The Twelve Days Before Christmas

Saturday 13th December 2008 and on...

The run up to the Holidays was for me the usual last minute frenzied panic of shopping ,finishing off work and trying to squeeze in some real New York traditional Christmassy things that remind me of why I still love living here...


Pipilotti Rist's "Pour Your Body Out" at MoMA. (I got a bit side tracked from the 5th Avenue sales by this amazing dreamlike video installation)


Kitty ( doing her best Ugly Betty impression) and Paud in the MOMA cafeteria.


James Gardner and me having a Christmas nibble at the Rainbow Room.


James and artist Drew Cramer morphing into a '80's synth duo album cover.


The first day of Hanukkah; the Empire State Building and view of the Big Apple from Rainbow Room.


In a vampire obsessed season, here's the big beaming December full moon over the Bowery.


This was new to me! We ran into 300 tubas about to play their Christmas Concert at the Rockefeller ice-rink...who knew?


Kitty and the Rockefeller tree.


Amidst all this, here are the paparazzi and a harsh reality check I'm faced with every morning...living opposite Ponzi scheme rotter Bernie Madoff.

The Mother Land

Friday 5th - Monday 8th December 2008

Whilst half of New York descended on Miami for Art Basel I decided to take a last minute flying visit home to England to see my friends and family with a few work meetings squeezed in.
The night I arrived in London I met up with a bunch of friends at Guy Ritchie's pub The Punchbowl. A lovely little old Mayfair pub, it was packed ( mostly with investment bankers when we arrived but they soon cleared out off to the Home Counties)...


Serena Rees and Paul Simenon at The Punchbowl


My mate Ben Copperwheat, who also happened to be over from NY,here looking more London than London, with Mark Spye who designs at Vivienne Westwood and Olivier Vandervelde behind him.


One of my old flatmates, Louise McKinney who's now the Director of Development at the Serpentine Gallery with Rob Hartle.


PR Alex Barlow and Ris Fatah who's the Managing Director of posh sex emporium Coco de Mer and spends his days hawking dildos.


Serena and my dear friend Chris DiPietro looking glamourous after the pub...


Angels (and Bermans)probably the oldest and most famous TV and film costumiers in the UK had a big vintage sale on the Saturday morning. Thinking it was a good idea at the time I trecked up to a North Wembley warehouse for a rummage, but by the time I'd arrived all that was left were a few old army uniforms and a lot of silver spandex.The crowd however were a lot more interesting.


I stayed with my friend hairstylist James Brown, here he is loitering in Clifton Hill!


My mum and dad in Trafalgar Square.


I went Christmas shopping with my parents. Credit crunch or not, it was difficult to move for shoppers ( and sales) in the West End. Here are the Harrods' slightly dubious James Bond themed Christmas windows


That's better, in the Harrods food hall. Gorgeous fishy nibbles!


Zoe Kuipers who's now the communications director of Browns, took me for a lovely lunch.


Carnaby Street looking festive.


Vogue stylist and new mum Bay Garnett and me having a divine Sunday Roast around hers...

The Sky Is Falling

Friday November 21st 2008

This was the theme of Jen Ramey's birthday drinks party! Jen, who's a booker at IMG models and looks after Kate and Daria to name a few, invited us down to Circa Tabac for cocktails ( a Soho cigar bar where you're allowed to smoke if you want) which was inevitably followed by a night at the Beatrice...


Mark Palmen and birthday girl Jen Ramey


Jen's genius invite.


Jen's posse at Beatrice; Daria Werbowy, Jen and Massimo Cuviello


Jack Flanagan and Amir Zia.


Kyle Hagler from IMG all wrapped up.


Massimo and Mark.

Vogue TV Holiday Dinner

Friday 21st November 2008

I was asked by Vogue TV to host a holiday dinner for a few friends . It was held in the penthouse of the Gramercy Park Hotel , we had a roaring fire, all the girls wore my clothes and Kate Schelter bejewelled us in House of Lavande vintage couture baubles, I brought English crackers from Myers of Keswick ( the type that go bang and have non-jokes in ) and chef Melissa Petitto cooked a lovely lunch for us . It was a great start to the season to be jolly....


Kate Schelter and James Gardner


Sabine Heller the editor of the soon to launch online magazine from A Small World.


Me and James


Poppy DeVillneuve


Ben Pundole, the director of entertainment for all the Morgans hotels, for a moment in serious mode.


The table ( that's more like it Ben)

Bob's Your Uncle

Saturday 8th - Thursday 13th November 2008

I've now got a bob! My hairstylist and friend Ashley Javier chopped it off ( when I really only expected to get my roots done), and I'm loving it.

Ashley had a birthday party rooftop fire-pit extravaganza at his penthouse parlor soon after. The week that followed was another seemingly never ending series of fun after-work cocktail events ( I've since had a quiet weekend...)


Chloe Sevigny and me ( we share the same hairdresser!) at Ashley's birthday.


Lovely English make-up artist Angie Parker and Humberto Leon, the genius behind "Opening Ceremony".


Mwoahz!Gabi from Three As Four.


Nails done? Stylist Frances Tulk- Hart


Mark Palmen and Susan Kirschbaum.


Adrian, one of the designers from the Pleasure Principle..


..and here's Diva ( real name) his lovely other half.


The day after, my old friend James Brown was over from London, here working his magic on Kitty's bunches.


Cator Sparks and Fay Cantor-Stephens at the Gay Men's Health Crisis benefit, Fashion Forward . I donated some of my dresses to be auctioned at the event last Monday at Skylight studios , which also had a runway show and was hosted by Tim Gunn.


On Thursday 13th it was the Hugo Boss Art Prize party at the Guggenheim. Here I am with designer Kai Kuhne.


The party view at the Gugge...


Nicole Brown, Massimo Cuviello and Olivier Vandervelde oustide.


Me and my PR friend Fay at the Fashion Forward event. This photo was by David McIntyre from the groundbreaking online glossy Zoozoom, who always takes a good photo!

Election Hallowe'en Whirlwind Marathon

Tuesday October 21st - Tuesday November 4th 2008

The last month here has been a total whirlwind of real edge of seat nailbiting events and dancing on seat celebrations. Here are just a few things that went on, from my daughter Kitty's 2nd Hallowe'en birthday and our first trick or treating experience to Obama's historic election triumph, with a few bits in between...


Woohoo! The moment in history when Obama won, here on the TV at Norwood. What more can I say except thank you America, finally.


I watched the election at Norwood ( we did toy with the idea at going to Harlem but didn't quite get there) with my boyfriend Paud Roche, Fay Cantor-Stephens and her boyfriend Deepak.


Breaking News, New York went nuts at this point, John McCain conceeds.


Hallowe'en and novice trick or treating on the LES with my friend Deanne Cheuk, her daughter Lake and Kitty.There are somethings that money can't buy..


Lake, her friend and Kitty smeared in chocolate. Priceless.


Kate Schelter rocks. Her she is on Oct 21st at the Mobile Art Chanel Contemporary Art Container in Central Park, looking divine in a white silk jumpsuit I made for her. (Photo Wireimage).


On Sunday Nov 4th we hoofed it over to Central Park to watch fellow Brit Paula Radcliffe storm home to victory in the New York City Marathon. She was too fast for me to manage to even get a shot of her, but this is the men's winner, Brazilian Marilson Gomes dos Santos charging to the finish.


Here's Kitty at the 26 mile mark.


I really liked this blurry girl kiss image on the wall somewhere I think on either Bond Street or the Bowery that I saw recently.