sue stemp

New York Fashion Week part 2

2009-02-21T04:57:00.001-08:00

Sunday 15th - Thursday 19th February 2009

And the rest of my week....

Benicio Del Toro reciting "Candidate" by Joy Division at the G Star Raw show at Hammerstein Ballroom on Tuesday night.

The sensational stylist extraordinaire Catherine Baba, who flew in from Paris with the Club Sandwich kids.

Publicist Nicole Brown looking superchic in my Silky Sportif jumpsuit.

James Iha and Massimo Cuviello.

Stylists Jay Masscaret and Alister Mackie at Club Sandwich.

Me, James Gardner and Brooke Geahan at Soho House before heading to Club Sandwich at the Norwood.

The V Man party at Chelsea Piers ice rink on Thursday night; I couldn't think of a better way to end the week. Here's Hamish Bowles' valient first time on ice!

Paul Sevigny ( who was a surprisingly impressive skater) with his girlfriend Sophie.

Stylist Keegan Singh managing to hold a pose!

And the show! Pro-figure skater Johnny Weir whipped the crowd into a frenzy...

At Matthew Williamson's new W 14th St store opening on Sunday, here's Zelda, aged 92.The oldest swinger in town is looking as fantastic as ever.

Prim Chuensumran and Fay Cantor-Stephens looking knockout in her YSL jumpsuit.

Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld curated a photography show on Tuesday which I didn't make it to, but lovely Theodora Richards did and here she is wearing one of my dresses.

Girls Behind the Lens

2009-02-17T12:06:00.000-08:00

4th - 17th February 2009

Over the last couple of weeks three gifted girl friends of mine have premiered their films in New York.

The first being Chiara Clemente's debut documentary "Our City Dreams" shown at Film Forum , which is a love letter to New York and strings together the self -told narratives of five women artist based here, ranging from ages 30 - 80. I'm a particular fan of the immensely talented Swoon , who is the youngest featured artist . It was really interesting to me to see her creating her wood block prints and paper cut- outs on what looked like her kitchen floor and then pasting them up around the streets of the city. I was also curious to see what she looked actually looks like ( she has always remained anonymous.)

A Swoon installation from 2006, the Blackfloor Gallery , Philadelphia.
Photo : Tod Seelie.

Arden Wohl screened her new film "Two Other Dreams" on February 7th at APF LAB on Wooster Street. The film stars Leelee Sobieski and Azura Skye and is a dark love story between two women with a bizarre sense of romance, masochism and the supernatural. The film is visually beautiful, created with a restricted colour palette of purples, lavenders, corals and blushes. After the film was over you could get blessed ( I opted out!) before heading off to the Soho Grand for an afterparty.

Leelee Sobieski in "Two Other Dreams"

Photographer KT Auleta premiered her first film "Runaround" on Tuesday 17th at the Anthologly Film Archives. It's a narrative short that explores the sexual maturation of Jay (age 15), a promiscuous, small town American girl, and her 2 best friends, Jean-Marie and Kim as they spend the summer pursuing a golden tan and the opposite sex. See the trailer here.

New York Fashion Week part 1

2009-02-17T06:06:00.001-08:00

Thursday 12th - Sunday 15th February 2009

New York fashion week kicked off last Thursday, to what everyone knew was going to be a very different season than usual. I had decided not to hold a show, so I had a bit more time to get out and about ....

Kanye West, who was everywhere you turned this week, with Fay Cantor - Stephens at the Preen show on Sunday morning.

I spotted these two girls from upstate NY outside Preen.

At the Italian Vogue /BMW cocktail party, here's A Small World's glamourous editor Sabine Heller, British export TV presenter Louise Roe and Darrell Hartman who was blogging for Style.com.

Kate Schelter

DJ -ing at the Vogue Italia party, Donna D'Cruz who was the disco herself wearing an amazing multicoloured crystal robe.

At Jonathan Saunders who showed some great long tube dresses on Sunday.

The CFDA's Steven Kolb and Rachel Schectman backstage at the tents.

The homage to Barbie's 50th birthday in Bryant Park.

Rebecca Guinness and her cousin Mary take a quick break from fittings working with stylist Tina Chai at Thakoon, pop to the Prada store party last Friday.

The Prada party" The Iconoclasts", was the first celebrating four iconic fashion editors to be held here, in London, Milan and Paris. The New York store being remixed and styled by Alex White. Here's Fay obsessing over python printed leggings and some killer heels .

Stylist Susan Joy and me at Lisa Salzer's "Lulu Frost" jewellery line party .

Who's gold gherkin?!

Style.com's Maya Singer.

The Topman party at Bungalow 8. Here's Marc by Marc Jacob's accessory designer Katie Hillier and dapper as ever Patrick Grant from Norton and Sons, Saville Row.

Valentina

2009-02-13T07:18:00.000-08:00

Thursday 12th February 2009

The new exhibition at the Harlem based Museum of the City of New York , "Valentina: American Couture and the Cult of Celebrity" opened on the eve of New York Fashion Week. Valentina ( 1899-1989) dressed Greta Garbo, Katherine Hepburn and the Duchess of Windsor amongst others, was a pioneer of American couture and a glamourous celebrity in her own right.
I went along with my friend Mark Palmen to take a look...

Mary McFadden, fashion legend, who used to be a friend of Valentina's. Her ex-husband Kohle Yohannan wrote the book that accompanied the exhibition.

Publisist Mark Palmen , feeling right at home!

An award wining design of Valentina's, a sort of forerunner to a "Skort" ...

This divine evening snood with a jeweled propellor on the top from 1950 is called a "Gorget", would you believe.

I particularly like this grey dress with it's wrap details.

I really loved all the hats on display. This fur hood was designed for Garbo in the '40's.

The hats weren't just contained to the exhibition, everyone was wearing one!

Shop online !

