LCW Alumna Turned Fashionista
A day in the life of Ilyssa Moskowitz, LCW '13
April 13, 2015
Bright-eyed Ilyssa Moskowitz (LCW ’13) is taking the fashion world by storm. After receiving her Bachelor of Science in marketing from Touro’s Lander College for Women-The Anna Ruth and Mark Hasten School (where she was president of the Marketing Club and held membership in Sigma Beta Delta, the International Honor Society of Business), Moskowitz then went on to receive an additional associate's degree in fashion merchandising from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). Yet she’s already landed positions at Nordstrom, Kenneth Cole, and Bloomingdales, and Bonobos—where she currently works as a men’s stylist. We had the chance to chat with her about "clienteling," how she got started in fashion, and what a typical day in her life looks like.
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On a typical day in her life: | “On a day where I have work from 9:45 am to 7:30 pm, I wake up at 7:15 am, shower, and get ready. Get on the 1 train at 8:30, and get off at the Wall Street station. Grab my much-needed Starbucks from the shopping mall next door. Get to work at 9:30 and have fifteen minutes to freshen up, and then work straight with one lunch break until 7:30. Go to the gym. I then meet up with friends or I take the same walk back home, stop for groceries at Whole Foods and then get home and answer emails, make dinner, and return all phone calls and texts I missed while at work. It’s always a busy, full day!” |
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On her first taste of the fashion world: | “I worked at Nordstrom when I was sixteen. I was the youngest employee they ever hired. Since I wasn't allowed to be a sales associate, I assisted two million-dollar sellers [employees who have reached the $1 million sales mark] in the Chanel handbag boutique. I shadowed them while they assisted clients, which gave me a lot of insight into the world of high-end fashion. Then I joined the Kenneth Cole family as a sales associate. The close-knit environment in SoHo allowed me to work one-on-one with customers and build myself up to be the men's specialist there.” |
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On what it was like to work at Bloomingdales: | “There were three components to my job. On the most basic level, I assisted any customer that needed my help. The second level is building sales. And the most important level is “clienteling.” I kept a relationship and open communication with our regular clients, informing them of specific items that they were interested in, setting up a time for them to come in to have one-on-one styling time with me…That level is the hardest but the most rewarding once reached.” |
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On her job now at Bonobos: | "I'm a Guideshop Stylist for Bonobos.com, a men's ecommerce company that has a partnership with Nordstrom and holds the record of being the largest U.S. clothing brand ever built on the web. Our Guideshops are a place for men to see the products in person, get fitted, and—once they know their size—receive their items via free shipping 1-2 days later. Think of it as a live website. It’s a revolutionary concept: no bags, no inventory—just a place for men to come enjoy a glass a wine and enjoy the shopping experience." |
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On the challenges of modern fashion: | “I face daily challenges as a stylist. Men’s fashion has only recently taken a turn and become more prominent in the eyes of the customers. That being said, men are still hesitant to try new styles. Their wives, who do a lot of their shopping, are a main part of the battle. But when I have a customer who is eager to learn and wants my advice, everything falls into place. And that's where the fun happens.” |
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On her personal style: | “My favorite quote is: ‘When woman say they have nothing to wear, they really mean they don't know who they want to be that day.’ I really don't have one specific style. Those who know me will say I’ll be ‘J. Crew-catalogue’ one day and ‘all-black a la Jonny Cash’ the next. My go-to look when I want to be the most “me” is simple and comfortable yet flattering and chic. I love black—I think the color is mysterious yet humble—and my favorite piece of clothing is a simple black dress. I say this loosely, though, because I have about twenty-five black dresses, each with its own personality. I'm still searching for a specific one, but I can't seem to stop buying other great ones on the way!” |
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On her dream job in the future: | “Honestly, I have my dream job already at Bonobos. It was awarded one of the 'Best Places to Work in New York City' by Crain’s in 2013, too—the only e-commerce company to receive the award." |
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And finally, on LCW: | “The marketing department helped give me the confidence I needed to become the salesperson I am today. Thanks to their small classes, I was also able to form close relationships with my professors, who helped me find the internships that later led to this job.” |
