As a contributor to Vogue Club, I was thrilled to experience “Forces of Fashion” in London firsthand. Read my On Assignment piece about my favorite moments from this exclusive event, including inspiring encounters with influential figures like Christopher Kane, John Galliano, Law Roach, Stella McCartney, among others.
This piece was written for Vogue UK and was originally published and edited HERE.
Club member Elena Biedert attended Forces of Fashion London. In this On Assignment piece, Elena walks us through her favorite moments from her day at Central Saint Martins.
Where are you from?
I have been living in Germany for the past 15 years, but I grew up in Russia.
What do you do?
I have many roles, from user-experience designer to pre- and post-natal fitness coach, model, and writer. In the last few years, I’ve published articles and books about women’s health and well-being. I’ve also recently started writing about fashion, which is a world that really fascinates me.
How long have you been a Vogue Club member?
I joined Vogue Club this year!
You attended Forces of Fashion London–tell us what you were most excited for.
Meeting industry moguls—everyone from John Galliano, Gwendoline Christie, Lena Dunham, and Law Roach to Stella McCartney and Christopher Kane—listening to their conversations, and networking with other like-minded people. In retrospect, all the experiences and panel talks were so good that I couldn’t choose my favorite.
Elena Biedert and Christopher Kane.
Saoirse Ronan and Jacqueline Durran.
Dominic Skinner and Elena Biedert.
Christopher Kane.
What was it like being at Central Saint Martins?
It was an honor being in a world-renowned arts and design college—I could just feel ambition exude from the walls.
What did you wear?
I wore a calf-length Dolce & Gabbana polka-dot chiffon dress with pique details, a stretch jersey, and thigh-high boots, and carried a classic black Valentino Garavani shoulder bag.
Did you meet any of the Vogue Team?
Yes, I met Chioma Nnadi, Julia Hobbs, and Joris Hendrik.
What about Vogue Club members?
I met a few! Earlier this month, I attended my first event with Vogue Club, which was hosted at Vogue HQ in London, and it was a pleasure to see familiar faces at Forces of Fashion (and, of course, to meet new ones). We had more time to connect, and to discuss our favorite moments from the day.
Vogue Club members at Forces of Fashion.
Vogue Club members at Forces of Fashion.
Vogue Club members at Forces of Fashion.
Vogue Club members at Forces of Fashion.
What were standout moments from the day?
Isamaya Ffrench’s insights from her work on runway shows—from the process of preparing for the shows, the stress and joy of it all, and then the results. It was also fascinating to hear how she started her career as a makeup artist. Also, Stella McCartney talking about being an outsider in the fashion industry, and her work to reduce fashion’s impact on the environment; Law Roach sharing his story and his core values. Being able to speak personally with him brought tears to my eyes—particularly as I’m going through a challenging period myself and could relate to some of the things he mentioned. Meeting Lena Dunham—and finding out that she was named after her great-grandmother from Russia (Lena is a shortened form of Elena)—was amazing! As I work in the fitness industry, her mentioning how many people would judge her at fittings—and automatically assume she wanted to look different—was valuable for me to hear. You can look fabulous regardless of your body weight! Finally, the conversation between Gwendoline Christie and John Galliano—his stories on student life at Central Saint Martins and the deep-dive on his graduate collection really struck me. So, too, did his advice: “Don’t listen to anyone. God is inside you. You’re the one that made this happen. Don’t have any doubt. Realize your dream.”
Isamaya Ffrench‘s live demonstration.
Elena Biedert and Stella McCartney.
Chioma Nnadi and Stella McCartney in conversation.
Law Roach and Elena Biedert.
Lena Dunham and Elena Biedert.
What was your biggest takeaway from the day?
That regardless of what you do, it’s always the people around you that make your life truly special. It’s important to have a positive mindset, and to believe in yourself and your dreams. There is no such thing as a failure—it’s always a lesson and a learning process.