2009-02-10T11:50:00.000-08:00

Tuesday 10th February 2009

My spring 09 collection is now available to shop online ! ( There is more to come...)

Halterneck Ruff Dress in Make-Up colour silk

( Photo: Mark Squires)

The Biba Blonde

2009-01-30T07:49:00.001-08:00

Thursday 29th January 2009

On Thursday I was thrilled to meet the legend behind the original Biba, designer Barbara Hulanicki. The iconic Biba department store defined fashionable London in the Swinging Sixties and louche Seventies. The vast emporium which sold everything from accessible fashion, to make-up and pet food was an Art Deco / Art Nouveau / Victoriana influenced rock'n'roll disco palm tree filled fantasy. Plus there was a roof garden with flamingos.The details! Everyone hung out there from Bowie, Twiggy and the Stones to the fashion conscious girl-next-door. What an inspiration...
Barbara now lives in Miami where she designs interiors and has just completed a new line of clothes for Topshop which launches in April.

Still super chic, Barbara Hulanicki with me at the Rainbow Room ballroom where we had attended the Fashion Group International's Rising Star Awards , for which I had been nominated.

I love this photo. Barbara then; on the roof garden of Biba on Kensington High Street in 1973 with the infamous flamingos.

( Photo Desmond O'Neill )

Obama Makes History

2009-01-25T10:38:00.000-08:00

Tuesday 20th January 2009

Barack Obama's inauguration. Unfortunately it wasn't an option for me to take a trip down to Washington to be part of this monumental event, so sneaking out of work at lunchtime to watch it on the big screens in Times Square had to do...

Yes we can! Seeing Barry on this scale looming above Times Square crowd was pretty sensational. There wasn't a dry eye in sight. Oddly there was no sound broadcast though...?!

Obama taking his oath from all angles.

Paud Roche and me freezing in Times Square.

More from the White House.

This day the whole of New York was celebrating. It was all about Obama and finally change. Here are some very happy kids on the subway going home ( break dancing to Kanye ).

Olivia Wilde about my Dress!

2009-01-15T05:15:00.000-08:00

Tuesday January 13th 2009

Here's the lovely actress Olivia Wilde looking divine in one of my hand screen printed silk Zandy dresses from my spring 09 collection at the Fox Winter All-Starparty in Hollywood last Tuesday night...

Photos courtesy of Startrax photos.

Amir's Big Birthday

2009-01-12T12:09:00.000-08:00

Friday January 9th 2009

I kicked off this year for real with my dear friend Amir Zia's birthday party. It was his big four oh! All New Years resolutions went out the window and we had a good old fashioned raging house party....

Lindsay Thompson working a great blazer look.

Amir Zia, man of the night, looking fabulous at forty.

Me, Brooke Geahan, James Gardner and Natasha Royt. Blondes having more and more fun...James loose the gloves!

Saira Zia, Amir's gorgeous sister and buyer for Saks online, pacing herself!

Julie Krauss and Jihae Kim having a dance- off.

Stylist Priscilla Polley ( in an enviable Hussein Chalayan print dress) and Jen Talbott the PR director for Intermix.

The Henry, sparkling in his novelty sweater.

Blogging queen Susan Kirschbaum with Parker Argote

Patrick O'Leary and Paud Roche.

Drew Cramer and Carole Ramer looking sensational in one of her signature hat and waistcoat looks.

Designers Whitney Pozgay and Lauren Felton, looking like they're up to something...

The Twelve Days Before Christmas

2008-12-24T13:49:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-11T05:32:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-23T16:59:00.001-08:00

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

2008-11-23T11:53:00.001-08:00

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

2008-11-14T10:42:00.001-08:00

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

2008-11-14T10:18:00.000-08:00

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.

My Birthday Party

2008-10-13T16:08:00.001-07:00

Saturday October 11th 2008

I decided to have some of my close friends over to our apartment on Saturday night to celebrate my birthday which was on the 7th. Despite the fact it was the night of Diesel's 30th birthday and most of NY seemed to be flocking over to Brooklyn, everyone turned up, we all had bubbles and there were no fag burns in the rug.Come midnight we finished the evening off at the Beatrice... it would have been rude not to.

Stylist Frances Tulk-Hart monopolising the polar bear.

Mark Palmen, James Gardner and me.

Annabel Tollman looking super svelte with my man Paud.

David Gruning, Kate Schelter and Christian Langbein, all gorgeous and lounging.

Nicole Brown and Florent Belda in my bedroom.

Kelly Ryerson and Susan Joy. I do love a blonde!

Macky Dugan and Drew Elliot.

Erich Conrad pushing around Olivia King.

Natasha Royt and Paud in the kitchen.

Roderick Angle , Crystal Slattery and Brianna Espitalier.

Kristen Alexander-King showing a bit of leg and Patrick O'Leary.

Armand Limnander and Jonathan de Busk ( thanks for the moonshine, not yet dared to open it yet!)

Frances, Angie Parker and Susan swarming around the bubbles..

Here we are at the Beatrice...Fay Cantor-Stephens and Ben Copperwheat.

Natasha and Ashley Javier on the dancefloor.

Patrick McGrath, Nicole and Mark on the banquette. Trouble!

Lee Carter from Hintmag and Armand from T magazine, comparing notes.

Me and Fay closing down the B...

CFDA New Members Party

2008-10-08T15:55:00.000-07:00

Wednesday 8th October 2008

This year I was accepted to become a member of the CFDA, which I am thrilled about. Last night, along with the other 27 new members, we were thrown a cocktail party in our honour at the home of Elie and Rory Tahari in Soho. The house, which used to belong to Rupert Murdoch, was beyond gorgeous, I was particularly envious of the split level rooftop where I spent most of the evening chatting to the other designers (I somehow missed Martha Stewart and Leighton Meester who were both there too)...

The new members group photo set against the NY downtown skyline, with the CFDA president Diane Von Furstenberg looking glamourous as ever in the centre.

