Elizabeth von der Goltz, chief commercial officer at MatchesFashion talks to ASCENO about her morning rituals, leading with kindness, her favourite style icons and why everything has to do with confidence.

Styled by herself in ASCENO SS21 available

at ASCENO and MATCHESFASHION

Interview by Steph Sleap

Elizabeth wears our VALENCIA DUSTY ROSE SILK SLIP DRESS

THERE ARE SO MANY PARTS TO THE FIRST HOUR OF MY DAY.

My alarm goes off at 7:30am and the first thing I do is drink a probiotic straight from the fridge. I then make magnesium water and take five different supplements - rhodiola, gingko, saffron extract, turmeric and Tru Niagen, to support cellular health. Next, I make my morning smoothie, which includes fresh kale, parsley, spirulina, wheatgrass, collagen, pineapple and berries, blended with coconut water and oat milk. I just stopped drinking celery juice, as it was all taking too much time. This is before I start my daily beauty routine!

"If you're someone who wants to progress and grow, be vocal about it."

DON'T BE AFRAID TO BE VOCAL ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT.

If you're someone who wants to progress and grow, be vocal about it. Share your ambitions with the people you're working with, let them know that you want to learn and develop. Make sure you have mentors and advisors that you trust along the way - it's important to bounce ideas off people whose careers path you respect. This will help inform your decisions, especially when changing jobs. I am there for anyone who has ever worked with me, they still call me for advice and I think it is so important.

FOR ME, IT'S IMPORTANT TO LEAD WITH KINDNESS.

When I started my career it was like The Devil Wears Prada and I remember thinking, 'I never want to be like this!' Wherever I go, I make sure to create a culture of kindness and positivity within my team. First and foremost, we are in fashion, we are in this business to have fun. If that isn't you - then go elsewhere!

"Taking risks and making mistakes is just par for the course"

I HAVE PROBABLY MADE A ZILLION MISTAKES.

But I don't regret anything, as you learn from all of your mistakes. I feel like in everything you do, taking risks and making mistakes is just par for the course.

Elizabeth wears our MANDARIN LINEN SHORT SET

"I literally feel a burst of energy just saying Kamala Harris' name."

IT'S BEEN A GOOD TIME FOR WOMEN SPEAKING UP FOR THEMSELVES.

I literally feel a burst of energy just saying Kamala Harris' name. Having a role model like that and seeing what she is able to do is incredibly important for female empowerment.

BEFORE COVID I NEVER HAD TIME TO WORK OUT AS I WAS ALWAYS TRAVELLING.

It physically hurts to sit at a desk on Zoom calls all day. Having the ability to work out from home has enabled me to move and exercise more than ever. All I need to do is go upstairs and jump into a virtual class. It makes a huge difference and it's needed now more than ever.

I AM A REAL CLOTHES HORSE.

I love fashion, as you can imagine, and some of my all-time style icons are synonymous with a real era - Lauren Hutton, Ali MacGraw, Audrey Hepburn, Betty Catroux - they have insane wardrobes! Another favourite is Matches co-founder, Ruth Chapman. She is one of the chicest women I know and has such a covetable wardrobe.

Elizabeth wears our BORDEAUX DARK OLIVE SILK SLIP DRESS

I DON'T HAVE ROOM TO BE A HOARDER.

I have moved so many times in my life that I don't have room to keep all of my clothes, so I've learned to be ruthless. If I didn't move as much, I would have one house and store everything there.

"I would never have worn pink - that has definitely been a new colour for my London life."

I WOULD NEVER HAVE WORN PINK!

I basically only wore neutral shades before I moved to London, with the exception of yellow or burgundy, but since I moved I have worn so much more colour. I would never have worn pink - that has definitely been a new colour for my London life.

I LOVE MY BOOKS.

I love contemporary fiction and this past year I have been able to finish so many books. Life is usually so crazy with work and travel, so it has been amazing to have some quiet time to read. I just finished Tove Ditlevsen's trilogy, Childhood, Youth, Dependency - it's sad, but it's really good! Next, I'm planning to read the new Kazuo Ishiguro novel, Klara and the Sun, which sounds right up my street.

"Maybe in another life I would have been a food critic."

I AM OBSESSED WITH FOOD.

So, maybe in another life I would have been a food critic. I love to cook, but am not good enough to be a chef. However, I am obsessed with food and will travel to eat anything! One of my favourite restaurants in London is Japanese restaurant Endo at the Rotunda - it is a truly incredible experience.

I LOVE ADVENTURE.

A safari in Africa has been on my bucket list for many years and this year I was lucky enough to travel to Tanzania to experience one with my husband. I love adventure, so diving off Indonesia's Raja Ampat Islands, or going to see the Monodo dragons in southern Indonesia are also still on my list.

Elizabeth wears our MANDARIN LINEN SHORT SET

MY HUSBAND IS MY FOREVER DESERT ISLAND COMPANION.

We can spend literally every single minute together and it's always fun - I feel very lucky. Plus, he is a little bit more MacGyver than me (aka an all-round genius problem-solver), which would help on a deserted island!

WE USUALLY END THE DAY WITH "TALK TIME".

I like to read the papers in bed to wind down, while my husband checks emails - but he likes to end out day with what he calls "talk time". When we are both totally relaxed, the lights are out and the day is over, we can be present with each other and talk about just 'stuff' until we fall asleep.

IN BED I WEAR.

Silk. And the one pillow I sleep on, that's silk too. It's good for your skin, FYI!

