In Conversation with Georgia Benjou

Feb 19

Tell us about your background:

I began my twenty+ year fashion career as a national buyer and merchandiser in New York City, Milan and Paris for luxury and designer houses, including Hermes, Dolce & Gabbana, Christian Dior, and Chanel.

In search of more creative work, I left The Big Apple in 2002 for the West Coast and decided to make the leap from merchant to editor and stylist – a job move that was unconventional at the time.

Today, I style on-model and still life for print and digital media outlets, as well as write about fashion, beauty, and wellness. I have been the fashion editor for award-winning, top-five US regional publication 5280, where I led the magazine’s print and digital fashion and beauty coverage. I continue to work with other regional publications, and have also styled for Numéro Russia, Inspirato Magazine, and Design Scene. Advertising and social media campaigns I have worked on include The Brown Palace Hotel, Hyde Park Jewelers, Clairol, Oil of Olay, Glo Cosmetics, Under Armour, and American Crew.

In addition to my styling and editorial work, I consult with emerging designers and brands on collection merchandising and product assortment, as well as reviewing market positioning and pricing strategy.

I have also taught fashion history courses for the University of Denver's continuing education program, as well as sat on numerous fashion juries and panels.

I was educated in the USA and UK. I spent my Junior-year at university abroad attending the Ealing College (now Ealing Green College, part of West London College). After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of Colorado at Boulder, I worked in the Executive Office of the British Council for 6-months and was asked to extend my visa. I returned to the US to pursue a graduate degree in Art History at New York University's Institute of Fine Arts.

What do you wish you’d known when you started out?

I would say there are two things I wished I would have known when just starting my professional life: First, trust your instincts, and second, know your worth and do not settle for less.

Best career advice you've ever received?

Fashion is a small industry and you don’t know where you will run into someone in the future, so never burn a bridge.

What leadership qualities are important to you?

There are so many qualities that are important in a leader, but I would say these are my top five:
o Ethics / Integrity
o Self-aware / emotional intelligence
o Effective communication, including cross-cultural
o Strategic and forward-thinking
o Listening

What has been the biggest challenge in your career so far?

By far, Covid. When everything closed and shoots came to a standstill, it was hard trying to maintain a positive attitude. And whereas certain photographers embraced technology and experimented doing Zoom shoots, many photographers I worked with just couldn’t wrap their heads around the idea. After exhausting projects that needed to get done around my house, I focused on brand consulting and launched a monthly designer Zoom session.

And for fun, what is your favorite wardrobe staple?

My personal fav is a tailored black jacket by Ann Demeulemeester. It adds instant polish, while still having a bit of edge.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiaalexiabenjou/

Website: https://www.georgiaalexiabenjou.com/

Instagram: @gabenjou

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