Derek Blasberg was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He move to New York City to study Dramatic Literature and Journalism at New York University, from which he graduated with honors in 2004. While at New York University, Blasberg wrote a fashion column for the NYU paper Washington Square News that brought him to the attention of Woman's Wear Daily. While at NYU, Blasberg also interned at Woman's Wear Daily's sister publication, W (magazine).