

戴维斯教授的造型 & 视觉文化 class had been a big hit with students,伊桑·拉斯提说, 时尚媒体项目主任. “学生们一直吵着要参加考试, so we’re excited that it is going to be offered more regularly from here on out.”

来教这个班, Davis draws on her decades-long career as an editorial fashion stylist and her experience in celebrity styling (past clients include an Olympic medal-winning athlete and a country music singer) and runway styling and dressing (she’s worked on shows for Dallas Market Center and Carolina Herrera). Davis also wrote the textbook used for the course (Style Wise: A Practical Guide to Becoming a Fashion Stylist -现在是第三版). 除了教学, Davis also serves as the media advisor for the school’s award-winning lifestyle media brand, 新大Look Media, 包括印刷杂志吗, 网站, 社交媒体和现场活动.

Fashion Media students Arden Eiland (left) and Zoe Rodriguez (right) pose on set with with Mint Dentistry co-owner Sabrina Harrison.

“这是造型课最有意义的部分, 对我来说, is teaching students about how styling and visual imagery has changed popular culture, affected beauty norms and supported human dignity,戴维斯说。. “It is a powerful method of communication that involves art, commerce, education and also culture.”

The Fashion Media program is unique because it one of the few in the nation that is combined with the foundations of journalism. The division prepares students for traditional journalistic careers and offers tracks in business, 和体育, 还有时尚媒体. 新课程, which was informed by nearly two dozen industry professionals, will prepare students for the contemporary media environment, 其中灵活性是关键.

“Our new curriculum ensures students graduate with professional portfolios that demonstrate a range of storytelling skills, 从视频到音频, 摄影与写作,梅丽莎·切舍说, Meadows’ Belo Foundation Distinguished Chair of 新闻. “And the division focuses on areas that SMU and Dallas are known for and that is fashion, 新闻, 体育与商业.”

SMU as an institution places great value on a multidisciplinary education and this philosophy also extends to the Fashion Media program as a whole. Students in the program are required to have an additional major to their fashion media degree in order to graduate. Expanding their education to more than one subject helps ensure students are well-rounded and ready for a career in the real-world, 不管是什么行业.

Follow the Fashion Media program on Instagram at @smu_fashmedia， SMULook Media at @smulook 和戴维斯教授 @jennybdavis.