You are not logged in

New York Magazine

Skip to content, or skip to search.

Skip to content, or skip to search.

 

Run Through

4/ 7/08

5:15 PM

Karl Lagerfeld's ‘iPod Nanny’

Photo Illustration: Everett Bogue; Photos: Getty Images, Courtesy of Apple Computer

The beginning of any career starts with a certain amount of grunt work. But in the fashion industry each newbie must decide at which point said grunt work equals a loss of dignity and then at which point said humiliation will be worth the payoff for whatever leg up may or may not materialize. With more aspirants than jobs to fill people readily sacrifice their dignity for a job in this shallow, crazy, Xanax-riddled world of ours (our Condé Nast days still give us night sweats, which is why we now annoy our cube neighbors by preaching the magic of Ambien). Take the job of "iPod nanny" employed by a "certain designer" with more than 100 iPods (read Karl Lagerfeld):
It should therefore come as little surprise that said designer employs someone to look after them, in the manner of a librarian. Your initial gig, should you choose to pursue this career course, will be to upload your boss's CD collection on to the gadgets. Thereafter, your role will be to source new beats to keep your employer at the fore of sonic cool.

Well, this is a highly disappointing revelation. We'd have sworn the Kaiser came out of the womb on the fore of all things cool, white ponytail, sunglasses, and waistcoats included. And apparently he pays people to be that way. Ugh! This industry is faker than Heidi Montag's lips sometimes. Excuse us while we throw a moderately full file folder on our desk and huff off.

The strangest jobs in fashion [Independent]

Advertising

Edited by Amy Odell

  • Get the RSS feed
The Cut Features

21 Questions: The New York questionnaire.

Ask a Retailer: What they're buying from the runways.

Backstage Video: Behind the scenes at Fashion Week.

Beauty Marks: Read all Beauty Marks posts

Body Issues: Chronicling the unending quest for physical perfection.

Cult of Personality: Digging in with the people who matter.

Dress Code: Deciphering the language of fashion.

Fashion Album: Stars' favorite runway looks.

Fashion Calendar: Pencil in these sales and events.

Fashion Library: Read all Fashion Library posts

Fashion Yearbook: Read all Fashion Yearbook posts

First Looks: Read all First Looks posts

First Responders: Read all First Responders posts

Harriet and Amy: New York's fashion editors' picks.

In the Magazine: Stories from our print parent.

Loose Threads: Quicks news hits and assorted minutia.

Model Tracker: Who's dominating the runway today?

New York Fugging City: The Fug Girls on the Fashion Week scene.

Party Lines: What happened last night.

Passing Judgment: Read all Passing Judgment posts

Retail Therapy: Read all Retail Therapy posts

Reviews: Our critics weigh in.

Run Through: Fashion news daily.

Show & Tell: News from around the tents.

Tastemakers: Read all Tastemakers posts

The Fab Life: Read all The Fab Life posts

Three Is a Trend: Instant trend-spotting.

Video Look Book: Street style interviews.