Fashion has always been the moment. Spring and summer collections are making their runway debuts under the watchful eyes of those looking to take part in the spotlight. Fashion student Sophie Spiegel couldn’t be more ecstatic. After completing her student experience with the Vogue College of Fashion’s Business Program in Madrid, she eagerly wants to put her knowledge into action.
Spiegel, who is a close friend of mine, speaks on her experience with identity, curating your own fashion sense, and building lasting industry connections. This interview isn’t just your typical “day in the life.” It’s a guiding light for anyone looking to discover their own niche, and as you will read, the most genuine passions aren’t built on the experience of others. Keep reading to see how Spiegel was able to carve inspiration into a path of her own, and get encouraged to unleash your potential unapologetically.
PC: @Sophie Spiegel/LinkedIn
The Q&A
Just N Life: So what brought you to Vogue Madrid? I know that since you graduated from University of Colorado Boulder that you’ve been determined to pursue fashion.
Sophie Spiegel: Correct, haha, I have always been super passionate about fashion, and to discover what I like within fashion. My goal [with the program] was to be given more guidance and direction. While I was still at school in Boulder, I found out I was admitted to Parson’s Fashion School in New York. I thought that the Vogue program would be a great prerequisite, and help me feel more prepared when I start school again in the Fall. My family goes to Madrid every Summer to spend time with my aunt, so it was a pretty convenient and a natural decision to attend the classes.
JNL: Yes, I love Madrid as well. When did you start to develop your own sense of style? You already have a very distinct look. Where did that come from?
SS: Growing up in Florida has definitely prompted the flowy, earth-toned aesthetic that I tend to lean into. However, I think that my style changes a little bit every day. I love a baggy jean, see-through tops when going out, boots, and a good purse. I would definitely describe my style as a combination between edgy, flowy, and bohemian. Oh, and mixed metal jewelry too.
JNL: Let’s talk about your many hairstyles haha, I know that you have had a few different looks… All of them very bold and almost opposite ends of the spectrum.
SS:Well, I used to have platinum hair and it was so hard to maintain. So I went back to my natural hair, that is brown and curly. I was so bored! Eventually, I went online and loved the bang. My current cut [black hair with a blunt bang] is inspired by the girl in Pulp Fiction, Mia Wallace. I actually went as her for Halloween last year. So fun. Since I made the decision to go black, I’ve been growing the length out from a bob to mid.
JNL: And, who else outside of the movies has been a great inspiration to you style-wise?
SS: I would say Law Roach, I really love what he has been doing with Zendaya’s recent premiere outfits. Especially, that angel one [the dress] was iconic. That type of edgy, but still feminine demeanor really calls to me. More celebrity inspirations that I look up to are Dakota Johnson, Zoë Kravitz, Gabriette, and Devon Lee Carlson.
JNL: Getting to the finish line here… I want to learn specific details from your fashion class. Tell me sort of the layout of the curriculum, personal goals, and your favorite part.
SS: The people were by far my favorite part. The most memorable that spoke to our class included the director of Vogue Spain, Ines Lorenzo, and stylist partners, Paco Casado and Jose Juan Rodriguez. It also meant a lot to me, practicing Spanish in an academic setting. That’s a part of me that I never want to lose. The class and it’s instructors spoke in Spanish 100% of the time.
I also remember enjoying the studio days. Here we would gather into groups and orchestrate photo shoots using objects that the instructors laid out around the room. For one, my team chose a bright red pair of heels, yellow flowers, and a sculpted vase of a woman…
The goal was to design and style outfits for our very own Vogue Magazine. This is what we worked towards all four weeks of the program. It was such a coincidence that my team ended up picking Daisy Edgar-Jones for the model, because the REAL Vogue had her as the cover soon after. We were all freaking out over that.
JNL: Post-Vogue Madrid, would you say that the program has influenced your style at all? Or what is your opinion on developing style? Do you see it [style] as something more intrinsically built?
SS: My style is always evolving, but I think I’ve had the core of my style for awhile now. I think it helps to already have something developed before you start learning about styling others. Because that’s my dream [becoming a stylist] …
You need to know who you are. That’s the most important thing in developing your own fashion sense, and to be honest, it’s not even something that you can always control. It all comes down to what you feel the most comfortable in, what makes you feel sexy, and then working on elevating that existing interest.
Turning Inspiration Into Creative Direction
The biggest takeaway from this stylist’s big dreams is that success is a combination of both labor and passion. You can’t have one without the other, N Crowd! Spiegel’s ability to take an interest, such as fashion, and turn it into a marketable skill is exactly what businesses and brands are looking for. Somebody with both the smarts and the drive. Success always aligns with confidence, and knowing how and when to claim an idea as your own. Read more about trending red carpet fashion in “Daniel Roseberry: The American Designer Redefining Schiaparelli.”
What’s your take on how to gain inspiration that can evolve, N Crowd?
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