@elizabethvdg

Elizabeth von der Goltz, chief commercial officer at MatchesFashion talks to ASCENO about her morning rituals, leading with kindness, her favourite style icons and why everything has to do with confidence.

Styled by herself in ASCENO SS21 available

at ASCENO and MATCHESFASHION

Interview by Steph Sleap

Elizabeth wears our VALENCIA DUSTY ROSE SILK SLIP DRESS

THERE ARE SO MANY PARTS TO THE FIRST HOUR OF MY DAY.

My alarm goes off at 7:30am and the first thing I do is drink a probiotic straight from the fridge. I then make magnesium water and take five different supplements - rhodiola, gingko, saffron extract, turmeric and Tru Niagen, to support cellular health. Next, I make my morning smoothie, which includes fresh kale, parsley, spirulina, wheatgrass, collagen, pineapple and berries, blended with coconut water and oat milk. I just stopped drinking celery juice, as it was all taking too much time. This is before I start my daily beauty routine!

"If you're someone who wants to progress and grow, be vocal about it."

DON'T BE AFRAID TO BE VOCAL ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT.

If you're someone who wants to progress and grow, be vocal about it. Share your ambitions with the people you're working with, let them know that you want to learn and develop. Make sure you have mentors and advisors that you trust along the way - it's important to bounce ideas off people whose careers path you respect. This will help inform your decisions, especially when changing jobs. I am there for anyone who has ever worked with me, they still call me for advice and I think it is so important.

FOR ME, IT'S IMPORTANT TO LEAD WITH KINDNESS.

When I started my career it was like The Devil Wears Prada and I remember thinking, 'I never want to be like this!' Wherever I go, I make sure to create a culture of kindness and positivity within my team. First and foremost, we are in fashion, we are in this business to have fun. If that isn't you - then go elsewhere!

"Taking risks and making mistakes is just par for the course"

I HAVE PROBABLY MADE A ZILLION MISTAKES.

But I don't regret anything, as you learn from all of your mistakes. I feel like in everything you do, taking risks and making mistakes is just par for the course.

Elizabeth wears our MANDARIN LINEN SHORT SET

"I literally feel a burst of energy just saying Kamala Harris' name."

IT'S BEEN A GOOD TIME FOR WOMEN SPEAKING UP FOR THEMSELVES.

I literally feel a burst of energy just saying Kamala Harris' name. Having a role model like that and seeing what she is able to do is incredibly important for female empowerment.

BEFORE COVID I NEVER HAD TIME TO WORK OUT AS I WAS ALWAYS TRAVELLING.

It physically hurts to sit at a desk on Zoom calls all day. Having the ability to work out from home has enabled me to move and exercise more than ever. All I need to do is go upstairs and jump into a virtual class. It makes a huge difference and it's needed now more than ever.

I AM A REAL CLOTHES HORSE.

I love fashion, as you can imagine, and some of my all-time style icons are synonymous with a real era - Lauren Hutton, Ali MacGraw, Audrey Hepburn, Betty Catroux - they have insane wardrobes! Another favourite is Matches co-founder, Ruth Chapman. She is one of the chicest women I know and has such a covetable wardrobe.

Elizabeth wears our BORDEAUX DARK OLIVE SILK SLIP DRESS

I DON'T HAVE ROOM TO BE A HOARDER.

I have moved so many times in my life that I don't have room to keep all of my clothes, so I've learned to be ruthless. If I didn't move as much, I would have one house and store everything there.

"I would never have worn pink - that has definitely been a new colour for my London life."

I WOULD NEVER HAVE WORN PINK!

I basically only wore neutral shades before I moved to London, with the exception of yellow or burgundy, but since I moved I have worn so much more colour. I would never have worn pink - that has definitely been a new colour for my London life.

I LOVE MY BOOKS.

I love contemporary fiction and this past year I have been able to finish so many books. Life is usually so crazy with work and travel, so it has been amazing to have some quiet time to read. I just finished Tove Ditlevsen's trilogy, Childhood, Youth, Dependency - it's sad, but it's really good! Next, I'm planning to read the new Kazuo Ishiguro novel, Klara and the Sun, which sounds right up my street.

"Maybe in another life I would have been a food critic."

I AM OBSESSED WITH FOOD.

So, maybe in another life I would have been a food critic. I love to cook, but am not good enough to be a chef. However, I am obsessed with food and will travel to eat anything! One of my favourite restaurants in London is Japanese restaurant Endo at the Rotunda - it is a truly incredible experience.

I LOVE ADVENTURE.

A safari in Africa has been on my bucket list for many years and this year I was lucky enough to travel to Tanzania to experience one with my husband. I love adventure, so diving off Indonesia's Raja Ampat Islands, or going to see the Monodo dragons in southern Indonesia are also still on my list.

Elizabeth wears our MANDARIN LINEN SHORT SET

MY HUSBAND IS MY FOREVER DESERT ISLAND COMPANION.

We can spend literally every single minute together and it's always fun - I feel very lucky. Plus, he is a little bit more MacGyver than me (aka an all-round genius problem-solver), which would help on a deserted island!

WE USUALLY END THE DAY WITH "TALK TIME".

I like to read the papers in bed to wind down, while my husband checks emails - but he likes to end out day with what he calls "talk time". When we are both totally relaxed, the lights are out and our day is over, we can be present with each other and talk about just 'stuff' until we fall asleep.

IN BED I WEAR.

Silk. And the one pillow I sleep on, that's silk too. It's good for your skin, FYI!

@elizabethvdg

@matchesfashion

@elizabethvdg

@matchesfashion

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