Get ready for the latest Case of Wonders: a portfolio extravaganza set up in a speed dating format with a carnivalesque twist. The guests? The best of fashion’s creatives.Â
This episode of the multi-chapter workshop conceived by Fabio Messana and Paolo Convinto, welcomed Augusto Arduini, Creative Director; Riccardo Maria Chiacchio, Stylist & Art Director; Alessandra Corvasce, Special Project Lead iO Donna and fashion consultant; Matteo Maggini, Stylist and fashion contributor d la Repubblica; Nicola Pantano, Digital Content Director & Fashion Editor at The Collector; and Letizia Schatzinger, Journalist and Fashion Disseminator. Fashion Styling student Simona Hu recounts her experience for the Journal.
Participating in the Case of Wonders Portfolio Speed Dating workshop was an incredibly valuable experience, both professionally and personally. In preparation for the event, I dedicated time to reviewing and refining my portfolio. The process involved selecting the strongest projects I have developed so far and organizing them into a coherent narrative that accurately represents my aesthetic vision and creative identity. My goal was to create a portfolio with a clear flow, allowing viewers to easily recognize recurring themes, visual interests, and my approach to styling.
@polimoda How is it to blind (and speed!) date Fashion professionals? 👀 Simona is having a tell-all ðŸ¤
♬ original sound - Polimoda
During the workshop, I had the opportunity to meet and present my work to Letizia Schätzinger, Matteo Maggini, and Alessandra Corvasce. Speaking with professionals from different areas of the fashion industry was particularly meaningful because they approached my work with fresh eyes, without the prior knowledge that professors often have of students’ development and intentions.
The feedback I received was positive, and our conversations focused on how important it is to effectively communicate the story behind each project. This made me reflect on the importance of balancing strong visuals with enough context to help viewers understand the concepts and creative decisions behind the work.
How to Prepare Your Portfolio for Industry Review
A guide by Simona Hu, Fashion Styling student at Polimoda
- Audit and select your strongest work — Go back through all your projects and be selective. Choose only the pieces that truly represent your best output and authentically reflect your creative identity.
- Define your aesthetic vision — Get clear on the recurring themes, visual interests, and approaches to styling that run through your work. This clarity will guide every decision you make about what to include.
- Build a coherent narrative — Arrange your work so it flows logically and intuitively, allowing viewers to move through your portfolio and naturally understand your creative world.
- Balance visuals with context — Strong images alone are not enough. Support each project with enough information to communicate the concept and creative decisions behind it.
- Think of your portfolio as a conversation — You are not just showing work, you are telling a story. Make sure your ideas, emotions, and intentions come through in a way that resonates with someone seeing it for the first time.
- Present with clarity and confidence — Practice articulating your work out loud to people who have no prior knowledge of you or your process. Industry professionals will approach your portfolio with fresh eyes, be ready for that.
What I found most valuable about the experience was precisely this opportunity to receive feedback from industry professionals who did not already know me. It made me reflect on how essential communication is within fashion and visual storytelling. Creating strong images is only part of the process; it is equally important to communicate the ideas, emotions, and intentions behind them in a way that resonates with others.
The Case of Wonders Portfolio Speed Dating workshop offered a unique environment for dialogue, exchange, and professional growth. It reinforced the importance of presenting my work with clarity and confidence, while also encouraging me to continue refining how I tell stories through styling and art direction. Beyond the feedback itself, the experience provided valuable insight into industry expectations and gave me greater confidence in the direction of my creative practice.
CREDITS
Project conceived by Fabio Messana and Paolo Convinto
Written by
Props and illustration byÂ
Images
- Marco Gualtieri
