With fashion-y friends and good fortune; I was invited to the Vogue VIP Night Out in Westfield London this past November and it was fabulous! I wanted to write a post and review of the whole event because it was, uniquely, organised by Vogue; which is such an elite in the fashion world, and as I learned on my course, making a move towards e-commerce to compete with most other fashion magazines that have positively exploited their readership and brand to open up new portals of revenue. Take, Monocle for example; although written by the dreaded Tyler Brulé (sorry, not a fan), he had a bright idea to turn his niche magazine into a niche shop.
So although it may seem like a small step, such 'Vogue' events (especially since located in Westfield and revolving around shopping) are the first baby steps towards 'Vogue' the brand as opposed to 'Vogue' the magazine.

Apart from its cultural context; the event was great fun. There were little area's with Fortune Telling, Yves Saint Laurent Makeup Artists would give you a makeover, free hand massage (which as you can see below I so 'reluctantly' indulged in, as if!), there was free champagne, strawberries, macaroon and 20% off in all stores! But most importantly to us girlies (my Condé Nast Girls), we took advantage of the 'Be Styled by Vogue Editors!' booth, where instead of us all getting styled, since we are Vogue Students, we instead had a cute chat about the event, if we were liking it, what they could do better and then had a fun group selfie (oh my god with Vogue Assistant-retail editor Tatiana Hambro!!!).
It was nice seeing these Vogue girls the day after we went to go visit their offices where they were buzzing and talking to us students about the event!

So here is what I got for free inside my wonderfully Gold, Gold VIP night out Vogue Goody bag!

This is the bag all the goods came in!

BY FAR the best treat; a free year long subscription to Vogue Magazine!

A sweet little Kelly Hoppen candle!

A wonderful little T2 Tea kit!

(Stupidly was too busy having a hand massage to pick them up but it's the thought that counts)

A cute little map of Westfield (lord I needed one) and of London!

A little booklet of all the treats we received!

A little Group Selfie for a competition

Free Champagne? yes please.

Grand entrance...

This was the Yves Saint Laurent Makeup Artists Beauty Bar

Discover your future only if you discover where the fourtune teller went for a cigarette break!

My elegant posture during a relaxing hand massage (cameo from Dina's strawberry and champagne!)

Obligatory but unnecessary DJ (sorry mate!)

Royal Ballet Dancer in the window of Hugo Boss; very surreal. There was also an electric violinist in Ghost, and a royal opera singer in Jimmy Choo!

Davina Catt, left, and Mary Katrantzou  (describing something very passionately as usual). Check out the Goods. (on her website)

"Mary Katrantzou and Davina Catt; The Industry Function Event" Was the wonderful evenings title...

A Cheesy Photo Op!

"Kat-rant-zou" my friend annunciated for me. "Kat-rand-zoo" I mimicked.
"RanT", she said; "RanD", I struggled.

Mary's last name isn't the simplest of names, but her designs aren't the simplest either!
The Greek designer started out her fashion endeavours by studying, (oddly at the time, but in hindsight makes complete sense) Architecture at RISD (Rhode Island School of Design), before then moving from the USA to the UK to complete her education in Textiles at CCM (Central Saint Martins)

Resume Aside: I really really liked her. She was so charismatic, and focused. She was well spoken and had so much to say it was like the words were bubbling out of her! (Which was comforting seeing as when I met her soon after; words were bubbling out of me!)
There is something about having passion for ones career mixed with girls' instinctual love for fashion: that just is the right mix of driven, happy.. obsession!

My mission of this blog is to share what I learned with you all: and what better way to share what I learned by letting you experience and watch it yourself!

It was funny watching the video and seeing various little cameo's of me chatting to Mary (see below).
Who in this shot was sharing with me her opinion on university preparation before going into the fashion world; and she believed that it was up to me to choose which university to go to because each on suits everyone differently. She also told me however; that experience in the industry has the potential to be more useful than a university degree..


Overall, it was such a fun night and I met so many interesting people who were part of The Industry.
The Industry is a fashion business members club that organises talks and is a place for young new entrepreneurs to meet and learn. Something I wouldn't mind joining once I start my career!

