Vault Spotlight: Elliot Belot
Written by Safa Razvi
Elliot’s debut at the Dior SS26 show
At 19 years old, Elliot had no idea his time at UW-Madison would include walking the runway for Dior’s Men’s Fashion Show in Paris. Starting as a passion for drawing and fashion design, they quickly became a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. One that has him traveling the world, balancing school and breaking barriers for what it means to be a creative student in Madison.
Growing up in Middleton, Wisconsin, just 15 minutes away from campus, Elliot says he always gravitated towards art. “I loved drawing as a kid, and in high school my art teacher really pushed me toward design,” he says. It was that interest that led him to UW-Madison’s fashion design program, a curriculum he couldn’t turn down. Elliot says his passion for clothing comes from the “hands-on functionality of art as something you can wear,” and potentially plans to add a studio art minor.
Grimm Fairytale Outfit, Courtesy of The Vault’s Lookbook
Modeling wasn’t always on his mind, but after walking in The Vault’s Fall 2024 show “Grimm Fairytales,” he was scouted on Instagram last January. Elliot admits he was hesitant at first, “I stalked the guy’s whole page,” he laughs. “But it turned out to be legit, so I humored it and signed the contract.” Within weeks, he was on hold for major shows. Then, the Dior call came.
“I didn’t even go to a casting,” Elliot recalls. “They just direct confirmed me. That almost never happens.” With their search for new faces, Elliot was among many other newcomers.
He still remembers the moment he got the call, “I was driving home from the vet after dropping off my dogs. My agent was like, ‘you might wanna pull over.’ When he said Dior confirmed me, I was freaking out. I immediately called my mom, my friends, everyone.”
For his runway look, Elliot wore leather pants, a baby blue button-down, fur-lined tan bomber, sandals, colorful tie and carried Dior’s sought-after tote bag. “I felt pretty cool—kind of like a boss,” he says. “One of the stylists even told me I had an American Psycho vibe, which I’ll take as a compliment.”
When I asked Elliot if he’d seen A$AP Rocky wearing almost the exact same tie, he admitted how surreal it felt. “It was awesome to look at him and then look down and be like, oh my gosh, I'm wearing the same thing.”
Though he’s now walked one of the world’s biggest runways, Elliot remains grounded and grateful. “My mom basically acts as my lawyer for contracts, and my friends are so supportive. They repost my stuff, hype me up—it means a lot.”
Even with the whirlwind pace of modeling, he’s committed to keeping balance. “I’ll never compromise my health for this industry,” he says. “In Europe, you actually need a doctor’s note to prove you’re healthy to model. I think that’s important.”
Beyond modeling, Elliot remains focused on design. He cites Alexander McQueen and Margiela as inspirations, but also finds sparks of creativity in unexpected places, whether that’s in sci-fi novels or scrolling through other artists’ work.
He also credits The Vault with giving him his first taste of the runway. “I modeled one of my own pieces for the show, and that was the first time I thought, okay, this is fun. That gave me a little confidence before everything else happened.”
Looking ahead, he’s excited to return to campus and see what other students are creating. “The talent in The Vault is insane. I love the shows—it’s honestly a highlight of my year.”
With Paris Fashion Week on the horizon this fall, Elliot’s schedule remains unpredictable. “I might have to fly out for a week, but I’m trying to balance school and modeling,” he says. “At the end of the day, I’m 19 and I get to travel the world. I can’t complain.”
From his midwest roots to Dior runways, Elliot’s story is proof that seizing unexpected opportunities can lead to extraordinary experiences.
