How to create a hireable fashion portfolio

During your schooling of basic figure drawing and presentation layouts etc... I find it extremely helpful to have a little sketchbook/ journal which you use throughout the year. I think every year you should start a new one, as to keep things interesting and fresh, but you don't have to. I found that for me and several of my colleagues drawing and writing in our books helped us to figure out our personal genuine style.

Do you like to draw perfect smooth flowy lines that look like Laura Laine (see pic below) 

...Or is your style a bit more sketchy with broken contorted lines like Danny Roberts (see pic below)

OR

The detailed yet effortless illustrations of Renaldo Barnette (see pic below)

Me... I still don't quite know what my style is...I tend to range between cartoonish Tim Burton style drawing to very commercial. I know that keeping a constant log of your work for recreation isn't so easy when you have a heap of stuff to deal with at school or work...but this is something for you that you should invest in now if you want to reap the benefits later (when you will really need it...like after graduation).To check out what one of my sketch books look like click HERE...or to see other artist sketchbooks click HERE 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WARNING!!! Professors will try to teach you to draw just like them, which is almost always an anatomically correct pristine fashion figure. And while it is important to know how to draw a "commercially correct" fashion figure, it is necessary to exhibit your unique artistic vision. While in school I got graded down because I refused to give my figures eye balls, and not only did I still get hired...I often received compliments on my figures. Pablo Picasso was able to create precise realistic artworks, proven by his stunning earlier pieces. However he became a legend from his unrealistic cubist works. All the while he was laughed at and scorned for his "rudimentary and child like" style. But, who had the last laugh? It is only until you fully learn and understand the rules that you can properly break them with artistic magnificence.To show you what I mean, check out the following links from some "unconventional" professional fashion illustrators:

*Cassandra Rhodin

*Steven Broadway

* Bella Pilar

*Sonya Suhariyan

* Renaldo Barnette