Style Story / Victoria
9 years ago by
Do you remember Victoria’s cool denim look? She has the height to pull off anything, which while seeming like a blessing, I think sometimes can be tricky… Which is why I think her style is so cool. She moved to New York when she was 17 from Russia, dabbled in modeling but found her place was really doing the dressing. Now she’s styling stories for the likes of Vanity Fair and Tank Magazine.
Her style has a bit of a tomboy edge, favoring classic trenches and bomber jackets — but she somehow manages to keep a cool femininity to her look too. (She wears lots of skirts!) Plus she is just about always in flats, except those little kitten heels she’s taken to…
1. Describe your style in three words.
Effortless, structured comfort dressing with a masculine touch and a penchant for something eclectic.
2. You’re a stylist and former model, how has your career influenced your approach to fashion?
Growing up in post-soviet Russia in a suburban city I was kind of shut away from the rest of the world, I wasn’t aware of the designers or photographers who are pretty iconic. I remember being booked for a Prada show in my first season and my agent going mental about it and I was like, “What’s Prada?”. I mean it was to THAT level of unawareness.
3. And how has it evolved since you first started in the industry?
Being a part of the industry for over 10 years has given me an insight knowledge on how everything works, who is who and a chance to collaborate with the most influential and talented people in the world.
4. You’ve lived in Russia, New York and London. Which place has informed your personal style the most?
I think aesthetically my sense of style has always been the same. I remember wearing big chunky jumpers and my brother’s hand-me-down jeans as a kid. I remember my mother’s sleeveless shift dresses, white denim and custom-made suits. The images of these memories are engraved in my brain forever and the first I go back to for comfort. I am a strong believer that your style and taste forms at a very young age and is influenced by people you are surrounded by. A chance to live in such different places like New York, London and Russia has broaden my cultural knowledge.
5. And does that show in your work as a stylist?
I always say you have to go back to where you come from (whether mentally or physically) in order to go forward.
6. Which stylists do you admire?
Joe McKenna, Jane How, Marie-Amélie Sauvé, Benjamin Bruno.
7. Is there a decade that you look to most for style inspiration?
I look at everything. Would it be a film or a book or an image that will spiral into an endless research. What interests me the most, besides the actual style of the certain period, is the attitude with which the clothes were worn at the time. I think it’s the essential.
8. What is your favourite outfit of the moment?
When I am in a crazy rush I can always rely on a grey cashmere roll-neck, white jeans, over-sized coat and a pair of sling-back kitten heel shoes.
9. And the one accessory you can’t live without?
My wedding and engagement rings that my husband had designed. That makes it two though.
10. Who is your fashion muse?
It’s hard to pick one person out. I feel like as one evolves, one’s heroes change. What I find most inspiring in people is the inner confidence and the way they carry themselves.
Grey Leather Short, Second Day; Jumper, Second Day; Sneakers, Opening Ceremony
Leather Skirt, Helmut Lang; Jumper, Citizens of Humanity; Heels, Russell and Bromley
Pants, Dries Van Noten; Top, JW Anderson
Jacket, Louis Vuitton; Shoes, Russell and Bromley
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It’s a very interesting life story…her look is elegant and classic..
xoxo
Yael Guetta
http://www.ftwwl.com
It’s like a storyboard!
XOX, Gap.
http://www.gaptoothedgirl.com
Wow! Great style, love the longsleeve in the first photo (but don’t find the references in the links below..?) and the white sweater.. interesting interview, too! Thanks for this, xxSol
Elle est magnifique! Je lui trouve une certaine douceur dans le visage, en tout cas son style est très joli!
Maxce
http://www.maxcebycecilej.com
She is beyond beautiful and I love her outlook on life and style and the way she honors and goes back to her roots. It must have helped in a way to have such little awareness of the fashion world- less nerves!
Warm Regards,
Alexandra
http://www.littlewildheart.com
love her minimal vibe
http://hashtagliz.com
Such a great post! I also love Bella Ella Boutique, they are such a great clothing boutique!
http://bellaellaboutique.com/onlineboutique
very interesting to read; love her unsweet, elegant attitude.
J’aime son style minimaliste!
Christine
Très sympatique cette itw.
Juste une petite coquille dans les crédits (mais j’ai bien ri), ce n’est pas Russel & Brand, mais bien Russel & Bromley… Russel Brand fait dans la chanson je crois…
“She has the height to pull off anything, which while seeming like a blessing, I think sometimes can be tricky… Which is why I think her style is so cool.” I fail to see the logic of this sentence. And in which way being tall would be ‘tricky’? I think tall women are advantaged in every possible way…especially in regard to fashion!
I love her style!! Very minimal in a sense which is one of my favourite style elements :)
http://reloadevolve.com/
J’adooooore son style un peu garçon manqué, tout en gardant des côtés très féminins, je trouve que c’est un style parfait :)
http://www.taimemode-fashionblog.com
http://photosfrench.blogspot.fr/
I was really struck by her concentration on her history and her roots here, especially with a vibe that I find to be so beautifully contemporary (that leather skirt!).
This was especially interesting to me, too: “I am a strong believer that your style and taste forms at a very young age and is influenced by people you are surrounded by.”
In general I feel like my style is shaped profoundly by simply where I am and who I am right now. I’d love to hear more on this idea of one’s history driving one’s sense of style.
http://kate-welsh.squarespace.com
Great story, i love her style!
Passa a trovarmi VeryFP
Je suis ravie de pouvoir lire cet article. Ces photos sont tellement jolies et j’attache beaucoup d’importance aux clichés sur les blogs.
Je suis tout a fait d’accord: le pull en cachemire avec col roulé est un basique hyper pratique!! =)
Such gorgeous, classy style :)
Hi, Garance + Team
I really like your site and brand, but feel that you could do more to increase the ethnic diversity of the models and fashion people that you profile. The strengths of Garance Dore, as a brand, are its warmth, inclusiveness, and ability to mirror the concerns of its readers in a fun way. White-white-white doesn’t reflect the world that we live in, and feels out-of-step with my (otherwise completely positive) perceptions of your brand.
Love them all! Any info on the top photo sweater?
Thank you!
Zoba, you are very obviously NOT a tall woman!
Je n’avais pas lu le précédent billet sur Victoria. Aussi, c’est charmant de la découvrir au travers de cette interview. Son style est comme ses traits, frais ! Il se dégage d’elle un romantisme mêlé de dynamisme… Une héroïne moderne ;-)
Son look est vraiment sympa !
http://laureenlifestyleblog.blogspot.fr
Great life story, enjoyed reading it… love her style as well!
http://fashion-soup.com/
J’adore son look, et ses ptits escarpins sont très sympas :)
https://whiteandpinkpeony.wordpress.com/
Very interesting story and her style is so chic!
xoxo,
Monika
What a wonderful success story and I love how she stays true to aesthetic. What is Prada hahaha priceless.
Allie of ALLIENYC
allienyc.com
Garance,
a question you need to ask a designer: Will you be designing these minimalistic clothing 4 years from now ? coz i dont think it will be a trend anymore. Will she stay true to her style roots or design for the business ?
The strengths of Garance Dore, as a brand, are its warmth, inclusiveness, and ability to mirror the concerns of its readers in a fun way
http://www.wisatagunungbromo.com/