Nothing gets past Elizabeth von der Goltz. After a waitress took her order at the restaurant where we meet for this interview when she was in Singapore this May, she remarks, “I like how she’s wearing Chanel earrings.”
What women wear has always been Von der Goltz’s business. This year, the 50-year-old was appointed the chief fashion and merchandising officer of online luxury fashion retailer Farfetch. She also became the CEO of Browns Fashion, the influential London-based fashion retailer now owned by Farfetch. Before that, she worked at fashion e-commerce companies MatchesFashion and Net-a-Porter, as well as New York department store, Bergdorf Goodman.
Von der Goltz’s resume reads like a directory of where rich women shop. As for what they buy, she has an eye for that too. Her trend forecasts help retailers navigate fashion’s ever-changing universe and guide them to the next best thing, now. “It’s almost an instinctual feeling as to what’s going happen next,” she explains. “And it’s a risk; you’re not 100 per cent right all the time.”
She spots trends at fashion week in Paris, Milan, New York and London. But at the pace that fashion is moving, she now looks at more than just runway shows. Social media, she says, is “a massive way of finding talent”. She is also a keen observer.
“I’m a very visual person. I’m able to remember style,” says Von der Goltz, who credits that ability to her art history education. “I had to be able to look at a painting and know who the artist is. [I have] the ability to see something and be like, that’s from this designer, or from that collection.”
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Louder Than You Think
It might not shout about itself, but among the world’s most influential people, Brunello Cucinelli is everywhere. Its co‑chairman and co‑creative director Carolina Cucinelli shares why the Italian brand’s high‑end ubiquity is built on its rock‑solid values
A New Era
La Prairie unveils the first product from its new collection, the Life Matrix Haute Rejuvenation Cream, an innovative creation that represents a new chapter in luxury skincare for those seeking to maintain healthy skin
Revolutionising Healthcare
Artificial intelligence is the future of healthcare, according to Asia Pacific Medical Technology Association CEO Harjit Gill. Ahead of its Asia Pacific MedTech Forum 2024, she outlines how a digitally driven healthcare system can improve access and outcomes for all
REBIRTH RENEWAL REWARD
Renowned artist Nari Ward gives Tatler a peek into his Harlem studio as he prepares for his solo exhibition in Seoul
Blurring Lines, Breaking Boundaries
Cartier’s creative director of jewellery and watches Marie-Laure Cérède on the maison’s commitment to creating statement-making timepieces for discerning luxury consumers
Tan Yin Ling
The co‑founder of Cloop on how her social enterprise is closing the loop on Singapore’s fashion waste
THE World IS YOUR Oyster
Tatler gets a taste of the luxe nomadic life aboard the world’s most exclusive residential ship as it sails from South Korea to Japan
HAUTE HOTELS
Find out where designers, models and fashionistas stay during Fashion Week
RAISING THE STEAKS
Hanwoo, Korea’s native beef, is celebrated not only for its flavourful meat but also its rich history and deep cultural significance. We explore the qualities and traditions that make Hanwoo a national treasure—and why the rest of the world needs to know about it
The Fashion Centennial
In celebration of its 100th anniversary, Loro Piana looks back on its legacy of exceptional fabrics, textile innovation and savoir faire in its fall‑winter 2024‑2025 women’s and men’s collections