Inside the World of Luxury: What It's Really Like to Intern in Paris | Grace Klepetka

When most people envision the luxury industry, they picture high-end fashion shows, exclusive designer ateliers, and impossibly polished showrooms. The image is one of seamless sophistication and effortless elegance.

Behind that immaculate facade lies a world that's just as dynamic and unpredictable as any other creative industry. Today, we're exploring this fascinating paradox through the experience of Grace Klepetka, an emerging voice in luxury who's navigating this world from her base in Paris.

In this episode, Grace shares her journey from Princeton economics to luxury management at Emlyon Business School, revealing what luxury brands really look for in interns and how to break into the competitive world of high-end fashion and luxury consulting.

What You'll Learn:

✨ How to land luxury internships in Paris and contribute to projects for maisons like Balenciaga, Chanel, and Bulgari

✨ The myth vs reality of what it’s actually like working in luxury fashion

✨ The essential skills luxury brands look for — from French fluency to design thinking and brand strategy

✨ A day in the life of a luxury consultant in Paris

✨ The privilege and pressure of working across iconic luxury maisons early in your career

✨ How to transition from business school to luxury management roles

Whether you're studying fashion management, luxury marketing, or dreaming of a career at prestigious fashion houses, Grace's insights offer a roadmap for breaking into the luxury industry.

CHAPTER MARKERS:

00:00 Introduction: The Challenges of Breaking into Luxury

00:40 Guest Introduction: From Princeton to Paris

00:55 Journey to France: A Gap Year Experience

03:46 Day in the Life: Working in Paris

05:08 Agency Life: Surprises and Responsibilities

07:27 Cultural Adjustments: Navigating French Work Culture

13:44 Education and Skills: Bridging the Gap

17:29 Advice for Aspiring Luxury Professionals

30:25 Conclusion

LINKS:

www.luxeconsumeriq.com

www.luxeconsumeriq.com/newsletter