Former ElleGirl staffer Melissa Walker tells you how to break into the rarified realm of fashion journalism (and why writing for Paper could land you a Vogue byline):

Build a portfolio In addition to the free assisting gigs, wannabe stylists will need fashion work of their own to show editors. Culp majored in fashion design at Otis College of Art and Design in L.A. The work she did in school, plus an unpaid/not-for-credit summer internship at the Marc Jacobs design house bolstered her résumé and portfolio. When she sent her stuff to "every fashion director in New York," Jane called her in.

Even if you're not in school, gathering student models and photographers from art schools like FIT (New York's Fashion Institute of Technology) and Parsons (Craigslist, anyone?) can lead to some amazing-and virtually free-photo shoots, says Schwartz. And, everyone involved ends up with something to show a hiring editor.

More here.