Tag Archives: Vogue

Fashion’s Night Out London pt.II

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Fashion’s Night Out is like one big, glamorous, high-octane street party. Across London you’ll encounter designers actually in their boutiques, supermodels running rampant on Bond St, and fashion editors simultaneously handing out fashion tips and sipping champagne.

Louis Vuitton Maison, Bond St.

After meeting Manolo Blahnik at Liberty, I stopped by the parties at Topshop, Burberry and Anya Hindmarch – where I discovered that unfairly, some supermodels are even more beautiful in the flesh. I accidentally stood too close to the very lovely Claudia Schiffer (one should never be photographed beside a supermodel unless fully primped and prepared) who was, I’m certain, at least three foot taller than me and actually glowing. After that it was on to Louis Vuitton (where Alice Dellal kept the party going with her DJing) and finally Mulberry. The first thing I noticed over by the DJ station were these fabulous boots (I’ve been lusting after the same pair in dove grey on Net-a-Porter for weeks)…

… and then I looked up to see they were attached to none other than Mulberry’s accessories designer, Emma Hill! She is extremely lovely, witty and free of pretensions and of all the women in fashion, she is absolutely one of my favourites. And what she has done for Mulberry – helping to transform it from a traditional British brand to the height of desirability – is nothing short of remarkable.

Mulberry’s designer, Emma Hill

Did you have Fashion’s Night Out in your city? If so, I’d love to hear about it!

Love, Miss B xx

Fashion Night Out 2010

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Unless you’ve been hiding from the fashion world, you will, I’m sure, have heard of Fashion Night Out. After the enormous success of last year’s inaugural globe-spanning fashionable festivities, the event will again be taking place this year.

On September 8th in the fashion capitals across the globe, serious sartorial celebration will be taking place in the form of all kinds of events. In London the event is hosted by Vogue and promises to be simply fabulous, sweetie.

Last year I met Kate Moss at the Burberry party, wore bunny ears with model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley at Louis Vuitton (see profile photo, right), stood front row for a live Vogue fashion shoot in Chanel (Daisy Lowe and her endless legs making me feel decidedly short), and met Vivienne Westwood in her store. On what other occasion can one do all of that?

There is so much happening that it is impossible to do it all, so I suggest choosing one or two locations and sticking to the stores around there. Most things are free and open to all – just don’t gawk at the celebrities, feel too horrid beside the models or throw oneself in front of the paparazzi/waiters doing the rounds with the free cocktails.

As for me? I’ll be hitting the beauty counters in Selfridges for free pedicures and makeovers in the afternoon, before heading to Liberty and the big names around Bond St for the evening when things kick off.

So without further ado, here is my list (in alphabetical order) of what’s happening in London. To make your life easier I’ve cut out the mediocre (ie. the things you could do anytime) to bring you my roundup of the highlights only. Apologies in advance for the length, but I aim to keep you fully informed, dear readers. Enjoy!

Agent Provocateur (6 Broadwick St) – Expect gorgeous Provocateur-clad models, DJs, goodie bags and champagne.

Alexander McQueen (4 Old Bond St) – Guests can buy a bracelet exclusive to FNO and be in the chance to win a Britannia clutch.

Anya Hindmarch (118 New Bond St, 6-9pm) – Guests are invited to pose for a photo with their favourite Anya Hidmarch bag, where Anya herself will choose one winner to take that bag home.

Aquascutum (100 Regent St, from 6pm) – Bombay Bicycle Club DJing live, oysters and wine from Bentley’s Bar & Grill and the chance to win an Aquascutum trench coat.

Browns (24 South Molton St) – Designer pieces exclusive to the evening, rhubarb crumbles and talks and lessons from leading personalities on fashion, food, art, music and philosophy.

Burberry (21 New Bond St) – Christopher Bailey will be hosting a cocktail party. Guests can buy a studded bracelet exclusive to the evening and enter to win tickets to the London Fashion Week SS11 show. Last year this was THE party to have an invite to so can be guaranteed to be worth a stop this year.

Chanel (26 Bond St) – Have an express manicure in Chanel’s new season cult nail shades while enjoying champagne, dahling.

Chloe (152 Sloane St) – Guests can be photographed with new season looks and enter a lottery to win an exclusive Fuji/Chloe camera and a pair of iconic Chloe trousers customised by a French actress.

Christian Louboutin – Champagne, treats and NARS makeovers at the Louboutin Mad Tea Party, plus fun photo opportunities, goodie bags, and DJing by London Guns.

Diane von Furstenberg (25 Bruton St) – The store will be transformed into a recreation of Studio 54, where guests can drink cocktails from Claridges and have their hair and makeup done in homage to the iconic 70s venue. Strike a pose for the photographers and have a chance to win an 18k gold DvF necklace.

Emporio Armani (51 New Bond St) – Giorgio Armani and Vogue’s Alexandra Schulman will be hosting a cocktail party (I presume like Burberry last year, this will be invite-only to begin with). I hear that this will be THE party to be at this year.

