The Devil Wears Primark - My Internship at Vogue France
That’s a lie. More often than not, I actually wore Uniqlo. That aside, let’s delve into my time interning as a translator for Vogue France.
In the summer of 2023, I had the pleasure of spending my summer working as the sole translator intern for Vogue France in English, a specially curated English section of the Vogue France digital magazine website.
My first day
I arrived at the Condé Nast offices in Paris for my first day on 28 March 2023 in a carefully compiled outfit consisting of my very best high street fashion. Being rather fashionably-challenged myself, I had actually asked a guy I was chatting with on Tinder at the time to pick it out (alas, we were not fated to be the next gay power couple in the world of fashion). I soon realised that—at least in terms of the demands on one’s wardrobe—working at Vogue is nothing like The Devil Wears Prada. Everyone, and I mean everyone, was wearing jeans and T-shirts. Suffice to say, I stood out like a sore thumb in my dress trousers and blazer. But hey, at least I could enjoy the feeling delusion that I was better-dressed than the editors of Vogue!
Now, I can already hear the question on everyone’s lips. Wasn’t there a handsome, Stanley-Tucci-esque fashionista there to drag me into the wardrobe and bedeck me in the latest fashion from the runways? Well…
Of course not.
Unfortunately, life isn’t a Hollywood movie starring Anne Hathaway, and sometimes you have to pluck up and be your own Stanley Tucci, albeit without the Prada boots (they wouldn’t suit me anyway).
Over time, I began to hone my eye for fashion via osmosis as I worked on translating Vogue France’s articles into English and observed my colleagues’ vestimentary habits. Eventually, I was less of a sore thumb, but never quite a real fashionista. We all have our limits.
Luckily, I did a better job of honing my translation skills, whicb brings me to the actual curriculum vitae bit of this post…
The werk work
Each day, I would begin by researching the day’s top trending topics and topics with potential to trend (celebrity birthdays, scheduled events, etc.). I would then curate a selection of French articles, including the latest news and evergreen content in line with the day’s topics. This research fuelled my choice of articles to translate that day.
In order to ensure a careful balance of speed and quality, my translation process consisted of an initial, almost literal translation followed by several rounds of meticulous editing to improve style and ensure an accurate translation.
In between translating articles, I would manage Vogue France’s international Facebook page, which mostly consisted of preparing posts to share relevant evergreen articles, moderating comments, and scheduling native image posts.
Articles I wrote
I’m a fan of The Devil Wears Prada, and here’s why I have high expectations for its musical adaptation
by Jack Pownall - 21 September 2023
The Devil Wears Prada, the iconic film about the ruthless world of fashion, has still got some surprises in store for us. Following a somewhat rocky first attempt at a run in Chicago last year, a musical version of the cult film has been reimagined by three-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell and is now set to debut at London’s Dominion Theatre in October 2024, after a preview season in Plymouth during the summer.
Read this article in French here.
The best LGBTQ+ books are right inside this bookstore
by Jack Pownall - 5 July 2023
While LGBTQ+ books are becoming increasingly popular these days, there was a time when they were hard to find. Luckily, the bookstore Les Mots à la Bouche in Paris, a reference point for the Parisian LGBTQ+ community as well as for literature, is the ideal place to find the real gem you're looking for.
Read this article in French here.
Drag Race France is back!
by Jack Pownall - 7 June 2023
Drag Race France has decided to offer us a fabulous gift for Pride Month. The airdate for its second season has officially been announced on Instagram. Time for a catchup on this successful French drag competition show.
Read this article in French here.
Articles I translated
All of Us Strangers is potentially the sexiest gay romance of the year
by Marthe Mabille - 22 September 2023
While the film All of Us Strangers is on everyone's lips in the UK, it is also capturing the attention of cinephiles around the world. A charming and incredibly talented actor duo, a mysterious plot intertwined with sizzling scenes... Here's everything you need to know.
Read this article in French here.
How Meghan Markle owns the monochrome look
by Chloé Castanheira - 20 September 2023
Known for her penchant for elegantly classic looks, Meghan Markle is celebrated for her keen fashion sense and ability to create timeless, minimalist silhouettes. As the guest of honor at the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, the Duchess of Sussex has turned each of her appearances into a true fashion moment, unveiling a series of monochromatic looks. A style lesson in itself.
Read this article in French here.
Here's what the new iPhone 15, Plus, Pro and Pro Max look like!
by Alexandre Marain - 13 September 2023
At each keynote, it's a tradition: Apple makes the crowds go crazy. This September 12, 2023, in Cupertino, California, the company unveiled four new iPhone models: the iPhone 15, the iPhone 15 Plus, the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max. What should we make of these new high-tech models? Vogue France breaks it down.
Read this article in French here.
Hi Jack,
I loved reading your article! Thank you for sharing.
My name is Lily and I'm a French-American undergraduate student who's very interested in fashion journalism. I was wondering, how did you apply for this internship? Is there any way you could help connect me? Any advice or guidance would be truly appreciated. Please let me know how I can better contact you, or find me at my instagram: @lilystonebourgeois
Thank you so much,
Lily Stone-Bourgeois