1. Designer
If you've got a creative flair, becoming a designer may be your ultimate dream. It's an exciting career, and you don't have to set your sights on being a Stella McCartney or a Katharine Hamnett. You can also target the ready-to-wear market or high-street brands.
Most people start at art college or take a course in fashion design. To get a job, you will have to present an outstanding portfolio of work and demonstrate commitment and relevant experience. The best opportunities may not be advertised, so it's vital to be proactive. Use the fashion directories to identify potential employers, develop contacts by attending trade shows and gain as much relevant work experience as possible.
2. Model
Want to be the subject of photoshoots in exotic locations? Think you can make the grade on the catwalks? To succeed in the tough world of fashion modelling you will need determination – but with luck the glamour and the rewards could be yours. Be aware that it's not enough to have a tall, slim figure - you also need loads of confidence and patience.
There's no set route into this career and completing a training course does not guarantee success. The best way to start is to join a modelling agency, which will charge a percentage of your fee for finding you jobs. Reputable agencies will only sign people who stand a good chance of succeeding.
3. Stylist
Check any lifestyle magazine for examples of images produced by fashion stylists. No two projects are the same – it could be anything from recreating the heat and dust of India to evoking country-garden chic. As a stylist, you work with photographers, lighting technicians and set builders to interpret the design brief and arrange selected props and accessories. You may also be called on to dress models and make decisions about hair and make-up.
How to get into this hectic and creative career? Stylists often have art and design qualifications, although this is not an essential requirement. You could progress from almost any area of related work with, for example, a fashion publication, a PR company or a model agency.
Many stylists are freelance, but there are jobs with magazines, stores, advertising agencies and music-production companies. Work experience, developing contacts and an impressive portfolio are all important.
4. Journalist
Imagine being invited to the catwalk shows, rubbing shoulders with designers and getting first sight of the latest trends. The fashion journalist enjoys a sensational lifestyle – nice work if you can get it!
To get a foot in the door, you'll find it useful to have a degree or HND in fashion, followed by a postgraduate qualification in journalism. It's essential to have a keen interest in clothes and the confidence to explain your ideas in direct language. Make the most of any opportunity to gain any kind of relevant experience.
You will have to network like crazy to find work, as vacancies are rarely advertised. Don't worry about hassling people, because most editors respect persistence.
5. Buyer
Shopping for a living sounds too good to be true, doesn't it? The job involves identifying and purchasing the latest lines for stores or mail-order companies. It's a flurry of visits to fashion houses and manufacturers, negotiating prices and planning delivery timescales.
Some people start as a sales assistant, buyer's clerk or junior buyer and go on from there. But it will be easier if you have a degree in fashion or textiles; it's also helpful to gain a qualification in business, marketing or management.
During the application process, you will need to demonstrate a passionate interest in fashion, commercial awareness, creativity, confidence and the ability to cope with pressure. You can gain relevant work experience via any retail work, including sales-assistant jobs or graduate store-management training programmes.
This is a very competitive area and most jobs are obtained through networking.
