Saturday 2 February 2013

Actually, i was fired twice, in two weeks.

Last Thursday as part of the Topshop Talks I attended an evening with Alexandra Shulman. For those of you who don't know, -you should, she is the editor of British Vogue.

Part interview regarding her 20 year career at the helm of Vogue, part promotion for her new book Can We Still Be Friends, it was well worth the 1 1/2 hour queue outside the teeny Edited space on Regent Street, already packed with the journos and sound recording equipment. On entrance we were seated on the 2nd row and given bottles of Vita Coco and boxes of Lola's Cupcakes as well as beautiful design notebooks featuring print samples from Topshop UNIQUE SS13. It felt much more like shows and press events I've attended than a public talk.


Talking to Justin Cooke (Topshop's marketing chief if you like to put a title on him) mixed questions were fielded, met with mixed responses. I can't say that Alexandra Shulman was the most personable woman in the initial stages of the interview but warmed quickly and was very frank and honest with her opinions on young women entering the industry and highlights (and lowlights) of her career.

As an aspiring Fashion Buyer I was relieved to hear that her journey to the top was marred with less successful endeavours in finance and the music industry (hence the title of this post), and afterwards I was privileged enough to spend a few minutes discussing the industry and my career hopes with Ms Vogue herself, ending in receiving a signed copy of her book.



For the full article visit the Topshop Blog, the book Can We Still Be Friends is available nationwide and is perfect for wiling away an afternoon or blocking out the early AM commute with tales of friendship, fashion and cracking 80's reminisces.


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