• 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • Join the riot newsletter
  • Wishlist
RunwayRiot
fashion for all women


  • Shop
    • Clothing
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • Editor’s Closet
    • Our Obsessions!
    • Gift Ideas
  • About Runway Riot
  • Fitness
  • News
  • Beauty/Fashion
  • Designers
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
Wish
list
  • Shop
    • Clothing
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • Editor’s Closet
    • Designers
    • Gift Ideas
    • Our Obsessions!
    • Guilty Pleasures
  • Beauty/Fashion
  • Fitness
  • Self-care
  • Current Obsessions
  • The Latest
  • 10 Defining Moments in Fashion Head Cages
  • RunwayRiot's Iskra Lawrence on We're Crashing Fashion
  • 9 Defining 2000s Fashion Moments From Crossroads
  • 6 Miraculous Fashion Hacks to Make Life Easier
I Had Three Unpaid Fashion Internships, and I Feel Guilty About It
by Eliza Dillard | August 13, 2015 at 5:52 PM
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 

Anyone who has had a fashion internship knows they aren’t as glamorous as The Hills might’ve lead you to believe. You don’t get Chanel boots. Your boss doesn’t take you to the parties with the free booze. You don’t get to sit next to Paris Hilton at a fashion show because you’re behind the scenes sitting in a pile of Maybelline mascara.   You wear the name tag “Hey, you” for five months. I get it, it can suck. But at least you had one. I had three pretty close to awesome unpaid fashion industry internships, and I feel guilty about it.

This week, news broke that a girl hated interning for The Row so much that she felt the need to sue the Olsen twins. Who does that? They’re too good for your sh*t.

I feel guilty because there are countless people out there who would KILL to work an unpaid job in the fashion industry and to have The Row’s fancy name on their resume, but instead, they’re stuck behind the counter at In-N-Out slapping lettuce on buns because life, bills, groceries, etc. If anyone should be complaining, it’s them. I don’t have the right to complain because I had the opportunity.

If unpaid fashion internships should be illegal, it should be because they favor privileged (mostly white) men/women and put everyone else at a disadvantage. In-N-Out girl can’t get her dream job writing for Vogue because her competitor interned at six magazines in college. Back to California she goes. We wonder why there’s such a lack of diversity in the fashion business, but the system is set up to work against anyone who can’t afford to work for free, and it’s messed up.

If we’re gonna start talking about how internships are unfair, this is the conversation we need to begin with. Not a conversation about how some whiney intern couldn’t handle the *pressures* of her boss texting her at 10 p.m.

About the Author

Eliza Dillard

Connect with me:
  • My website
I Want That!
Sanctuary
'Grease' Leggings
Buy Me + Wishlist
$89.00
Leith
Cowl Neck Shaker Pullover
Gimme! + Wishlist
$68.00
Agent Provocateur
Agent Provocateur Davinah Bra Black - 32B
Shop now + Wishlist
$845.00
ASOS
ASOS Neoprene Frill Lattice Bardot Dot Mesh Swimsuit - White
Shop now + Wishlist
$58.00
J BRAND
9326 Distressed Low-Rise Cropped Step Hem Jeans/Disguise Destruct
Gimme! + Wishlist
$198.00
Fraas
Cable Knit Triangle Scarf
You Know You Want Me! + Wishlist
$52.80
Mac
MAC Prep + Prime Yuzu Essential Oils
Buy Me + Wishlist
$27.00
Ole Henriksen
Truth Serum(R) Vitamin C Anti-Aging Collagen Booster
You Know You Want Me! + Wishlist
$48.00
Ted Baker London
Wild And Wolf X Ted Baker London Manicure Set
Gimme! + Wishlist
$37.50
Gibson
Twist Front Cozy Fleece Pullover (Regular & Petite)
Gimme! + Wishlist
$44.00
RODIN olio lusso
Olio Lusso Luxe Lipstick - Red Hedy
Gimme! + Wishlist
$38.00
4SI3NNA
Lace Romper
Buy Me + Wishlist
$75.00
19 Female Professional Athletes Who Are Changing The Way We Look At Fashion
November 7, 2017 at 3:12 PM
11 Body Confident Trends for Transitional Wear
November 7, 2017 at 3:05 PM
The Power of 11: How to Align With Your True Self
February 14, 2017 at 12:50 PM
The Best Single Statement Shirts to Wear this Valentine’s Day
February 14, 2017 at 8:33 AM
Couples That Workout Together Stay Together
February 14, 2017 at 2:39 AM
RunwayRiot
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
Sitemap
  • Shop
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • All Stories
Join the riot
© 2023 RunwayRiot, LLC - All Rights Reserved.
  • FAQ
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Design
  1. Mediaite
  2. The Mary Sue
  3. RunwayRiot
  4. LawNewz
  5. Gossip Cop