Club member Vasiliki Prestidge recently attended Vogue Conversations at Lightroom London—here s an account of her experience hearing from Andreas Kronthaler of Vivienne Westwood.
Where are you from?
I am from Greece and Cyprus, and split time between London and Athens—and travel where fashion takes me.
What do you do?
I have been running a language communications company since 2010, and over the last few years I have evolved my skillset to cater to content creation, blogging, writing, and fashion business development for beauty and luxury lifestyle brands.
How long have you been a Vogue Club member?
I joined in October 2023, just in time for the private breakfast and viewing of Coco Chanel: Fashion Manifesto at the Victoria and Albert Museum, which was a phenomenal induction to the Club—I met so many other members who have since become my fashion family.
You attended Vogue Conversations with Andreas Kronthaler—tell us about what you were most excited for!
I was really looking forward to the Vogue: Inventing The Runway immersive installation prior to the conversation—I’m always mesmerized by the blend of fashion and digital art. Of course, I was also excited to learn more about Vivienne Westwood, who wasn t just a designer but a provocateur, activist, and artist who constantly challenged norms. She also championed sustainability and raised the alarm bell on climate change well before they became trendy subjects.
What did you wear?
I drew inspiration from Westwood’s glamorous and rebellious SS92 collection, Salon. My full-burgundy look combined masculine and feminine forms—something Westwood also projected through her collections. I opted for a leather pencil skirt with an oversized pinstripe blazer fastened with a belt, and added layered necklaces and vintage jewellery.
Did you meet anyone you knew?
I did! I met fellow Vogue Club member Clémence Larrivée, who works in beauty and fashion. And as I arrived early, I also was incredibly lucky to run into Andreas Kronthaler—I spoke with him briefly before the Q&A. He was kind, approachable and, needless to say, ultra stylish. We even got a photo together. (He complimented me on my look, too!)
What was your favorite moment from Vogue: Inventing The Runway?
Just about everything—for starters, it was certainly a bigger space than I anticipated—but I loved the fashion history run-through, and how the presentation covered all aspects of a catwalk show, from collections and designers to locations and audiences—even the floor came to life and changed with the themes.
On top of the spectacle, it doubled as a short—but comprehensive—documentary on fashion’s evolution, encompassing everything from Dior s early days behind closed doors in Paris to Helmut Lang’s revolutionary—and unprecedented—digital approach to connecting with his audience via an internet runway.
Another key moment for me was the footage from the Chanel Fall-Winter 2017 show, when the label launched a rocket. Seeing Karl Lagerfield, listening to Anna Wintour, and the fascinating narration by Cate Blanchett’s voice—it all made the experience more otherworldly…
What was your biggest takeaway from the conversation with Andreas Kronthaler?
I wish I could mention everything! I enjoyed hearing about Kronthaler’s beginnings and the start to his and Westwood’s parallel journey from Vienna, where he was discovered, to London, where he stayed.
It was a rare opportunity to gain some valuable insight. Just a couple quick examples: Pirates were central to the theme of Westwood’s Fall-Winter 1981 collection, and hearing Kronthaler describe how Westwood derived inspiration from a children’s book was remarkable. Her entire body of work is wearable even now.
Kronthaler also talked about Naomi Campell’s runway fall during Westwood’s Fall-Winter 1993 show—describing so vividly the way she handled it so professionally and light-heartedly. (Fun fact: She was given a walking stick for the next show, which she held proudly in front of her like an accessory.) He also spoke about the impact of the 90s supermodels and how they inspired designers.
Referring to the Anglomania show of Fall-Winter 1993, Kronthaler explained how its title set the tone for the collection’s emphasis on British heritage, and hearing him talk about England as a powerful force in shaping fashion was so reassuring—particularly with the current speculation around the city’s relevancy this past fashion week.
Andrea’s insights—guided by British Vogue’s Olivia Singer—were captivating and rare. He truly brought to life what we glimpsed during Vogue: Inventing The Runway.
Did you meet any of the Vogue team?
I ran into the British Vogue team right upon arrival. I spoke briefly with Claire Holley, Talent and Events Manager at Condé Nast, who was looking after everyone during the event.
Vogue: Inventing The Runway is extended to June 29, and Vogue Conversations continue with John Galliano and Sarah Burton, with dates to be confirmed soon. Don’t miss it!