It also happened to my my birthday as well as other new member Rachel Comey's, here we are toasting ourselves...

Swimwear designer Malia Mills, her sister and menswear designer Eunice Lee from Unis.

Richard Chai and Paud Roche

The lovable bears, Robert Tagliapietra and Jeffrey Costello.

Jewellery designer Robert Lee Morris, who was super friendly.

Erica Davies and Amy Chan

Kikka and Vicky Bartlett both from VPL and me.

Dinner with Kim Hastreiter plus a month of Libras

2008-10-01T20:37:00.000-07:00

Saturday 27th - Tuesday 30th September 2008

On Monday I was delighted to be invited to a small dinner at Il Buco by Paper's co-founder Kim Hasreiter and Rado the watchmakers.This is that funny week when I always feel that everyone in fashion is in Paris for the shows and only a skeletal crew are left behind...however this was not the case!

Kim Hastreiter herself downstairs in the wine cellar at Il Buco.

Top Girl Kate Schelter and me.

Drew Elliot from Paper and another Top Girl,Fay Cantor-Stephens at the Paper dinner.

Lynn Yaeger from the Village Voice and Faran Krentcil from Nylon.com and page Six Magazine.

This whole month for me is Libra birthday hell ( myself included)! I literally have a birthday-a-day until the end of October. Anyway I went to textile designer friend of mine Ben Copperwheat's birthday dinner at Bacaro on Tuesday, which I wouldn't have missed for the world. This is Ben and his boyfriend Zander.

Stylist Grant Woolhead and Karen from Jed Root.

It was also my boyfriend Paud's birthday at the weekend, and we spent it with family in Connecticut. This is "The Place" near Guildford, where we went on Saturday night.Unchanged since 1971 ,this is a really rare sight in New England; a BYOB ramshackle BBQ. I loved it!

Paud dying to get his hands on the BBQ lobster and clams...

A Small World and Net-A-Porter

2008-09-26T20:55:00.001-07:00

Wednesday 24th September 2008

A Small World ( the private online community who are about to relaunch their online magazine) and it's gorgeous editor-in-chief Sabine Heller hosted a Fall 08 trunk show for Net-a-Porter along with Vogue's Valerie Boster, Jessica Joffe, Ferabee Bishop Taube and Coralie Charriol Paul on W 14th Street.I went along to see the girls and the schmutter with Tanya Jensen-Hawver...

Sabine Heller and the lovely English stylist Frances Tulk-Hart

Jessica Joffe

Tangie Silva from The Daily / Fashion Mini with writer Tanya Jensen-Hawver.

The Net-a-Porter girls.

"Migration" and More

2008-09-26T20:54:00.001-07:00

Saturday 20th Sept 2008

Doug Aitkin's new show at the 303 Galleries in Chelsea ( both the new and the existing one) was my first stop tonight.

I then had to run over to Plumm on W14th Street for the wrap party of "Inseam". This is a new documentary series for web TV (www.inseamshow.com) backed by Cotton Inc., and hosted by Eric Villency that focuses on the work and experiences of 3 women designers; myself, Nicole Romano and a bridal designer Lara Helene that has been filmed over the last 6 weeks.

With a bit more filming over and I was dying to find my friend Amir Zia and his sister Saira who were at a friend's loft birthday party on Canal Street...I wanted a dance!

STAR , by Doug Aitkin. I really loved this tweaked view over LA.

A shot of Doug Aitkin's video installation. A Reindeer in a motel room upstate somewhere.The imagery was quite beautiful.

Lara Helene, Eric Villency, Nicole Romano and me at the "Inseam" party

I loved working with film director James Merendino, who filmed the documentary with his sister Lisa.

Amir Zia later that night with Nat Hays from Plus One Music.

Saira Zia who is now a buyer for Saks, with part of someone's Robert Downey Jr outfit...I'd forgotten (as had most people) that it was fancy dress.

This was that morning on my doorstep ...lederhosen!

The Rest of my NY Fashion Week

2008-09-14T20:02:00.000-07:00

Monday 8th - Saturday 13th September 2008

The rest of my fashion week started on Monday with Marc Jacobs show and finished the following Saturday with Lifetime Television's biopic on Coco Chanel, staring Shirley MacLaine. I really didn't manage to go to half the events I'd planned to, I was still so knackered from work, but I did manage to catch some of the fun ...

One of my icon's, Kim Gordon backstage at Marc Jacob's.

J Lo and Victoria Beckham, holding hands.

Yet another pathetic attempt of mine to capture the genius of Marc's show. The mirrored set was stunning.

Catherine Baba, James Gardner and myself at the Marc party.

Rachel Zoe stopping traffic looking for her limo.

Maestro British milliner Stephen Jones.

James was still milking his birthday, so we squeezed in a celebratory curry before the evening really started, with Heifara Rutgers and Drew Cramer.

Cute! At the Marc Jacob's afterparty at the new Greenwich Street Hotel.

The kids at Marc's

Photographer Gavin Bond and his girl

Being a British but NY based designer I was roped into flying the flag and joining the Marchesa girls and menswear designer Keanan Dufty at the" Britannia Rules" event hosted by OK ! Magazine and Gen Art on Weds 10th.
Here's actress Leven Rambin wearing my emerald satin drape dress to the OK! event.
(Photo Wireimage)

A model wearing my taffeta bow dress from spring at the British Invasion party.

Me with the glamourous Marchesa girls, Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig.

Mick Rock concentrating on DJ-ing, here at the OK party ( he was in demand that night).

Next stop was the City Magazine re-launch party at the New Museum on the Bowery.
Here's the lovely Leigh Lezark on the balcony of the New Museum, with the night skyline of the East Village in the background.

Stylish Julie Ragolia, the new fashion editor of City Magazine.

Elise Overland and blogger Susan Kirschbaum at the New Museum.

