Surely no one is better positioned to advise aspiring style-makers how to break into the fashion industry than Fashion Television creator Jeanne Beker. Her behind-the-seams look at how to start a career in fashion is engaging, informative, accessible, and encouraging. The authorial tone is matter-of-fact, with a hint of mother-to-daughter or girlfriend-to-girlfriend thrown in.

This industry primer covers all the fashion-related careers – models, makeup artists, stylists, colour specialists, publicists, and personal shoppers – highlighting the education and skills needed to succeed in each field. Experts reveal their take on training versus on-the-job experience: “I don’t think it’s necessarily essential to go to a specialized fashion school,” says American designer Betsey Johnson, “but you must learn to sew, make patterns, and drape.”

Each chapter boasts inspiring quotes from industry insiders: readers learn how and why designer Isaac Mizrahi got into the biz, and what agent Elmer Olsen loves about it. Sidebars display bios of those who’ve made it big, such as model Daria Werbowy, and even Beker herself, who recounts tales of interactions with celebrity players drawn from her years on the scene.

Although a directory of international fashion schools is listed at the book’s end, other tips for budding fashionistas would have been welcome, such as a recommended list of print magazines, websites, or online newsletters.

Chic, age-appropriate illustrations by Montreal native Nathalie Dion add colour to every spread. Because the illustrations are ultra-feminine in colour and style, the book will appeal more to girls, although, to Dion’s credit, men are included in lots of the visuals. This second collaboration for the duo (who paired up to write The Big Night Out, a guide for young people who want to look their best for special occasions) affirms that both author and illustrator are decidedly passionate about fashion.