In this week's edition of Trendsetters at Work, we're back in the Big Apple with public relations manager of Asos, Scarlett Chang.
The savvy and stylish career girl is always hard at work making sure that one of the coolest e-commerce sites under the sun is also top of mind for fashionistas everywhere!
Wondering how she got her start? We sat down with her to learn more—here's what she shared:
How did you get started in your career?
I interned at a boutique fashion PR agency my senior year at UCLA and fell in love with it. After moving to New York I landed an internship at Harper's Bazaar and have been working in fashion public relations ever since.
What is a typical day like for you?
Every day varies a bit but I start off the day working closely with our London headquarters since they are a few hours ahead. Asos is a huge multidimensional brand so there are always exciting products, launches, and events that are coming down the pipeline that we work on whether it consists of pitching news to press or thinking of innovative ideas for fun events. The bulk of my day also involves working with various magazine editors on their upcoming shoots and making sure we send the right Asos product for each fashion story.
Describe your work environment.
Our Asos U.S. office just opened here in New York. It's a fast-paced and ever-growing team. Thankfully all of us get along really well together and it's an open loft space (no cubicles) so we're always tossing around ideas with each other or sharing laughs over Buzzfeed links or funny YouTube videos! It's also a very music-friendly office so we each take turns playing DJ throughout the day. It's a really relaxed and fun atmosphere, I couldn't ask for a better group of people to work with.
Tell us about your office decor or creative inspiration. Our showroom is very clean and minimal, except for the clothes hanging on our showroom racks! Everything is very neutral and modern with white desks, white chairs, and pretty much in sync with my own personal design aesthetic.
Describe your office style. What do you typically wear to work?
One of the best parts about my job is that there are no work clothes, and my entire closet is open as options to wear to work. Now that warmer weather is finally hitting New York, I typically wear dresses or shorts paired with fun tops and sandals.
Where do you shop for work clothes?
Other than Asos.com, I love Zara, Alexander Wang and Theory. If I'm in a super splurge-y mood I'll hit up Barneys Co-Op right by my apartment, which is both a blessing and a curse!
What are your favorite brands of accessories?
I'm on a sunglasses kick now that summer is here, so I'm a bit obsessed with Westward Leaning sunglasses. I want a pair in every color! In terms of jewelry, Asos has the best costume jewelry that's both fun and affordable, so I never leave without layering one statement piece into my outfit.
My favorite thing in my office is...The clothes in our showroom! Since we're a fast fashion company there is an endless supply of new product that comes in and out of the office. I love looking at all of our offerings and getting inspiration from our collections.
The best part of my job is…I wake up every morning and am genuinely happy to go to work. I think that has a lot to do with the people I work with and the brand I work for.
What is your guilty pleasure? Flaming Hot CheetosI I also read Suri's Burn Book online on a daily basis and eating Flaming Hot Cheetos while reading Suri's Burn Book just makes my day.
What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?
I once read a quote that said, "If you're the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room." I strongly believe that you need people around you to constantly challenge you and help you push boundaries. You should always be learning. It doesn't matter where you are in your career or how old you are.
What are your travel must-haves?
I like being as comfortable as possible when traveling so I tend to wear silky pants, a tee or tank top and a cozy cardigan. I also use L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream religiously since my hands tend to get dry while flying.
What are your beauty must-haves?
Even though I've been in New York for seven years, I'm still a California girl at heart so I need to always look at least a little sun-kissed even in the dead of winter. My favorite bronzer is Givenchy's Le Prisme Sun Visage. I also cannot live without Chanel's Stylo Yeux Waterproof eyeliner in Noir Intense. In terms of fragrance, I love Tocca's Stella scent, it has a fresh and subtle citrus smell. My favorite hair product is Bumble & Bumble's Surf Spray, it's perfect for achieving that beachy, relaxed wave.
What fuels you during the day?
My morning beverage is always a cup of drip coffee from Iris Café, which is right by my apartment in Brooklyn Heights. I'm lucky enough to work in Soho so the lunch options are endless. One of my coworkers recently introduced me to this delicious café and juice bar called The Butcher's Daughter. I love their avocado toast and green juices. My favorite snack at the moment is at the Chobani Soho store where they have the most delicious and creamy greek yogurt served fresh with strawberry, granola and honey as a topping.
Tell us about your favorite gadgets for work and play:
My friend just gave me Jamboxx speakers as a gift, not only is it lightweight and easily portable, I can also use it to speak on the phone at home so I can multi-task hands free. I don't really use any gadgets for work other than my iPhone but I do love working off of the brand new iMacs that we have in the office!
I read these web sites/blogs/newspapers/books daily:
I start the day off reading the Daily Skimm, which is a newsletter that edits down the top headlines with sharp and witty blurbs next to each news item. I love Refinery29, specifically their New York section, they have amazing insider tips on restaurants/bars/shops in the city. In terms of fashion, my favorite site is Who What Wear—they have the best inspirational street style looks and editorial content. I'm also an avid New York magazine reader (both in print and online), they just have the wittiest writers and fun editorials. My favorite TV show at the moment is Game of Thrones so I'm currently reading the first book in the series and I can't get enough.
If I wasn't doing this job, I would be…hosting my own travel show like Anthony Bourdain. I religiously watched his No Reservations series and am now tuning into his series on CNN, Parts Unknown. Life is just so much richer when you travel the world and immerse yourself in different cultures. I also love eating and trying different types of food, which is half the fun of being able to travel.
Can you share some advice for aspiring career girls?
Pick a career that you are really in love with—and I mean absolutely, obsessively passionate about. Because no job is perfect but when you have bad days doing something you love, you can know at the end of the day it's worth it. And when you have good days, the happiness that you feel is beyond fulfilling.