So you love clothes and all things designer, and have decided you want to become a fashion editor? It's a tough career to crack, and takes more than simply enjoying reading magazines and accessorizing your outfits. However, perseverance, talent and reading the guide below will get you on the route to toppling Anna Wintour’s throne. Read on to learn how to become a fashion editor.

• Persevere; competition is tough and opportunities are few. Be prepared to work your way up.

• Educate yourself about all things fashion, even if you have to do it on your own and not at college.

• Intern wherever you can within the industry. You will need experience on your resume.

A career as a fashion editor is a tough call at the moment due to the recession and the way that the magazine industry has been affected by the internet. However, new opportunities are opening up with online media and freelance work abounds. Still, you will need training and experience, and an education that will keep your opportunities open.

As clichéd as it is you are going to have to be passionate about fashion, and know your history as well as your current trends. You really are going to need to care about Prada’s hem lengths and the exact shade of Oscar de la Renta’s ball gowns, to the extent that you make normal people roll their eyes. Just liking to shop at Forever 21 is not going to cut it. So start doing your research, get fashion history books out of the library, and read all the magazines (even if you have to stand in a store for hours flicking through them). The internet will provide you with everything that you need for checking past and current seasons, and show pictures and archived photo spreads. Check blogs like The Sartorialist and Facehunter to keep up with what people are wearing on the streets globally.

You will also need a knowledge of fashion photography and photographers. This kind of knowledge can be gained at fashion and art schools, or you can do the ground work on your own. Research photographer’s agencies online and look at the names and the kind of work they do, and who they work for.

To pursue a career as a Fashion Editor you will ideally need an educational background in something related such as fashion marketing, promotions, design, merchandising or journalism.

But keep your eyes on the bigger picture and when choosing which subject to study, do think about what else you could or would do if your plan doesn’t work out, or if you change your mind. When choosing a career with limited openings always give yourself a back-up plan.

This is the way in. No one is going to employ you, even as a lowly assistant, if you have an empty resume and no experience. So intern during college vacations and for as long after as it takes. Look at publishing companies' websites for details on how to get into their internships, which usually involve contacting [[HR] departments. For smaller, independent publishing companies contact fashion departments directly.

You are going to need to look the part; no one is going to take you seriously as a style dictator if you roll around in track pants and jeans (unless they are by Alexander McQueen). Even if you are on a tight budget, you can still look classically and stylishly turned out. But don’t go too extreme by trying to wear every trend. You still need to look professional, and noone will take you seriously with Christmas baubles dangling from your ears.