Dress for Success

Is there such a thing as dressing for success? Absolutely – according to three Jewish fashion aficionados.

Over 100 women flocked to Covent Garden on Tuesday 28 January 2025 to hear valuable insights and tips from Lisa Armstrong, the Telegraph‘s head of fashion, Jessica Diner, Vogue‘s global beauty & wellness director and Sarah Jossel, beauty director-at-large and columnist for Sunday Times Style.

The three were taking part in an event to raise money for WIZO UK’s emergency appeal – Healing a Traumatised Nation to support women and children in Israel who have been impacted by October 7.

Panel chair, Telegraph Magazine deputy editor and JC columnist Naomi Greenaway quizzed the fashion insiders.

According to Armstrong, who had just arrived from Paris fashion week wearing a Dior jacket, “you can’t underestimate good tailoring”.

She also paid tribute to the “power” of a red lipstick, which she told guests was a key feature at the Chanel fashion show she had just been at.

“It was everywhere and very clever. Nearly all of the models wore a Chanel red lipstick.”

She said it was likely a sign of the times and that the brand recognised that fewer people were able to afford couture pieces than could buy a lipstick at £32 – “an affordable luxury they’re probably happy to pay for”.

Sarah Jossel told guests that her go-to for feeling her best was a good blow dry.

She said: “Without the blow dry I had before coming here, I wouldn’t feel half the woman I am sitting here.”

The women discussed having successful careers in fashion whilst juggling young families. Jessica Diner, who has three young children, confessed to owning multiple concealers, which, she said, were her secret beauty weapon if she only had five minutes to get ready.

Jossel and Armstrong said that it was often hard to strike a balance in the office when you wanted to wear designer items but faced judgement from other colleagues.

Jossel provoked laughter when she recalled a moment she had told former colleagues that her designer loafers were fake. “They weren’t fake. I just panicked,” she said.

The event was also designed to support Jewish women who post October 7 may have experienced some challenges in the workplace.

WIZO UK chief executive Maureen Fisher said: “We know many in our network have experienced antisemitism at work post October 7 or faced hostile environments. We wanted to help create an environment where Jewish women could network and support each other.”

The event was held to support the social welfare charity’s aim to raise funds to help those in WIZO shelters for abused women, schools and day centres in Israel.

Fisher told guests: “Tonight we are here to hear insights about fashion and networking, but we are also here to talk about the much-needed work we are doing.

“Since October 7, WIZO has had to respond to the emergency needs created by the impact of the war. You have displaced families and children who weren’t able to attend school. The needs are never-ending.”