Ladies and gents, it’s women crush wednesday, which means I’m sharing a little life/career advice from one of my personal lady crushes – my sweet friend Catherine of Paul Andrew Designs!
I was lucky enough to go to school with Catherine for a hot minute {I went to three colleges for my undergrad, and she went to two, so our overlap was actually pretty lucky}, and was always amazed and inspired by her creativity, kindness and being an all around beautiful gal inside and out. So when I heard she was transferring to the Pratt Institute in NYC to pursue fashion design, I knew she’d be incredibly successful in the crazy world of fashion.
She now works for Paul Andrew designs {a gorgeous luxury shoe and accessory brand that can be found on stars like Jennifer Lawrence, Lupita Nyong’o and Karlie Kloss} as an assistant designer and social media manager, meaning she basically has the coolest job of all time. I decided to pick her brain and ask her to give us a little career advice for those who’ve always dreamt of a career in fashion, and needless to say, I’m ready to pack my bags and move to NYC myself now 🙂
Name: Catherine Young
Age: 24
City: New York City
Job Title/Company:
Assistant Designer/Social Media Manager, Paul Andrew
Assistant Designer/Social Media Manager, Paul Andrew
Education: Lawrence
University 2008-10, Pratt Institute 2010-13
University 2008-10, Pratt Institute 2010-13
1) How did you get from graduating to working with Paul Andrew?
It’s amazing how far being in the
right place at the right time can get you. I had been interning for the Donna
Karan collection team during the spring of my Senior year, and Paul was still
working as their accessories designer at the time. Though my work was mostly
with the collection design team, there were slow points where I’d always see if
other departments needed help. I moved some shoe boxes for Paul one day, and a
few days later he was asking my opinion on his color cards and leather
selection! Towards the end of my internship, he asked me what I was doing after
graduation. Little did I know he was weeks away from embarking on his own
business. I interned for him for a few weeks before joining him as his
Assistant Designer. At that point in the company, it was just me, Paul and one
other girl who handled all our PR and sales. So crazy to think that was just a
year and a half ago!
right place at the right time can get you. I had been interning for the Donna
Karan collection team during the spring of my Senior year, and Paul was still
working as their accessories designer at the time. Though my work was mostly
with the collection design team, there were slow points where I’d always see if
other departments needed help. I moved some shoe boxes for Paul one day, and a
few days later he was asking my opinion on his color cards and leather
selection! Towards the end of my internship, he asked me what I was doing after
graduation. Little did I know he was weeks away from embarking on his own
business. I interned for him for a few weeks before joining him as his
Assistant Designer. At that point in the company, it was just me, Paul and one
other girl who handled all our PR and sales. So crazy to think that was just a
year and a half ago!
2) What does your job look like on a daily basis?
My job is never the same day to day,
and I’m so thankful for that. Granted it usually means that I never know when
my workday will end, but it certainly keeps things exciting! My day can range
from sketching for the collection, to working with our factories in Italy, to
hand-rendering shoes for different publications, to walking around the city
with a big bag of shoes taking pictures for social media. One of my favorites
parts of my job is that there is always something new to learn and I never know
what the new day will bring.
and I’m so thankful for that. Granted it usually means that I never know when
my workday will end, but it certainly keeps things exciting! My day can range
from sketching for the collection, to working with our factories in Italy, to
hand-rendering shoes for different publications, to walking around the city
with a big bag of shoes taking pictures for social media. One of my favorites
parts of my job is that there is always something new to learn and I never know
what the new day will bring.
3) What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
I think the most rewarding part of my
job is being able to make things that I really believe in, and to see people
enjoy them as much as I do. It’s really incredible to see the process from end
to end – to go from sketching an idea, to seeing the prototype, to presenting
it to buyers, and finally being able to see people wear it. For me, that is the
magic of working in design – that you have the opportunity to produce things
that actually become a part of someone’s life and appearance, which they choose
to pick out of their closet in the morning and wear for the day.
job is being able to make things that I really believe in, and to see people
enjoy them as much as I do. It’s really incredible to see the process from end
to end – to go from sketching an idea, to seeing the prototype, to presenting
it to buyers, and finally being able to see people wear it. For me, that is the
magic of working in design – that you have the opportunity to produce things
that actually become a part of someone’s life and appearance, which they choose
to pick out of their closet in the morning and wear for the day.
4) What’s been the biggest “pinch me” moment so far?
I was blown away when my shoe
renderings were published in Italian Vogue, and again when Paul Andrew won the
CFDA award. It was crazy to see something that I had drawn in such an
incredible publication, and winning CFDA was (and still is) totally unreal.
