When it comes to careers there are really only two kinds: Those you live and breathe that define a large part of who you are, and those that pay the bills but aren't a raison d'être.

I am more of an "I am what I do" than a "It pays the bills" Chick. Yes there are other sides to me that are not related to my work, but I couldn't do something I didn't enjoy just to pay the bills because I think it would kill me. There is no shortage of amazing jobs out there, but how do you land one that really inspires you?

We're talking to people who have "dream careers" to get the inside scoop on what it takes to make it in their industry.


Carrie Hayes is an up and coming Toronto designer I had the pleasure of meeting last month at the Elle Show. The soft spoken TFI resident is the force behind her own chic label, CARRIE, which specializes in tailored elegant pieces for women.

ChickAdvisor:
You knew you wanted to be a designer since you were in 6th grade. How did your imagined life as a designer when you were young differ from reality?

CARRIE:
I didn't imagine life as a designer at the time. All I knew was that I loved sketching, colour and creating beautiful things, whatever form that took. Fashion appealed to me as the ultimate form of personal expression. So my love of it grew from there. A lot of people think design is a glamorous job and are drawn to it for that reason but I was never thinking of it in terms of the lifestyle I would have doing it. I did it because I loved the process of creating clothing. For this reason, reality closely matched what I imagined.

ChickAdvisor:
What did you have to do to get where you are?

CARRIE:
I went to the International Academy of Design for fashion design. While I was studying I apprenticed with Toronto designers. I then graduated and started working in the design and manufacturing side of the fashion business. I was also making custom corsets on the side for my private clients. Fashion has been my whole life for a while now. I think you have to be dedicated to it in a very concrete way to make it in this business. Between starting school and starting my business, I spent six years working and learning at other companies.

ChickAdvisor:
What is the hardest part of your job?

CARRIE:
The hardest part of my job is the hardest part of anyone's job, which is doing the difficult things. In fashion everything is difficult. Everything is competitive. So I'm challenged every single day in anything I do to be smarter, harder working and more persistent.

ChickAdvisor:
What is the best part of your job?

CARRIE:
The best part of my job is being able to do something I find fulfilling. Practicing my art allows me to express myself. Making it my jobs allows me to practice my art every single day. So the opportunities I have to express myself in a meaningful way are frequent. I'm very thankful for that.

ChickAdvisor:
Who in your field really inspires you?

CARRIE:
Anyone who spends time and energy saying something important with their work inspires me. There are too many Heidi Montags out there cranking out clothing labels so they can call themselves designers. Anyone who designs in order to create beauty inspires me.

ChickAdvisor:
What is some advice you would give to fledgling designers?

CARRIE:
If you want to be a designer I would really evaluate if you're doing it for the right reasons and if you are then pursue it your whole life and never let someone else's opinion derail you. Only quit when it isn't making you happy any more.

ChickAdvisor:
Of your collections, what is your favorite piece of all time?

CARRIE:
I personally love the Architectural Dress (D0007) from my Fall 07 season. That was one of the first pieces that communicated clearly who I am.

ChickAdvisor:
Who is the CARRIE woman?

CARRIE:
The CARRIE woman is intelligent, easy going and sexy. She cares about good design and isn't willing to settle for less.