Finally a bit of normality.My parents had come over from England to give me a bit of a hand with Kitty during and leading up to fashion week. Unfortunately I hardly saw them but here we are at the Russian tearooms which was a real treat.
My dad, me, Kitty, Paud and my mum having a much needed fashion break.

The extraordinary glass juggling bear fish tank. Kitty's eyes were on stalks!

Then just what I needed to finish off the week, Saturday night home in front of the TV watching Shirley MacLaine as an aging Coco Chanel with Malcolm MacDowell in the foreground on Lifetime TV's biopic...bliss!

Club Sandwich hits NYC

2008-09-14T18:12:00.000-07:00

Sunday 7th September 2008

After the exhaustion from the endless weeks of non-stop work put into getting my collection together, and the having to get up and sell it the following day at 9 am, I didn't manage to do anything fashiony until Sunday, the day of my dear friend James Gardner's birthday extravaganza. The legendary Club Sandwich kids from Paris flew over to host his disco spectacular at the Norwood. I don't think the Norwood has ever seen anything quite like it.....

The sensational Catherine Baba, James Gardner and me leaving Soho House where we started the evening with dinner by the pool, before making an entrance...!

Fay Cantor-Stephens plus headdress .(I have no recollection where this headdress appeared from but it's in half my photos.)

My boyfriend Paud Roche, plus that headdress.

Vogue's Hamish Bowles, anxiously texting on the disco dancefloor.

Yassa Khan and Joanne Furnace, looking knockout.

Catherine showing a bit of flesh and another old friend from Europe, Thomas Jibogan,( who is also my casting director.)

Alister Mackie, who just can't ever keep his clothes on either , having a shimmy.

My mates the boys from Parsons, who all really gave me a helping hand during the past week, Aaron Bakalar, Pat McGrath and Jordan Bach.

Grant Woolhead, the new fashion editor of Out..grr!!

T Magazine's Armand Limnander

Elle's Joe Zee.

Nicole Brown looking hot in one of my dresses.

Ben Copperwheat, Chris Apple and Lee Copperwheat.

Me with Ben Pundole

Casey Spooner on the right with the lovely locks.

What a finale. Mademoiselle Mercedes, cabaret star of the night, with James.

My Spring 09 collection

2008-09-14T18:11:00.000-07:00

Thursday September 4th 2008

My Spring 09 collection is an ultra-feminine take on modern romance, with a high-gloss, sporty edge.

I held a focused presentation of 18 looks on the kick-off day of New York fashion week this season. Thankfully it was glorious hot weather as I held it on the rooftop of a building on W14th Street overlooking the river at sunset, so the light turned out to be divine. Downstairs we had a cocktail party hosted by the ever lovely Arden Wohl and The Supper Club NY.

Initial inspirations were the beautiful and infamous pictures of teenage girls by early seventies photographer David Hamilton, John Singer Sargent’s portraits and the restrictive sexiness of Edwardiana...and Spandau Ballet. This loosely set the mood for the collection, which is dreamy and romantic in colour and execution but young and glamourous in feel.

Highlights of the collection include softly embroidered Broderie Anglaise and polka dot cotton tulle dresses, draped skirts and high -necked ruffle shirts, silk satin and taffeta colour blocked party dresses, shorts and jumpsuits, slouchy tailored tuxedo sportswear, a beautiful watercolour “Blushing Rose” print by artist Deanne Cheuk as well as my signature hand - screen prints, with a colour palette of black, ivory, neutrals and make-up colors with accents of violet, hyacinth and peony....

Diana Moldovan in dress of clear sequins over Deanne Cheuk's "Blushing Roses" watercolour print with a backdrop of the NY skyline. You can't get much more romantic than that.

The fantastic 2 Mandy DJ's rocked the evening and looked amazing in my clothes too.

Arden Wohl in the Starlight dress from my Fall collection.

Vogue's Meredith Melling-Burke and stylist Susan Joy.

Tamsin Lonsdale from the Supper Club and me

Here's Fay Cantor-Stephens doing a final bit of hair straightening before she thankfully helped me out on the door along with Drew Elliot from Paper Magazine.True troopers.

Hair super-stylist Ashley Javier doing his magic with a modern take-on Gibson girl hair and a satin headband. It worked!

I was really thrilled with the strong turnout I received at the start of another hectic and exhausting fashion week.Maya Singer who writes for style.com told me that she had rsvp'd for 94 events in the coming week!I was feeling lucky that one my sponsors was Skyn Iceland again, who gave me some much needed pick-me-up facial products in my gift bags. My beyond stressed out skin was hauled back from the edge just in time with their hydro - cool firming eye gels that actually work. I glowed again!

Anyway here is someone who never looks exhausted,the eternally effervescent Mickey Boardman from Paper and the charming Julia Frakes ( who does have a bit of a Bubbles / Jane Horrocks lookylikeiness going on, but only in looks might I add..)

Gisella Lemos covering for Brazilian Vogue.com looking a stunner in my matching printed silk jersey dress and leggings. One of my favourite ensembles ever!

Crystal Slattery and Roderick Angle

Bayo and Jody. My old friends from London the vogueing twins.

One of my favourite dresses from Spring, a violet silk taffeta and tulle dress on Alexandra.

"Blushing Roses' digital watercolour printed silk shorts and a hand-screened silk corsage top on Angelika.

Natasha wearing a black tulle and silk feather bias -cut dress.

Alexandra in a colour-bocked taffeta Bow dress.

Danielle in my top favourite dress of the season, the make-up colour silk ruff backless dress. This was the very last thing I designed.

I always do a jumpsuit...and it turned out this season so did everyone and his wife too! Here's my silky sportif version on Nika in make-up pink.

Jill wearing the hand-screen printed corsage printed top in cream with tuxedo suiting peg-top shorts.

