Learn to draw drapery. If you can find a class that draws people or “life drawing”, take that too. If you can’t draw real people, start drawing from photos of fashion models. Also learn about color, and mixing color. Know what colors look good together and how color groups are assembled. Focus on drawing actual fashions, and perfecting drawing bodies.
Get a mannequin that you can pin fabric on or drape to make designs to see how they would fit a body. Draping is another word for covering, dressing, or hanging cloth in loose folds. You can learn about this in a sewing class, or through a fashion school or program.

Study the patterns and become familiar with sewing pattern shapes. Sew for real people (like family and friends) so that you get familiar with body shapes and fit. Also learn about fabric. Know what fabrics are made from (silk? wool? cotton?) and how they are woven (velvet, twill, satin).

You will learn a great deal about dealing with a customer and fitting the human body in all its variations (tall, short, petite or large). You can also charge money for your work.

Visit web sites such as pantone.com to see what colors are going to be in fashion. Also try to predict what fashion will be popular in the future. Is it being sold in stores or online? What are the major department stores? What stores sell the category of fashion you are interested in? Also learn about “targeting your customer base”. This means knowing the type of person who will buy your fashions.

If you live close to a community college or university, see if that school has a program in fashion. Plan to spend at least 2 years in any fashion design program. Don’t feel that you have to spend a lot of money to get this training. Many states have public colleges or trade schools with excellent fashion training.

Ask your teacher or instructor about this, an internship in Paris would be a fantastic opportunity.

When you graduate, you should have a portfolio of your best work. Usually these illustrations are of the one category that you are interested in finding a job in. A good portfolio will sometimes have sample garments too. A good size for a portfolio is 14″ x 17″.

Think of your first job as ‘graduate school’. You won’t be a designer yet, but you might work for one. It will be hard work, long hours, and lots of exciting times. As you work, you will move up the career ladder, working at many positions before you become a designer. A professional designer has huge responsibilities, and only a seasoned one qualifies to take on those tasks.

Hope I helped (: