Junior Interns for ‘What Not To Wear’
At first glance, you might not picture Shana Bluestein, a junior Management and Leadership major, on the set of The Learning Channel’s What Not to Wear. A sharp dresser, Bluestein does not need any style tips from the show’s hosts, fashion gurus Stacy London and Clinton Kelly.
However, Bluestein, of Elkins Park, Pa., commuted to New York City three days a week this fall to the What Not to Wear studio. She was not there for a makeover, but rather, a chance to intern at one of her favorite shows, where contestants in need of fashion advice are nominated by friends and family. Hosts Stacy and Clinton surprise the contestant, giving them a chance to trade their wardrobe for a Bank of America card for $5,000 to buy new clothes in New York City.
Bluestein scored the internship while attending a taping of one of the shows, on which her friend was a makeover subject. During the filming, she asked a camera person if there were any internship opportunities on the show, leading to a meeting with the show’s project manager. A few weeks later, Bluestein learned that she had earned the coveted slot.
This fall semester for a month, Bluestein commuted to the city on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays to work on the set of What Not to Wear. She worked with two other interns and did merchandise returns, hung up clothes on the set, did stand-ins for Stacy and Clinton, kept track of expense reports and other behind-the-scenes tasks. She also rubbed elbows with the show’s hosts, as well as hairstylist Nick Arrojo and makeup artist Carmindy.
“I learned that sometimes shows are not as glamorous behind the scenes and a lot of work goes into each episode,” said Bluestein, who participates in the fundraising phone-a-thon for Rider’s Division of University Advancement. “I also learned what it was like to be at the very bottom of the totem pole, and I think that was great experience and practice for me for when I enter the real world after graduation next year.”
For Bluestein, the experience was very rewarding. Not only did she work on her favorite TV show, but the opportunity opened her eyes to career possibilities. In fact, Bluestein said she can see herself working on a similar kind of show in the future.
“I’m not really creative to design,” she admits. “But the experience led me to realize that I definitely want to go into the fashion business.”
The internship also gave Bluestein a sense of independence, as she was traveling back and forth to Manhattan and finding her way around the city by herself.
“My favorite part of the internship was probably being on the set of the show that I have loved so much for so long,” Bluestein said. “There was nothing cooler than being able to see firsthand how things actually go behind the scenes and to be able to be a part of the production of the show.”
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