Angelika in the first look, the hand-screen printed corsage batwing dress in cream.

Natasha in a semi-sheer black Swiss dotty voile ruffle shirt and tuxedo suiting peg-top shorts.

Nika in a black striped cotton tulle ribbon top with a tuxedo suiting draped pencil skirt.

Dei wearing a hand-embroidered cream tulle ruffle dress

Jennifer in the cream tuxedo jacket, cummerbund ( I went a bit cummerbund crazy!) and tuxedo peg-top pants.

A few days before my presentation ( literally the day after labour day..it was hell getting all this organised when basically everyone's still on a beach )we shot our spring lookbook. My amazing talented friend , photographer Mark Squires shot it on the gorgeous Sheila from One Models.Here she is on set at my studio....

Mark Squires

Here's my intern Taryn with Katie Toker hard at work getting the collection together.

Macky Dugan, who shares my studio, getting roped into helping me!

Another of my hard working interns, Feride.

One of Mark Squires campaign photos that he shot, this one of the jumpsuit

Another of Mark's beautiful photos...

...and another, this is the ruffle skirt and hand silk-screened corsage top.Dreamy!

Last post before Fashion Week!

2008-09-02T05:53:00.001-07:00

Monday 1st September 2008

For the past month I've been slaving over my new collection which I'm showing here at a rooftop presentation during New York fashion week this Thursday coming, so my blogs have been a bit this on the ground. But I had to include these two..inspiration on my doorstep!

I'm also guest blogging for Paper magazine starting this week, so check it out!

I just loved these French twins outside Lord and Taylor.

Beatrice by the Sea

2008-07-28T19:40:00.000-07:00

Friday 25th - Sunday 27th July 2008

Paul Sevigny and Matt Abramcyk, the co-owners of the Beatrice Inn, are launching a new bar. Taking over the Fifth floor at the newly opened boutique hotel in Atlantic City , The Chelsea, last weekend saw it's launch. Half of the cool kid Beatrice regulars and a few close friends of theirs were happily shipped down to the New Jersey shore for a weekend of fun and games...

Paul Sevigny and his girl Sophie ( in an enviable vintage Sonia Rykiel sweatshirt E-bay purchase).

On the drive down with Paud Roche, Mark Palmen and Kitty,we decided to take a quick look at the infamous Jersey beach town Asbury Park.

Writer and blogger Susan Kirschbaum with me at the Bortaga; the chicest and most Vegas-like hotel / casino in Atlantic City.

Mark Palmen couldn't resist his Wild Cherry!

A nice guy on the door of the Aretha Franklin show at the Bortaga let us in for the last ten minutes. Here's the legend in full swing of "Freeway of Love"...( and yet another pitiful concert photo of mine)

Paud and his roulette winnings with designer Alvin Valley.

For rent?

Back at he Chelsea, in the penthouse bathroom..

A Beatrice babe

And more...

On Saturday night we went down the shore to Margate for Mark's birthday dinner and some fishy nibbles. Here's Susan,Mark and me.

The Chelsea Hotel by day. Situated on the boardwalk it also has a spa with a saltwater swimming pool and a free rolling-chair service ( like a pedicab, but you get pushed along).

The beach. Atlantic City felt like the weird bastard child of Coney Island, South Beach and Vegas...and I loved it!

Kitty content with her Trump Ice water.

A bit rough around the edges.A local funnel cake store. Get her in the Sexy t-shirt!

There was also a lot of this local flavour going on along the boardwalk...( believe me the back view was better!)

Santogold

2008-07-21T18:01:00.000-07:00

Sunday 20th July 2008

Santogold, who's new album "Santogold"is my top fave at the moment, played at Summerstage in Central Park on Sunday afternoon. The line to get in was beyond, so with Kitty in tow, we all just sat down where we were and enjoyed the show...

These girls rocked!

Massimo Cuviello and Kitty, loving it.

Mike and Danish beauty Linda in her hot black playsuit.

Woof!

Hello sailor!

Loved this lot too..

This girl's t-shirt dress was to die for.

Cute!

Mark Palmen ( in the eye mask) and Kitty

Delicatessen

2008-07-21T15:37:00.000-07:00

Thursday 17th July 2008

Last Thursday Interview magazine threw a "Celebrate The Polaroid" party at the new Prince Street restaurant Delicatessen ( co-owned by Mark Thomas who also has Cafeteria in Chelsea). The old Buffa's Luncheonette space was rammed and sweaty, and Terry Richardson was downstairs shooting everyone...for what we later realised could be the menu covers. Oh!

Terry Richardson

Photographer Roderick Angle and Crystal Slattery behind Terry's lens.

Createthe's James Gardner, writer Maya Singer from style.com and me, hot as hell.

Graphic artist Prim Chuensumran ( the squashed one in the middle of her friends).

Maya, Susan Joy, an unsuspecting guest ( who we assaulted with a guessing game of "gay, straight or foreign"...the shoes were in general the big give away) and James.

Don't know who she was but she was really pushing a fierce look!( The one on the left)

That was the Week that was...

2008-07-11T14:06:00.000-07:00

Wednesday 9th - Thursday 10th July 2008

Last Wednesday I went along with Amir Zia to Robert Verdi's show apartment for the final episode screening party of "She's Got The Look", the TV show he hosts for the over 35's "Top Model". Funny! Got it all going on there though.

We then toddled off to the Opening Ceremony party at Santo's Party House on Lafayette and swayed about for a bit.

The next night it was Milk Gallery's 10th anniversary party and annual summer BBQ, with Mariachi band Fu Manchu......woohoo! It was wall to wall cute, plus whole cooked pigs...

Robert Verdi the hostess with the mostess at home relaxing.

The apartment.I was loving the Debbie Harry / Jayne County print on the wall..

Amir eyeing the contents of the fridge

At the Opening Ceremony party, Vicky Bartlett and Emma Reeves, Brits abroad!

