(L) Julia Dupire with (R) Lucy Reiss – Teen Vogue Handbook launch party, Rose Bar

I thought the Teen Vogue Handbook launch party at Rose Bar would sadly be missing its target audience — primarily young teenage girls. It was a Tuesday-night party at a bar, after all. But there they were, teens and tweens, sucking down glasses of soda and flipping through the stacks of handbooks that the publisher had so graciously donated. The budding fashionistas were all decked out in their best outfits in hopes of impressing the equally well-dressed Teen Vogue staff, especially Amy Astley, the founding editor in chief of Teen Vogue.

Teen Vogue editor in chief, Amy Astley – Teen Vogue Handbook launch party, Rose Bar

When I managed to grab Astley from the fashionable adoring masses, I asked her what has changed in American culture for so many young girls to want to get in behind the scenes since she started Teen Vogue seven years ago.

“The veil has been lifted,” she explained. The prevalence of reality TV shows, documentaries, and the Internet has given girls a look at a previously mysterious industry. “Now instead of asking ‘How do I become a model?,’ these girls are asking ‘How do I get your job?’ ’’Astley said.

(L) Nacole Snoep with (R) Sam Shaffer – Teen Vogue Handbook launch party, Rose Bar

To answer this ubiquitous question, the book contains revealing anecdotes from established and up-and-coming designers, stylists, and photographers (call me when you do your next book, Amy!). I found the stories proving that not everyone got into fashion through the traditional methods or connections the most likely to inspire. After all, new fashion darlings and book openers Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte went to Berkeley, not Parsons. Famed photographer Patrick Demarchelier got his start shooting passport photos. These stories and more assure readers that it’s okay to start small but think big.

Astley isn’t worried about the book revealing trade secrets that will ruin the mystique of the fashion world. In fact, she says there is more glamour than ever before, which is helping create the new interest in making fashion a career. She set out to put together a book that could help young girls get an idea of what they need to do to make it in the fashion world, and by God, she’s done it.

Check out more photos from Patrick’s night in Launch Parties and Benefits – By Patrick McMullan

PHOTO CREDIT: Billy Farrell/patrickmcmullan.com