Fit for New York

These Southern women are on the path to success in the New York City fashion industry.

Written by Emily Welly | Illustrated by Sarah Godwin | Photos Contributed

The Met Gala. Hermés. Vogue. Max Mara. These young fashionistas with ties to north Mississippi have each worked their way into the storied New York City fashion industry.

Here they share with us a bit about what they’ve seen and done.

AVERY WHITE

AGE: 26

EDUCATION: The University of Mississippi, 2021

DEGREE: Integrated Marketing and Communications, Dual Specializations in Fashion and Health Communications

TIME IN NEW YORK: 4.5 years

CURRENT JOB: Communications Specialist at Hermés

THE DAY-TO-DAY: Works across Special Events, Press&VIP and media teams at Hermés. Liaison for the USA Communications department handling cross-functional and global communication with headquarters in Paris. Helps USA team with planning logistics for global events. Supports Press&VIP team with giftings, invitations and travel. Reports directly to SVP of communications and supports SVP with travel, scheduling and more.

PRIOR EXPERIENCE: As college student, interned in New York for personal stylist, Samantha Brown. Senior year served as an ambassador at the university and a remote intern for Darling Magazine. After graduation was a Special Events Freelance assistant at Vogue, supporting on the 2021 Met Gala. Stayed with the team to assist with Glamour’s Women of the Year Awards in 2021. Became the personal and executive assistant to fashion designer and CEO, Mr. Tom Ford and Charlotte Blechman (CMO) at TOM FORD. Pivoted into the art world and worked in Special Events at The Museum of Modern Art.

MOST EXCITING WORK EXPERIENCE:  The Met Gala.

“To go straight from graduating school in Mississippi, to my first job at Vogue working on the Met Gala was the very best kind of whirlwind!

For the Met Gala, I kept the ever-changing attendee list and seating chart updated, created guest-list presentations for executives, and worked on-site welcoming guests and assisting with fashion needs and seating requests.”

UPCOMING FASHION TRENDS:

“I do think an Hermés scarf would be fabulous in Mississippi! Incredibly versatile — Hermés scarfs can be worn around the neck, wrapped around a bag, placed in your hair, styled as a top, or even framed as an art piece!”

RACHEL LONG

AGE: 26

EDUCATION: The University of Mississippi, 2021

DEGREE: Integrated Marketing Communications

TIME IN NEW YORK: Almost 5 years

CURRENT JOB: Events and Partnerships Coordinator for North America at   Max Mara

THE DAY-TO-DAY: Shares in cultivating the ideation, implementation and execution of events at a retail level for stores across North America as well as pop-up retail experiences and larger brand partnerships with museums, nonprofits and external partners.

PRIOR EXPERIENCE: Several internships both in New York and in Oxford at Jonesworks and Red Window Communications. Prior to joining the team at Max Mara, was the PR and Purpose Associate at J.Crew.

MOST EXCITING WORK EXPERIENCE:  “Our 10-year anniversary gala with the Whitney Museum was really exciting for us as a brand and as a team.

We partnered with the museum and their production agency to create a beautiful evening in celebration of Max Mara and the Whitney’s collaboration on our iconic Whitney handbag. Notables including Amy Sherald, Andie MacDowell, Leslie Bibb and Michelle Monaghan were in attendance, and everyone had a wonderful time celebrating the brand and the museum.”

UPCOMING FASHION TRENDS: “This is such a great question. I think people are really leaning into pieces that have longevity and a sense of nostalgia. The coastal/fisherman theme we have seen in fashion trends the past two years I think will stick around and really encourage people to invest in the pieces they love that will last.”

DELANEY THOMAS

AGE: 24

EDUCATION: University of Georgia, 2023

DEGREE: Fashion Merchandising Major with a minor in Design and Media and Business

TIME IN NEW YORK: A little over 2 years

CURRENT JOB: Junior Account Executive at   Rainbowwave NYC

THE DAY-TO-DAY: Manages the U.S. business for the denim and contemporary brands represented by this global sales agency. Works on sales campaigns for the brands she represents; works with and maintains relationships with buyers from stores across the North American market; analyzes current season sales to forecast business strategies and design for upcoming seasons; and preps for upcoming markets with the brands she manages.

PRIOR EXPERIENCE: Internship at Findings, another New York City fashion showroom

MOST EXCITING WORK EXPERIENCE:  The Markets. “All of the markets are really exciting, as we meet with hundreds of different buyers from across the world to introduce them to our brands, or build current relationships we already have with them. It is always really exciting to build the sales campaign and see how it does with the buyers every season. My duties during the market are running these appointments for the brands I represent and selling the brand.

What I am most excited for is going to the Paris market for the first time this October to represent my brands.”

UPCOMING FASHION TRENDS: “I definitely think the shift of patterns to the use of fun textures and fabrications in clothing is making its way to the South. As someone who manages European brands, I am always watching the way it shifts over to the U.S. after a couple of years, and I can see its shift into the wardrobes of my favorite Southern influencers and social scenes. There is less of a focus on loud colors and patterns and more on the textures/unique features on a novelty piece of clothing, which is still exciting and vibrant in its own way.

The Southern sense of style always has a spirited edge to it, and this is a perfect way to implicate this in a newer, trendier way. Think unique fabrications, appliques, fringe, lace, etc.”

VOGUE SUMMER SCHOOL

Oxford High School junior Ellie Scruggs got a taste of the New York fashion world this summer when she spent two weeks at Vogue Summer School.

“I’ve always been in love with New York City,” she said, so when she came across information about the program, she jumped at the chance to apply. From June 8-20, Scruggs — along with other young fashionistas from all around the country — lived in the Pace University dorms in the financial district and soaked in all they could about the fashion industry.

Lectures were held daily from 9:30 p.m.-12:30 p.m. for the 200 or so participants in the program. A different speaker representing a different brand or job in the fashion industry was featured each day. After lunch, small group classes with about 15 students were led by professors with industry experience.

Evenings were open for students to explore New York. Scruggs and her new friends immersed themselves in the city.

“Growing up in Mississippi, I’ve really only been around Southern style. (New York) gave me a different eye on fashion,” she said. “The outfits were significantly different than what you would see in Mississippi. It was so cool.”

They visited the Upper East Side (of “Gossip Girl” fame), shopped in Soho, strolled in Central

Park at sunset, wandered around Midtown. The experience exploring was as impactful on Scruggs as the class time.

“My favorite part was being on a subway with my friends figuring it out,” she said.

Site visits as a class were also a highlight. Most exciting for Scruggs, they visited Vogue headquarters in One World Trade Center where they could see Vogue employees working on their upcoming September magazine. They even got a glimpse of the famous longtime Vogue editor Anna Wintour who made waves later in June announcing she was seeking a new editor-in-chief. “That’s a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Scruggs said.

They also visited The Met and toured its “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” exhibit that’s on display through the end of October. And they went to Theory’s headquarters to hear from its clothing and design experts talk about the brand and its emphasis on sustainability and quality.

At 16, Scruggs has some time to figure out the future, but currently her dream job is something in fashion business and branding. Whatever she decides, the education and memories she made this summer in New York will be lasting.

“It was definitely the most amazing experience of my life,” she said. “It’s changed how I view everything.”

A few trends Scruggs expects to see here at home:

Polka dots

Denim sets

Mixed patterns

Barn jackets

Suede

Plaid and checker prints

Fall colors: chocolate brown, burgundy, dusty rose and moss green