Natasha Royt on the tiles

Jay Masscaret, deep in vogue.

Amir Zia and me

The next day. With Tamsin Lonsdale from the Supper Club on the roof of Soho House.I hoped everyone was here on holiday and not just on their lunch break ...

Mariachi at Milk.

Matt Kays with Catherine Kim, Milk's PR.

The strangely unoccupied mechanical bull!

Kity, Paud and me.

Big Sue

2008-07-02T18:24:00.000-07:00

Tuesday 1st July 2008

I was really pleased to have a quick drink last night with an old friend from London, Sue Tilley, who was in NY to see her film maker friend Jeff Sharp who's in the process of turning her book on Leigh Bowery into a movie ( hell knows who they're going to cast as Leigh, but anyway...!). She was still reeling from the fracas caused when Lucian Freud's painting of her ("Benefits Supervisor Sleeping")sold for a record $34 million plus...

Sue Tilley and me

That painting..."Benefits Officer Sleeping"

One of Lucian Freud's etching's of Sue, which I particularly like, and was recently shown at MOMA.

The fabulous Sue

Tuesday Night on the Town...

2008-06-26T18:50:00.000-07:00

Tuesday 24th June 2008

I spent last Tuesday night racing around New York with Brit bombshells Rebecca Guinness and Davina Catt. First stop was down near Ground Zero at the new W residences where I'd been asked to join the eclectic host committee for the launch party of new glossy Gradient magazine ( a bit of a cross between Wallpaper and Vice). It was a good excuse for me to offer to dress the other girl hosts ( Antonia Thompson, Sabine Heller, Bettina Prentice, Sky Nellor and Claw Money), and they all looked gorgeous!

We then went over to Milk Gallery for the Art of Elysium "Rebel Rebel" childrens' charity fundraiser party / auction for Mick Rock and artist Russell Young's new show of screenprints of some of Mick's iconic photos, hosted by Riley Keough and Elijah Wood. It was a mad house!

Finally we tottered to the Bowery Hotel for Tommy Hilfiger and Glamour Magazine's party...

A bronzed Paul Sevigny with Rebecca Guinness at the Gradient Magazine party ( well at the bar)

Me with Antonia Thompson from Robert Burke looking lovely in my "Paisley Rain" print dress

Sabine Heller floating around in my "Feather Oasis " print long Temple dress.

Graffiti artist turned designer and fashion editor of Swindle Magazine Claw Money in my handprinted Fan jacket from my current Fall / Winter collection

Art Gallery PR Bettina Prentice wearing my Batik print dress with her husband Jamie.

DJ Sky Nellor in my Ribbon dress.

Brian McPeck form the A.R.E Weapons and me

Rebecca and Mick Rock at his show at Milk Gallery, behaving themselves as usual

The gorgeous Anne Dexter Jones

Brooke Geahan, Rebecca and Marisa Laken.Cute!

Rebecca ( what again?!) and Davina Catt

Designer Elise Overland and me

The Whitney Art Party

2008-06-18T15:46:00.000-07:00

Tuesday 17th June 2008

Last night was the Whitney Art Party at Skylight studios and the theme this year was Art Chic.I had a pretty eventful start to the evening.Stylist Susan Joy was my partner in crime for the night, and as we were leaving her apartment on Ludlow Street what we thought was a bit of fog turned out to be the apartment block next door burning down!(Nothing was too serious thankfully).Anyway it was a huge party, way to big to even see everyone,but a really fun night even though every other girl was wearing a dress by the sponsor BCBG / Herve Leger which started to look really dull however there were some interesting pieces of art up for auction...

Fire on Ludlow!

Me leaving my apartment, in my best effort to look "Art Chic"in a dress from my Spring 08 collection.

Susan Joy and one of the hosts of the night Meredith Melling-Burke from Vogue.

Jessica Joffe and Barbara Bush

Marie's Claire's hot fashion editor Zanna Roberts with her fiance Rassi from Milk Gallery.

The effervescent stylist to the stars Annabel Tollman on the left.

James Gardner with Marc Jacob's genius shoe design director Irene Chung

The lovely Leigh Lezark

Susan Cernek from Glam.com

My gorgeous hairstylist Ashley Javier.

Brit artist Rachel Garrard and Micheal Bisordi.

Susan Joy with Barneys' Christian Langbein looking spotless!

Emma Snowdon-Jones with event and interior designer Antony Todd in a purple haze.

I really liked this silk screened leather with a siver streak by artist Mika Tajima that was up for bidding. It would make an amazing super tight pencil skirt...

Maria Cornejo

Kenseth Armstead, the artist other half of Zero's Marysia Woroniecka with his "Spook Poster"

Photographer Jeremy Kost and his mate

Me and Susan on our last legs.

Here Comes the Summer...

2008-06-16T15:15:00.000-07:00

Tuesday 2nd to Thursday 12th June 2008

The night after the CFDA awards, it was the impressive 10th anniversary party of Maria Cornejo's label Zero. She celebrated with a clever exhibition of her (and hubby Mark Borthwick's relevant drawings and photos) at her new space on Bleeker between Bowery and Lafayette. Following this we teetered around the corner to artist Hugo Guinness' Dog Show opening of his new work at John Derian's store on East 2nd Street.

The lovely Maria Cornejo on her night.

Girls! Magda Berliner, Jeannie Lee owner of Satine boutique and Carly Willis who's now a buyer for Henri Bendels.

Super stylists Natasha Royt and Avena Gallagher

Paud Roche with Daryl Kerrigan ( I was first introduced to Paud at her house, it's the Irish connection) and her beautiful daughter Leiden.

Writer Maya Singer

Benjamin Liu and Jill were reminising about their days at Andy Warhol's Interview Magazine.