Harvey Nichols (109 Knightsbridge) – Designers Erdem, Christopher Kane and Martin Grant will be instore to customise shopper’s FNO tees and tote bags.

House of Fraser (318 Oxford St) – Daisy Lowe will be instore to re-launch iconic brand Biba, New Young Pony Club will be DJing, goodie bags with any purchase from Mulberry and makeovers at most of the beauty counters.

Jaeger (200 Regent St) – Cocktails, 20% off the season’s collection and the chance to win a £300 gift card.

Jimmy Choo (27 New Bond St) – Cocktails, photo booth fun and Bungalow 8 DJing.

Liberty (Regent St) – At 6:30 pm, Manolo Blahnik and Yasmin Le Bon will be launching the World of Manolo (his collaboration with Liberty). Guests can buy from shoes from the range and have them personally signed by Manolo himself. Plus meet Richard Nicholl, enjoy cocktails and trapeze tricks from Circus bar, and enter the competition to win everything in the Liberty windows. Oh my!

Manolo Blahnik (49 Old Church St) – Following his appearance at Liberty, Manolo himself will be at his store signing shoes. Plus champagne, chocolate, and the chance to win a pair of shoes.

Matthew Williamson (28 Bruton St) – The store will be transformed into a Moroccan souk for the evening. Guests can meet Matthew, enjoy Maroccan food by Momos and enter to win tickets to the London Fashion Week SS11 show.

Mulberry (41 New Bond St) – Karaoke, DJs and the chance to win tickets to the London Fashion Week SS11 show.

Rupert Sanderson (19 Bruton St) – the store will be transformed into a dance hall extravaganza, where guests can sip Moet and learn to cha cha!

Louis Vuitton (17 New Bond St) – Alice Dellal will be DJing, and guest can have their picture taken as Vogue cover stars.

Selfridges (400 Oxford St) – A talk with designer Peter Pilotto, Lily Allen launching a pop-up shop of her new vintage clothing store, and excellent makeovers and treats at the beauty counters for most of the day.

Smythson (40 New Bond St) – have your product personalised and enjoy mini pedicures from Cowshed, Primrose Bakery cupcakes, and enter to win a Smythson bag full of Cowshed treats. Maybe SamCam will be there and we’ll become BFFs and Downing St dinner buddies.

Topshop (Oxford Circus) – Topshop will be recreating a live pop-up version of the making of an edition of Vogue, if you will. At the beauty desk, have a makeover and tutorial in this season’s beauty looks with the Vogue beauty editors, be snapped in a photobooth for Miss V’s diary (and be in the running to with a $200 shopping spree), and at the fashion desk preview the latest looks and tips from the personal shoppers and Vogue fashion team. Love the sound of this!

Stella McCartney (30 Bruton St) – Join Gwyneth Paltrow and Vogue’s Alexandra Schulman for cupcakes, cocktails, be photographed in your own Stella ad and enter to win a bag of Stella treats. Repeat above comments re: SamCam at Smythson and relate to Gwyneth.

Urban Outfitters (200 Oxford St) – The Arctic Monkeys playing live instore, DJs and drinks.

Phew, that’s a long list!

Will you be attending anything for Fashion Night Out? If you’re not in London, is anything happening in your city?

Love, Miss B xx

* First image from Jak&Jil, other images author’s own.

Style Icon of the Month: Anna Dello Russo

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While there is certainly no shortage of colourful characters in the world of fashion, there is one woman who stands out amongst the rest: Anna Dello Russo. Editor at Large and Creative Consultant to Vogue Nippon, Anna defies categorisation, trends, and expectations; she is a sartorial force in a niche all of her own.

I’m always trying to tell the Clever Boyfriend that fashion design isn’t just a frivolous obsession with what we wear; it is wearable art. Indeed, I could never wear a Givenchy couture gown in my daily life, but this doesn’t mean I can’t fantasise about such things.

Well Anna is the embodiment of such fantasies. Her yoga-chiseled body is her blank canvas, and each day she paints herself in a new work of sartorial art.

If ever there were a real-life Carrie Bradshaw, surely Anna would be her – I mean, the woman has confessed to owning 4,000 pairs of shoes! While not classically beautiful, she is always gorgeous (she has the kind of look that is more attractive to women than men). And whether it be a fuschia pink Dolce & Gabbana yetti fur coat, an extreme-shoulder Balmain blazer, or a girlishly frothy frock, she has the body and the confidence to pull off whatever she likes. She’s the kind of woman that can wear something the rest of us would never have considered, but as soon as we see it on her, it’s all we want.

It’s only appropriate I let the woman’s shoes have the final word.

P.S. I’ve had lovely emails from several of you saying you especially enjoy my semi-regular features (Want of the Week, Essential Tips, Sunday trends, etc.). With this in mind, I’ll make these features more regular, while launching a few newer ones as well. Icon of the Month will now alternate with Girl Crush of the Month.But do tell me dear readers: what else would you like to see more of on A Girl, A Style? Your wish is my command.

Love, Miss B xx

* First and last image from Jak and Jil. Other images via Style.com, the Sartorialist, and unknown.