It’s still sinking in!
renderings were published in Italian Vogue, and again when Paul Andrew won the
CFDA award. It was crazy to see something that I had drawn in such an
incredible publication, and winning CFDA was (and still is) totally unreal.
It’s still sinking in!
5) Working at NYFW and with celebrities, do you have any good stories
you can share? (Meeting Karlie Kloss, Jennifer Lawrence’s shoe orders, model
fittings, etc.)
you can share? (Meeting Karlie Kloss, Jennifer Lawrence’s shoe orders, model
fittings, etc.)
I’ve never been one to get crazy over
celebrities. When you’re working backstage with the girls at Fashion Week,
everyone is completely in work-mode and its really cool to be in that moment
with them. I’ve dressed Karlie Kloss, Karolina Kurkova, Kendall Jenner, Cara
Delevigne… and they’re all so incredibly professional, it makes you raise up
to their level (which in reality is impossible because they’re all at least 2
feet taller than me!). It’s really amazing to watch them work. Through the
course of the CFDA competition, I met Anna Wintour and Jenna Lyons, which was
pretty unreal, since I look up to both of them a lot. Jenna has a very firm
handshake, which is always a good thing.
celebrities. When you’re working backstage with the girls at Fashion Week,
everyone is completely in work-mode and its really cool to be in that moment
with them. I’ve dressed Karlie Kloss, Karolina Kurkova, Kendall Jenner, Cara
Delevigne… and they’re all so incredibly professional, it makes you raise up
to their level (which in reality is impossible because they’re all at least 2
feet taller than me!). It’s really amazing to watch them work. Through the
course of the CFDA competition, I met Anna Wintour and Jenna Lyons, which was
pretty unreal, since I look up to both of them a lot. Jenna has a very firm
handshake, which is always a good thing.
{Paul Andrew inspiration // spring 2014}
6) What advice do you have for women looking to get into fashion?
From my experience, the fashion world
will give you back whatever you put into it. If you’re willing to work really,
really hard and be pushed past the point of whatever you previously thought you
could do, it’s a great place to be. But it won’t come to you – you really have
to put yourself in the middle of it, meet as many people as you can, be
confident in what you know and always be willing to learn more. Limiting
yourself to your current abilities won’t get you very far in anything, let
alone fashion – even if you think you don’t know how to do what someone is
asking of you, trust that you’ll find a way to learn it as you go.
will give you back whatever you put into it. If you’re willing to work really,
really hard and be pushed past the point of whatever you previously thought you
could do, it’s a great place to be. But it won’t come to you – you really have
to put yourself in the middle of it, meet as many people as you can, be
confident in what you know and always be willing to learn more. Limiting
yourself to your current abilities won’t get you very far in anything, let
alone fashion – even if you think you don’t know how to do what someone is
asking of you, trust that you’ll find a way to learn it as you go.
{The Kimura pump}
7) What’s the best career advice you’ve ever been given (or, what’s one
piece of career advice you’d give?)
piece of career advice you’d give?)
Never say, “That’s not my
job.” It doesn’t matter where on the food chain you are at a company,
people notice and appreciate someone who is always eager to help. Plus you
never know what you’ll learn or who you’ll work with!
job.” It doesn’t matter where on the food chain you are at a company,
people notice and appreciate someone who is always eager to help. Plus you
never know what you’ll learn or who you’ll work with!
8) Anything else you’d like to share?
Everyone (and ESPECIALLY anyone with
an interest in fashion and design) should spend at least a couple months in
NYC. It’s an insane city that is unlike anything else in the world, and even
though I hate it a lot of the time, I wouldn’t be where I am today unless I’d
come here. xx
an interest in fashion and design) should spend at least a couple months in
NYC. It’s an insane city that is unlike anything else in the world, and even
though I hate it a lot of the time, I wouldn’t be where I am today unless I’d
come here. xx
What an awesome post – it's so cool that you two crossed paths in college! Catherine definitely is a driven young woman, and I admire her for all that she's accomplished.
#7 is truly one of the best pieces of advice and I think a lot of people could benefit from writing it down and keeping it in their back pocket. 😉 This was a great interview!
26 and Not Counting
Annndddd now I have to get my life together because she is killing it.
That's it! I am moving to NYC. Husband and Dog who? Great interview Maya, really enjoyed this one!
So cool and how inspiring! And I totally agree with going with the flow and not saying "it's not my job" unless of course it would be stepping on someone else's toes and you know it haha!
Catherine is too cool for school, man. I loved reading this! Inspiring + awesome, applicable advice!
-Ashley
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