Senior Addington Leahy spent her past summer on the streets of lower Manhattan learning at Vogue Summer School, a new program put on by Vogue magazine. For two weeks, she took a fashion business course that gave her insight into the complex world of the fashion industry.
How did you know you wanted to apply to Vogue Summer School? Where did you first come across it?
“I knew I wanted to apply starting last summer when I saw it on social media, but I didn’t think it would be something I could do because I knew that it was really hard to get into. I saw so many teens all attending, and it looked like so much fun, and I knew it was something I wanted to do. I decided to fill an application in January, and I got in and was so excited! I decided to do the fashion business course because I have a passion for both the analytical and creative side of fashion.”
Walk me through your daily schedule: what did a day look like for you?
“I would wake up and go down to breakfast with my roommates. We would usually go to the dining hall or a cute coffee shop nearby. Then, I would go to class for three hours every day, doing things like making mood boards, talk about branding strategies, and more. Then, we would get an hour-long lunch break and go out to lunch. After that, we would have three hours of a lecture with someone who works at Vogue. Afterwards, we would go home, do our homework, have dinner, and explore the city.”
How did you feel when you first arrived at the program? How did your feelings change as you left?
“I was super nervous when I first came, and I was nervous that I was going to have trouble making new friends. It ended up being much easier than I thought it would be since all the students were so excited to be there and meet new people. It was great being able to interact with people who had similar passions as me. I feel like my feelings changed by solidifying that I definitely want to double major in both business and fashion in college.”
What is the most interesting thing you experienced or saw?
“I would have to say my site visit to Stuart Weitzman was the most interesting thing I did. We talked to the head of communications there, and she was absolutely amazing. I loved talking to her, and I introduced myself to her and asked her some questions. She gave valuable insight into the marketing side of fashion as well as how to interact with consumers.”
What is the most valuable piece of information you learned during your time in the program?
“It was actually from the woman from Stuart Weitzman. She talked about how the emphasis isn’t the shoe that a woman is wearing, it’s on the woman wearing the shoe. It’s about her personality and how she wants to style something. It’s all up to you, not the actual item. I feel like that’s really important when buying or marketing clothes, knowing it doesn’t matter if everyone else likes something. It’s up to you how you wear it.”
What advice would you give to someone interested in applying to Vogue Summer School?
“Definitely do it. It was the best thing I’ve ever done. It was 2 weeks of the best time of my life. I learned so much, but I also had so much fun. It wasn’t just about the learning aspect, it was also about building new friendships and exploring a new city.”
How do you plan to further your interest in fashion in the future?
“I want to do something with it in college. I want to double major in probably something with fashion media as well as maybe marketing. I think that it would be really interesting getting both a background in business and fashion.”
Top three favorite brands of all time?
“I love Miu Miu, and a newfound love for Stuart Weitzman because of this program. Maybe Chanel as my third, let’s do that!”