Another infamous Brit, dancer / choreographer Michael Clark who has been a huge influence on me since I was a student, was in town with his company and a new ballet the "Stravinsky Project"at Lincoln Centre. This was in 2 parts; "O", "Mmm" ( both of which are older performances revitalised;I saw Leigh Bowery in the original version of "Mmm"in London in '92) and the debuting "I Do".I couldn't get there quick enough. The costumes were by friends of mine Stevie Stewart and David Holah (once the influential '80s London design label BodyMap) and really cool, and filmmaker Charles Atlas designed the lighting.It was all brilliant and I just wanted more...

At Michael Clark; a pitiful photo I know.

The finale of "I Do", which had someone dressed as giant bridal matryoshka doll flanked by the concert chorale of New York. So sick!

Mark Palmen and Cindy Greene of Libertine outside at Lincoln Centre.

That weekend the weather was 90 degrees in the shade and boiling so together with Paud and Kitty we escaped upstate to stay with James Gardner and Drew Cramer for the weekend, where we were roped in ( literally) to waterskiing!

James and Drew on their boat "Mr Black" on Copake Lake, near Hudson, NY.

James waterskiing...on one ski! I couldn't even get out of the water, it was shameful.

On Wednesday it was Brooke Geahan from the Accompanied Literary Society's 30th Birthday party at Socialista. The following night( feet are killing me by now and resorting to squashing flipflops into my handbag) Thakoon had a cocktail party for his gorgeous new eyewear collection hosted by Jessica Joffe which I popped to before meeting my friend Nicole Brown at Soho House for yet another cocktail party.This was to celebrate the album launch of Interscope's Sean Garrett.....

First I met up with James, Kate Schelter and Val McCulloch ( below).

Shoe designer and committed cobalt blue freak Val at Bar Pitti.

Birthday girl glamourpuss Brooke Geahan and Kate Elson at Socialista.

Mark Mayer and Susan Joy

Designer Thakoon at his event

Jessica in a jumpsuit, Leven Rambin and Liz Vap.

Nicole Brown in my Temple Dress in "Feather Oasis" print from my spring /summer collection.

Rebecca Guinness at Soho House looking very chic and sporty in her shorts suit.

Sean Garrett

Me and Nicole in the loos, looking very much like Siamese Twins joined at the our high-waists in my matching print!

CFDA Awards

2008-06-03T10:04:00.000-07:00

Monday June 2nd 2008

Last night was the CFDA awards at the Public Library on Bryant Park. I was upstairs in the library and the event seemed much shorter and chicer than in previous years. The most fun however was had afterwards..

Me with Candy Pratts-Price looking stunning in a gold Vera Wang dress who was honoured with the prestigious Eugenia Sheppard award for excellence in journalism, here at the after- party thrown for her at the Gold Bar by Jen Ramey.

A couple of favourites, Rebecca Guinness and Derek Blasberg at the library

The ever glamourous Kate Schelter and David Gruning

Designer Erin Featherstone

Cator Sparks and British writer Fay Cantor-Stephens, (who has to my horror just cut her Purdey off!)

Lulu Frost jewellery designer Lisa Salzer and Magda Berliner over from LA.

The power behind Victoria Beckham! Chris Constable her PR with Posh's right hand girl.

Macky Dugan who shares my studio, with Corinna Springer and Paper's star of taxi TV Mickey Boardman

It's always nice to meet other designers, and the boys behind Ruffian Claude Morais and Brian Wolk, were really sweet

Kate Schelter and me

Jacquetta on the Red Carpet

2008-05-16T09:01:00.000-07:00

Monday May 12th 2008

Here's the beautiful Jacquetta Wheeler wearing my sequined Spacey dress at the "Sex and the City" premiere in London this week....what a knockout!

My new website!

2008-05-08T14:07:00.001-07:00

Friday May 9th 2008

My friend Tony King, the creative director and co-founder of Createthe has re-designed my website for the Fall / Winter 2008 season...check it out!

www.suestemp.com

Here's a quick flash of the new home and collection pages...

I Love Beth Ditto

2008-04-19T10:06:00.000-07:00

Tuesday 15th April 2008

Ever since I first heard "Standing in the Way of Control" early last year I've been a huge fan of the Gossip. I saw them play live for the first time on Tuesday at Webster Hall, and Wow! Beth Ditto is a superstar. I couldn't have enjoyed it more. Plus I'd coincidently just made a dress for her that week for Nylon, so when I met up with J Erricho the fashion director at the gig we piled back to meet Beth and the rest...I'm a fan.

Beth Ditto belts it out on stage, looking a stunner in Jeremy Scott.

Beth and me backstage (I'd been down front so looking slightly frazzled here)

Beth again

And Beth in full swing. What a sensation.This was just before she jumped into the crowd...

Murray Hill, the compare for the night with Beth Ditto

Michael Musto from the Village Vopice with the cowboy from the Village People ( yes he's still alive a kicking) Randy Jones at Beige afterwards

PR Nicole Brown was there with Dean and Dan Caten, D Squared

Stylist Grant Woolhead and photographer Danielle Levitt

Playing with the Grown Ups

2008-04-09T09:24:00.000-07:00

Tuesday April 8th 2008

This is the title of Sophie Dahl's new novel, which is just about to come out here in the states. On Tuesday she had an intimate book launch hosted by Mens Vogue at Keens Steakhouse ( which happens to be my favourite place to escape for a quick after work drink; dating back to 1885 it was frequented by Lillie Langtry and strangely has the world largest collection of clay churchwarden pipes on the ceiling!).

The book chronicles the adventures of Kitty (total coincidence) and Marina.Sophie, who I hadn't seen since she moved back to England, looked radiant.

Sophie Dahl and Polly Devlin, writer, Vogue contributor and mum of my friend Bay Garnett

Jazz singer Jamie Cullum (Sophie's boyfriend), Zandy Forbes in Alaia and Paud Roche

Jack Flanagan and Kitty

The cover of Sophie's book

Spring!

