Madeleine Ostile is a Norwegian Fashion Blogger living in London whose writing supports a career that spans an impressive number of disciplines within the fashion industry. As well as blogging, she is heavily involved with Lulu Kennedy’s high-profile organization Fashion East, where most recently, as Production Manager, she is helping to launch the LULU & CO range, a new, retrospective edit that will lead to further collections.
Madeleine is also Lulu’s blog consultant and, when required, her personal stylist, a direction that she is passionate about pursuing. When she’s not busy doing that, Madeleine works as a fashion assistant at DANSK Magazine alongside fashion director Toby Grimditch and assists Celestine Cooney, the fashion director of TWIN Magazine.
Lulu Kennedy is the founder and director of Fashion East, a pioneering non-profit initiative established in 2000 to nurture emerging young designers. She is known as one of the industry’s great talent spotters with a keen eye for creativity.
Each year, Fashion East takes a selection of unknown designers and gives them a sales showroom at Paris Fashion Week to showcase their work, a process which has proved to be widely successful: Kennedy is credited with discovering Gareth Pugh, Roksanda Ilinic, House of Holland, Marios Schwab, Louise Goldin, and Jonathan Saunders, amongst others.
Biography
Madeleine Østlie is a renowned casting director rapidly reshaping fashion. She started as a buyer and stylist before co-founding casting agency AAMO with Adwoa Aboah.
Østlie is passionate about diversifying fashion by discovering fresh talent through street-casting. She also casts big names, having worked with leading photographers and brands like i-D, LOVE, Tim Walker, Marni, and Marc Jacobs.
In an interview, Østlie discusses her career path and typical workday of multitasking amidst the intense pace of fashion weeks. She credits mentors like Lulu Kennedy for giving her a break. Her advice to newcomers: work hard, be kind and honest.
Østlie says social media has impacted casting, with clients wanting more diversity and digital resonance. Despite constant travel, she maintains a balance with her routine at home.
Addressing model mistreatment, she aims to create a safe, respectful space through positive treatment. Østlie values all collaborations and relationships in the industry equally. Her passion for bringing in new faces drives fashion forward.
Follow Madeleine on Instagram @maddeostlie
