I’ve spent the last few months writing about life in New York, and the things I’ve come to learn about this wonderful city. But getting to know New York was only one of my summer goals. In honor of my second to last column about life in NYC, I’ve decided to share with you what I’ve learned about what brought me here in the first place: fashion.

I think an important step in understanding the fashion industry is dispelling the misconceptions people have about it, thanks to stereotypes, the media, and of course, The Devil Wears Prada.

The biggest myth surrounding the industry is that it is cold, shrewd, and unforgiving. While some may act true to the grossly exaggerated “Nuclear Wintour” stereotype, most do not. In fact, GQ employs some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. I’d even venture to say there’s not a single mean spirit on the floor. And I’ve been to Vogue—everyone says please and thank you.

When people think of fashion, they tend to think of it as a large, intimidating empire of vain, cutthroat fashionistas. But what I’ve come to learn is that the industry is actually quite small. Well, of course that’s not true—it employs over 4 million people—but what I mean to say is that it can feel quite small.

The large majority of my job this summer has been handling the flow of clothing in and out of the fashion closet. This means dealing with PR companies, showrooms, designer boutiques, and occasionally, other magazines. My bosses could probably tell you who works at each and every one of them. Even I’ve come to memorize a few names, addresses, and phone numbers of people I’ve never met.

So, if I’ve learned anything this summer, it’s that the fashion industry isn’t a big scary Karl Lagerfeld-shaped monster. My internship has supplied me with an incredible amount of work this summer, yes, but above all else it’s been fun. Anna Wintour is not the devil in Prada, and the industry isn’t a hierarchy; it’s a web in which everyone and everything is delicately connected, relying on one another to stay afloat.

Take the upcoming second annual Fashion’s Night Out for example (see below). Editors and Designers (and the Mayor) encourage a night of extravagant shopping, helping retail sales go up, which ultimately benefits the magazines and design houses they work for, all the while giving New York a nice little economic boost. It’s events like this that show how the entire industry can come together in times of need—and remind me why I came here in the first place.

Make sure to check back next week for the final installment of SHEI and the City!

-Will Defebaugh, Creative Director

Girls preparing to shop their hearts out on the first Fashion's Night Out last September. Photo courtesy: www.Modelinia.com