For the latest episode of The Run-Through, hosts Chloe Malle, Chioma Nnadi, and Nicole Phelps gathered in the studio to do an Ask Me Anything session, responding to questions collected on the Vogue app and from students in Vogue’s Summer School. The conversation covered internship advice and career guidance, with a through line emerging: the notion that enthusiasm and curiosity matter more than any single credential. Malle encouraged recent and soon-to-be graduates not to narrow their interests too early, arguing that exploring every aspect of an industry—not just the particular job you think you want—is how real expertise is built.
“I don’t like when someone applies for an internship or a job and says, ‘I’m interested in X,’ and makes it very clear they are not interested in anything else,” Malle said. “To me, the way that you become good at any job or progress in any career is by trying as many things as possible.”
The hosts also opened up about how the culture of the office itself has shifted. The pandemic accelerated a broader move toward comfort and personal style across the industry, with dress codes loosening and heels being swapped out for sneakers. All three agreed that evolution mirrors fashion at large, pointing to moments like Phoebe Philo’s Birkenstock era. They also swapped stories about their own “I made it” moments, from a first magazine cover to being recognized on the street by young listeners of the podcast; and reflected on conversations with designers—including Virgil Abloh and Matthieu Blazy—about staying connected to a sense of wonder and to the street, rather than retreating into the “ivory tower” of fashion.
The hosts went on to share takes on nostalgia and trend forecasting, their dream dinner party list and first big bag purchases (a satin lime green Kate Spade shopper among them), and the resurgence of the drop waist. Stay tuned for our next AMA to submit a quest or two of your own!
