Often, when you ask a fashion student about their career goals, the world’s largest fashion media company makes its way into the conversation: Vogue. As an MA Fashion Communications student, I wasn’t any different. The Condé Nast Fellowship at British Vogue was an opportunity I couldn’t let slip.
The fellowship consisted of a two-month placement alongside the British Vogue editorial team in London. The application process consisted of two stages. The initial stage required a CV and portfolio submission, and if you were successful, you would be invited to interview in the second stage.
The fellowship involved assisting with organizing the fashion closet, coordinating garments for editorial shoots, supporting fashion content production, and helping deliver major Vogue fashion events.
At the beginning of this year, the Head of Careers at Vogue College of Fashion, Zoe Souter, introduced us to an exciting opportunity: a highly competitive fellowship with the British Vogue fashion editorial team, available to one student for the first time ever. Any fashion lover’s dream!
I remember thinking how incredible it would be for whoever was selected, never imagining it could be me. After hearing about the opportunity, I submitted my application and portfolio and immersed myself in researching everything about British Vogue, the editorial team, and the role itself.
Weeks later, I was shocked and ecstatic to receive an invitation to interview. Before my interview, I had completed my research, sought advice from people in the fashion industry, and clarified my goals.
The interview could not have gone any better. I got to speak about fashion—something I love so much—with the Senior Editorial Operations Manager and the Fashion Market Editor at British Vogue. Just a few days later, I received the news that I had been selected as the first-ever Vogue College of Fashion Fellow at British Vogue. To say I was excited and grateful would be an understatement.
Although I was nervous on my first day walking into Condé Nast’s London headquarters, the Adelphi Building, I was filled with excitement. Meeting the British Vogue team and working alongside people I had admired for years was surreal, and it made me even more enthusiastic about the experience.
From day one, I was immersed in the role of a fashion fellow. What I really loved was that no two days were ever the same. For example, I helped prepare runway pieces in the fashion closet, coordinated accessories for major events, including the Met Gala, and assisted on editorial shoots. It was so surreal!
I also had the opportunity to speak with British Vogue‘s Editor-in-Chief, Chioma Nnadi, and Global Operations Director, Louisa Parker Bowles, whose advice on building a career in fashion was incredibly insightful and will stay with me throughout my career.
One of the most interesting parts of my fellowship was seeing how different departments collaborated to produce each issue. My favorite experience was working in the fashion closet and attending a shoot, where I gained firsthand insight into bringing a British Vogue issue to life.
Reflecting on my fellowship, it truly inspired me and reassured me that I belong in the fashion industry. My fellowship has opened up a new world of contacts that will be extremely valuable as I pursue my career after completing my master’s degree. It has also opened my eyes to careers I was previously unaware of.
I discovered a passion for styling and fashion editorial writing, both of which I hope to pursue someday. The application process made me more aware of what future employers are looking for and what it takes to succeed in the fashion industry.
More importantly, it made me extremely grateful to have Vogue College of Fashion behind me. From the advice I receive from people like Zoe Souter to the connections the College has helped me build, I will always be grateful for the opportunity it provided.
