If there would be a rule that everyone who worked in fashion had to have unique, personal style, then 25-year-old Stephanie would have no trouble passing with flying colours. This lovely little blonde has looks that balance between those of the Olson sisters and Dakota Fanning. And did we mention she has a dream job as fashion features editor at Glamour magazine?

Today she opens up to CHAPTER FRIDAY about her career story.

AT TWENTY-FIVE, YOU’VE ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED A LOT. WHAT HAS YOUR CAREER JOURNEY BEEN LIKE?
Stephanie: “I’ve always been interested in fashion and design and missed writing about that while studying journalism. As a student I contacted fashion and art websites and asked if I could write for them voluntarily. This way I was able to attend my first show ever, by Jan Taminiau. I probably had the worst seat in the building, but it’s still one of my most memorable fashion moments.”

WHAT WAS YOUR BREAKTHROUGH MOMENT?
Stephanie: “Getting a job as a fashion editor at Glamour! I still have to pinch myself every once in a while that I get to do this for a living.”

WAS IT ALWAYS A BIG DREAM OF YOURS TO WORK AT A FASHION MAGAZINE?
Stephanie: “Yes, ever since I was little. Every Saturday, my dad took me grocery shopping. He walked through the supermarket to get everything we needed, while I headed over to the magazine section immediately. If I got lost, he would always know where to find me, haha.”

DO YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO LOOK IMPECCABLE AS A FASHION EDITOR?
Stephanie: “Yes, you do. I have daily appointments for which I have to look representative. Add to that that women in this industry always look effortlessly chic and you can imagine that having an off day isn’t really an option. I do compensate generously on the weekends by wearing a lot of comfy clothes.”

YOU HAVE QUITE AN OUTSPOKEN PERSONAL STYLE. HOW DID THAT DEVELOP?
Stephanie: “When I was younger, I was so afraid of making a fashion faux pas that I didn’t dress the way I wanted. What really influences how I dress now, is that I constantly fall in love with special items. I tell myself to invest in a timeless basic, but by the time I’ve finished that thought I’ve already bought a new shiny showpiece…”

YOU WRITE A LOT OF INTERVIEWS. HOW DO YOU GET PEOPLE TO OPEN UP?
Stephanie: “By asking a lot. That’s my secret. I also ask people I interview to describe moments to me in detail. That is how I build a profound and personal story.”

SECRET SHOPPING SPOTS?
Stephanie: “I plan special weekend trips to Antwerp just to visit vintage store Think Twice. It’s where I found some of my all time favourites, including the flared purple pants I’m wearing today. I also dream of everything Bruno Pieters makes for Honest by. His designs are not just breathtakingly pretty, they’re also made in a fair and environmentally friendly way.”

THE BEST PART OF THE JOB?
Stephanie: “Constantly being surrounded by creativity and talent: that never gets old. The things that designers can create out of a bit of fabric never stops to amaze me. Nothing’s more fun than diving into a new collection, or enjoying the mesmerizing and innovational fashion series that my styling colleagues come up with. ”

THE HARDEST PART OF THE JOB?
Stephanie: “You’re as good as your last article and you have to visit a lot of events and travel quite a bit. That is awesome, but also very tough because your workload at home always remains the same. So I frequently work at night and on the weekends.”

BIGGEST BRAG MOMENT?
Stephanie: “Although I’m quite a pussy, I once got two colleagues in to the Acne and Maison Martin Margiela shows without a card. I thought I would die of nerves, but they both put on a poker face and bravely walked past a small army of security while holding up an empty envelope.”

A PIECE OF ADVICE?
Stephanie: “Go for it! If you want this, be prepared to work for it and realize you’ll have to start from the bottom. Be modest and precise and do everything you can to become the best. My colleague Iris Vandemoortele once gave me a great tip: watch all the movies that fashion designers reference to in their collections, to build your expertise.”

Text by Marijn Baar
Photos by Liselotte Fleur

Want to read more Career Stories? You’ll find them here.

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