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The Fashionista is in – Style Editor profile: Melissa Colgan

Between conducting photo shoots for Mpls. St. Paul Magazine, Colgan found time to give advice for college students.
MSP style editor Melissa Colgan in her prized Mongolian lamb vest. PHOTO COURTESY MELISSACOLGAN/MSP STYLEPARLOR BLOG
MSP style editor Melissa Colgan in her prized Mongolian lamb vest. PHOTO COURTESY MELISSACOLGAN/MSP STYLEPARLOR BLOG

Mpls. St. Paul Magazine Style Editor Melissa Colgan has got an impeccable eye for design. You can see for yourself via her work for the mag (including videos on Styleparlor TV) and her personal blog, Tulle and Plume. (tulleandplume.blogspot.com) SheâÄôs a busy lady, in charge of several of the magazineâÄôs sections, including lifestyle, shops and weddings. The 27-year-old from Wisconsin took some time to chat with me over coffee and offer her sage advice to hopeful fashion journalists like myself. Tell me a little bit about how you got to where you are. I went to the U, graduated in 2006. Originally I was a nutrition major and journalism minor, but I realized that if I stayed with nutrition IâÄôd be in a hospital deciding which vitamins should go in a feeding tube. This was before âÄúThe Devil Wears Prada,âÄù so I didnâÄôt know this sort of job existed, especially not here. [After switching my major to journalism,] I interned at the Mall of America in their retail marketing/advertising department. I pulled for ads, assisted with the prom and back-to-school fashion shows. I thought, styling is fun but I want to write. How did you end up at Mpls. St. Paul mag? My senior year I got an internship here. I was brought on for my Lifestyle experience. I was asked to stay on for spring semester and [eventually they offered me a job]. I worked really hard but I was really fortunate. Within one year I held four different titles. What is your design background? Were you the little girl reading Vogue? I was always crazy about my clothes. I had a very large closet for a little girl. I had a system with my labelmaker; each hanger had a certain number and I had a notebook with the corresponding number so I wouldnâÄôt repeat outfits. I was OBSESSED with clothes. I was really small, so when everyone started wearing Gap, I was too small. I discovered vintage shopping and I realized that I didnâÄôt have to go to the mall to find clothes. I was obsessed with magazines. I still have my Vogues from the early âÄô90s. Was fashion journalism something youâÄôd always been interested in? When I went to college, I thought I had to have a practical job, like a lawyer or an accountant. I didnâÄôt think [my fashion interest] could translate into a job. The city opened up for me. I didnâÄôt pledge a sorority or go out much. I spent every weekend shopping and became more familiar with clothes and designers. So where do you like to shop? Locally: GH2. I buy a lot at J. Crew; I love their basics. I love StyledLife for accessories, I love rummage shopping, thrifting, vintage, estate sales. A lot of my best things come from estate sales. As a writer you donâÄôt make a lot of money, so youâÄôve got to do it on the cheap. Who are your favorite designers? Style icons? What are you excited to see for spring? I love Phoebe Philo for Celine, Hannah MacGibbon for Chloé âĦ Jenna Lyons at J. Crew, I think sheâÄôs fantastic. Charlotte Gainsbourg âÄî love her. IâÄôll watch any French film I can find that sheâÄôs in, and her music is great, too. IâÄôm really excited about the return of sportswear. ItâÄôs what American fashion is known for. IâÄôm liking how soft and pretty things are, the nudes, neutrals, roses. Things are becoming less afraid. What is a day in the life of Melissa Colgan like? Any given week, IâÄôm out on a photoshoot, out pulling, doing interviews. During production, IâÄôm working at my desk editing copy, working with the art department, going to events at night. IâÄôm in stores a lot. It can be really busy but itâÄôs so much fun. IâÄôm never doing the same thing twice. No photoshoot is the same and trends are always changing. WhatâÄôs your advice to someone who wants to work in the industry? I think you need to be as malleable as possible. Things are changing faster. Our generation is the last that will have nostalgic attachment to flipping through a magazine or opening a newspaper. Be persistent. I learned a lot in college, but everything I learned that I use now came from work experience. YouâÄôre not too busy with classes to have internships! Be open to possibilities.

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