This is The Industry's Youtube Channel where you can watch more talks organised at the Condé Nast College with incredible guests such as ASOS's CEO, and David Gandy.

VOGUE HOUSE

The alter at which we worship...

Puppies are permitted in the office.. It's Policy.

Katie Thomas's spread 'My Close Up' in Tatler this month.

GQ's headquarters in Vogue house

The heck is that? you ask...
Well, reader, a Masthead is the equivalent of 'credits' you see in movies but for a magazine.
It's usually a hidden half-page near the beginning or end of a magazine (depends on each publication): and it lists the job and the employee's name.

A Living Masthead, is a process in which seventy excited fashion students waddle over to Condé Nast's headquarters, and huddle up in the beautiful Vogue Board meeting room (see photo above).
Then, in 15 minute darling doses, us eager fashion students are graced by various different Condé Nast superstars (through our eyes).

Throughout the day; I learned so much. Everyone' story of 'how they came to be' was so original, interesting, and quirky. From Will Harris (Head of Digital at Condé Nast) who started out with a law degree, to Patricia Stevenson (the Publishing Director of Tatler Magazine) who started with a degree in Hotel & Catering: everyone seemed to have found their own way to Condé Nast.

Everyone spoke so passionately about their careers; that their excitement and passion seemed to bubble up in our throats too; with each 15 minute segment ending in questions being fired at them at the velocity of hysterically inspired teenagers.
Some of the jobs that topped our list for most exciting included Nicola Moulton's job as Beauty Director of Vogue. Just this very morning she was at the Le Boutin's new nail polish range launch, then lunch, then she was speaking to us, and later that afternoon she was writing up a review of a new Spa: had all us girlies thinking "where do I sign up already!".

Any job in the Beauty department at Vogue was clearly our destiny after Nicola's talk; but it was only after Katie Thomas's (Tatler's beauty assistant) talk that we were hoping destiny could give us the best of both worlds; Tatler AND Vogue.
What I found even more exciting than Nicola's schedule was actually recognising and understanding what Katie's job was; Katie is in charge of the Tatler Celebrity 'My Close Up' interviews; where she finds out the beauty routines of actors such as Matthew McConaughey (who floored Katie with his delectable charm) and actresses such as Amanda Seyfried who's dewy, doll-like, doe eyes are purely down to some (unfortunate in my opinion) genes; sorry, no beauty tricks there.
I found what Katie does so fascinating because it's such a fresh take on featuring celebrities in magazines, so niche, so quirky?
If destiny made me so excitable, the least it could do is land me a job like Katie's to give me something to get excited about, right?

My dearest reader: I could write you a book on my thoughts and experiences today; but I'll save you the anxiety of experiencing my bee-hive of a brain, and instead, leave you with some direct quotes that provoked such thoughts in the first place...

"The saying is true; Dress for the job you want, not the job you have (...and since you lot don't even have a job yet, dress as best as you can!)" -Patricia Stevenson

"The difference between Vogue's beauty pages versus other publications [beauty pages] is we think on the left side of the field; always putting a twist or new angle on something" -Katie Thomas

"We don't like to focus on the anti-aging creams, or blemish remedies; we like to focus on enhancing the natural beauty of the confident women that is our reader"-Nicola Moulton

"No matter what job you end up with in life; you will always be trying to sell something to someone. So you better start learning how." -Patricia Stevenson

Until tomorrow!
Night Night sweeties!
-J xxx

Good Morning London!

Welcome to my wonderful world... This is my last, first post; so lets make it special!
To whom it may concern, I've decided to create this blog to share the special and wonderful things that I cherish with you all. So much has happened to me since I left Switzerland and came to London- as of now, I don't want to miss a thing!
A fashion driven career and lifestyle is what you can expect to tune into, with exciting toppings such as:
- Coverage of The 2014 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show! (December 2nd 2014)
- Incredible guest speakers at the Condé Nast College of Fashion such as Bella Freud, Mary Katrantzou, and the one and only Fashion Foie Gras! (October 2014)
- My incredible intern experience at Ralph Lauren's PR department! (February 2015)
and many many more!
I'm so excited to share all of this with you, whoever you may be: friend, family, or fashion peers- I'm going to teach you everything I learn!

Love you lots sweeties,
- J xxx