An Interview with My Idol, Ebay Style Director Constance White!

Woooohoooo! Today my dreams came true! I got to interview the talented, ultra-elegant, and poised Constance White who serves as Style Director for eBay. I have been a fan of this woman for so long and always thought she was so cool when I saw her on TV promoting all things eBay fashion. This woman has done it all. She has written for Elle, the New York Times, and several other publications. She’s been on E! and Oprah, among others, and has written a uniquely amazing book called “Stylenoir: the first how-to guide to fashion written with black women in mind”. So, you can imagine my excited-nervousness when I actually got to speak to a woman I’ve admired for years through the media. Enjoy!

Q: Tell me a little bit about how you became eBay’s style director. How did that opportunity unfold?

A: Yes… eBay was looking for someone to work for them who was more well-versed in fashion – a fashion insider. They also thought this person could be a spokesperson. They had not had someone in this role before. Someone recommended me as possible candidate. I had just been on the TV program Full Frontal Fashion which focused solely on style. They wanted someone who had a few different experiences- TV, print media, an expert in fashion, and well-versed in the internet. I was not well-versed in the internet but 4 out of 5 is good! Together, we shaped the position because it really was something new. Not only was it new on eBay, it was something that was new to the internet.

Q: What do you enjoy most about being the Style Director for eBay?

A: That’s a good question, no one has ever asked me that before! I would have to say the most… interestingly enough, is that any given day, working with eBay I am going to be doing something different than I was doing the day before. The variety suits my interests really well. It’s a really good fit. One day I’m writing, one day I’m putting together a segment for the Today Show, another day I’m meeting with a designer, meeting with a public relations team, going to a runway show, or surfing the internet a lot.

Q: eBay, in my opinion, is one of the best places to buy clothing and accessories, Yet, there are still so many people who feel like it’s too big a risk to buy clothing on eBay, despite eBay’s improvements over the years. What else do you think can be done to bring more people to buy clothing on eBay?

A: eBay continues to improve the shopping experience every day, week, month. It’s an ongoing experience… making it more intuitive. Anything you want you can find on eBay. So making it easier is part of it. The other side of that is what I do. We need to let people know. Part of what I’m charged with is educating people about fashion finds on eBay. Educating the public… people who are not eBay users. While there are over 80 million users, not everyone knows what is available.
Another thing is I think if you’re already shopping, you tell a friend about what you find. One-on-one is very effective. I have had experiences where someone said ‘oh where did you get that coat?’. When I say ‘eBay’ they are shocked. Of course the next question is ‘how much did it cost?’, then they really know they have to go eBay right away.

Q: Give me your top “do’s” and “don’ts” for young people who want to become successful in the fashion industry.

A: Do’s – get a really solid education, a college degree. It’s not a necessity but I highly recommend it. It helps. Also, you must intern. You are way ahead if u have interned. I don’t care if it’s for a blog, a magazine, a designer in a small town or in NY or LA. Internships are invaluable. They teach you about what business really entails and it helps that person figure out what they want to do. Another thing is to educate yourself. Read the magazines, read fashion books. You can buy one once a month or every other month for $3. Now you can go online. Whether you look on eBay, Style.com, blogs, TV shows like Gossip Girl, the red carpet, or Women’s Wear Daily if you have access, just make sure you know what is going on in fashion. Finally, I would recommend you network. Internships help that. You can also just ask someone in the business for a little bit of their time, ask if you can email them some questions. Also go volunteer for fashion events.

Don’ts – don’t major in something has no relationship to fashion. I hear a lot from young people who say they knew at age 15 they wanted to do fashion but they are studying engineering. Try to major in fashion, merchandising, marketing, PR, retail. Try to major in something more related to fashion. Also, don’t look as if you don’t care. Fashion people care how you look! If you don’t have a style, find one. It can be preppy or something else. Lastly, don’t give up. Fixate on your dream, do everything you can.

Q: What have been your favorite purchases so far on eBay?

A: An extra long vintage clutch, from England and a coat I have. The coat has a white background and multicolored geometric shapes. It has belt… it’s a trench-inspired style. It’s a spring coat. I feel and cool and pretty in it!

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