Vogue interviews: the wild outfits that landed the jobs
Forget the meticulously curated capsule wardrobes and the relentless pursuit of Parisian chic. The road to landing a dream job at Vogue, it turns out, can be paved with sartorial missteps, questionable color palettes, and a healthy dose of sheer luck. A new generation of editors and writers at the magazine are sharing their surprisingly relatable interview ensembles, proving that confidence—not necessarily impeccable style—can be the ultimate accessory.
The 'devil wears prada' effect and beyond
The phenomenon isn't new, of course. Lauren Weisberger’s The Devil Wears Prada immortalized the moment Andy Sachs’s mismatched jacket and pants made an appearance at Runway, yet somehow, she still prevailed. But the truth is, the real-world equivalent has played out repeatedly, even within the hallowed halls of Vogue itself. It’s a testament to talent and potential trumping momentary Fashion faux pas.
A gallery of style mishaps (and triumphs)
From a lipstick-print Prada shirt snagged at a Barneys blowout (a score for Christian Allaire, Senior Fashion & Style Writer) to a butter-yellow 1950s mini dress procured in a panic (courtesy of Senior Beauty & Wellness Editor Margaux Anbouba, who was simultaneously grappling with a FaceTime crisis with her fiancé), the stories are delightfully candid. Arden Fanning Andrews, Beauty Editor-at-Large, boldly defied conventional wisdom – ditching the expected $20K designer splurge and opting for a mix of Buffalo Exchange finds and borrowed pieces. Her look, a carefully considered combination of silver heels, cigarette pants, a white button-down, and a striped mohair sweater, was a statement of authentic self.
The pandemic even threw a wrench in the works for Production & Editorial Associate Irene Kim, who found herself Zoom-interviewing in a colorful Ganni sweater and jean shorts after a Miami graduation trip. The sweater, unsurprisingly, was swiftly dispatched to The RealReal.
And then there's Chloe Schama, Senior Editor, who initially planned a classic black Agnès B. shift dress, only to receive a frantic warning against black. Her subsequent pivot to an all-white Maria Cornejo jumpsuit, while perhaps a bit on-the-nose, ultimately proved successful.
The common thread: more than just clothes
While the specific garments vary wildly – from Rixo polka-dot dresses to Zara ballet slippers – a common thread emerges: a sense of self-assuredness and a willingness to embrace imperfection. As Madeline Fass, Commerce Director, wryly notes, she didn’t even bother documenting her six interviews in 2015, too preoccupied with catching the Metro-North. It's a reminder that the interview process is often a whirlwind, and that focusing solely on the outfit can be a distraction.
Perhaps the most poignant anecdote comes from Florence O’Connor, Vogue.com Content Manager, who wore a pair of Chanel slingbacks – a gift from her mother – to her first interview. “It was a true ‘I made it’ moment,” she recalls, a testament to the power of aspiration and the enduring appeal of a classic shoe.
The takeaway? Don’t sweat the small stuff—or, in this case, the marginally questionable outfit. As these Vogue insiders prove, a little bit of nerve, a dash of personality, and a whole lot of talent can go a long way, even in the notoriously stylish world of Fashion.