2008-03-28T12:17:00.000-07:00

March / April 2008

There's been a lot going on in New York over the past few weeks, with art fairs, openings, launches and benefits etc., It's been packed, fun and sweaty but it's still not warm enough for me to go out without my opaque tights on. Hell!

Anyway I've been around and about, not as snap happy as usual,but here are a few things that caught my eye in the city recently...

The gorgeous stylist Natasha Royt at Nylon's 9th Anniversary party at 1Oak on April 2nd

J Erricho, Nylon's fashion director and Sophia Lemar

Rebecca Guinness with designer Kai Kuhne on best behavior

Paul Sevigny spinning

Stylist Susan Joy hiding behind her bubbles at the Nylon party

My ex-intern from Parsons Aaron Oscar Bakalar looking very suave with his BFF's Patrick and Jordan at Socialista for his 21st birthday party

Me with my old Belgium friend from London Olivier Van der Velde who came to stay with me, at Socialista

Two girls on the dancefloor at Beatrice.I feel a much overdue mini-crini moment coming on!

After Hope Atherton's opening at the Bortolami gallery we popped to the Deitch Gallery on Wooster for the opening of the Substraction show. Here's Olivier again, in front of artist Sterling Ruby's spray paint works.

I spent Easter with Paud's family in Connecticut.I couldn't leave out the Easter Bunny.

Me and Kristian Laliberte...strangely in the Bloomingdales mens department for another Nylon party

J Erricho and Kim looking smashing in her Katherine Hamnett Choose Life t-shirt.Whenever I see that t-shirt I always get a flashback to seeing Wham! in London at a "Junior Best Disco in Town" concert, a long time ago!

Leah Bourne and Carter Cramer who write the website"Le Monde de la Mode"in their spare time

The Virgins on stage at Bloomingdales. Corr!

Happy Birthday Lee

2008-03-20T13:21:00.001-07:00

Monday 17th March 2008

Alexander McQueen was in NY on his way back from checking out his new store in LA, and it was his birthday. He held a dinner Monday night at the Waverly Inn for a few friends including Chloe Sevigny and Steven Klein then some of us finished of the evening at the Beatrice...( thankfully I forgot to keep taking photos!)

Lee McQueen

Trino Verkade who has worked for McQueen since the very start with Vogue's Tabitha Simmons

Showing a bit of leg, Annabelle Neilson in McQueen giving the rest of the diners at the Waverly a real eyeful!

Cake time! Horrified!

Lee and Nur Khan

Sarah Heard, Lee's right hand with Trino

Feral!

2008-03-20T13:20:00.000-07:00

Saturday 15th March 2008

My dear friend from London Caron Geary was over in NY as her performance artist alter ego Feral ( lead singer with Cantankerous, but this time solo) to perform at PS1 as part of the WACK! Art and the Feminist Revolution.So there were a lot of issues going on here!
I just think she looked and sounded amazing( she interrupted the discussion with 3 songs, including "Di-ska-sting" and "Flesh Roast"!), I can't really begin to explain...

Feral! Staring St Patrick's Day early in her Celtic jacket at PS1

Feral again in her handsome performance look of the day

Attention to detail. Underneath her Thai head dress...!

Me and Kitty ran into stylist Rebecca Weinberg with a perfect bowlcut and her daughter Amelie.

Ben Copperwheat and Pam with Feral and Amelie

Kitty about to freak out with Paud and Feral

Feral realness! Here's Caron as herself at mine with Kitty

Games Night round Mine

2008-03-20T13:19:00.002-07:00

Friday 14th March 2008

Last Friday Maya Camin decided to we should have a games night over at my apartment with a few friends. We all had a real laugh but we didn't even get close to even playing the Rizla game...

Maya Camin,with stylists Natasha Royt and Jay Masscaret

Photographers Mark Squires and Poppy DeVillneuve

Photographer( OK so it was a bit of a fashion night) KT Auleta with Maya

Me and Jay

Paud and Heifara Rutgers

James Gardner and Maya squabbling over the next track

The girls...!

Vogue TV

2008-03-20T13:19:00.001-07:00

March 2008

I'm live on on UK Vogue TV!
Kate Elson filmed an exclusive film for them before and during my Fall 2008 collection presentation....

http://www.vogue.co.uk/Video/player/default.aspx?id=974&category=4

Run-up to fashion week in my studio; deciding looks

Me in front of my Fall 08 inspiration wall

Hem detail

Fittings with me and Alex Slavycz

The presentation at the Norwood Club. Model Emina with Hamish Bowles looking on

The effervescent Sarah Sophie Flicker backstage in her vintage star headdress

The runway

Daisy Lowe backstage afterwards

A Nice Bit of Posh...

2008-03-20T13:18:00.000-07:00

Saturday 8th March and Tuesday 11th March 2008

"Oh golly, oh gosh come lie on the couch with a nice bit of posh from Burnham-on-Crouch"
Ian Dury and the Blockhead, "Billericay Dickie" 1977.

These have to be one of my all time favourite song lyrics, plus Burnham-on Crouch ( a small dead-end sailing village)in Essex is my home town.
When I heard that the multi talented singer-songwriter Kate Walsh, is also from Burnham, I couldn't believe it.We met up when she first came to the States and had a lot to chat about. I went to see her perform at Union Hall in Brooklyn last week and she was great.

A few days before that I'd been invited around old friend and T-magazine writer Armand Limnander's for a little get together with some Dom P and posh culinary treats. I was in fishy nibble and champagne heaven...

Kate Walsh on stage

Kate again, singing about another dodgy boyfriend

Round at Armand's apartment. Jeremy, Armand and Nicole.

Horatio Silva who writes The Moment

Me and Jeremy

Sandra Ballentine, T magazine's senior editor who I loved!

Lee Carter from Hintmag with John

Whitney Biennial 2008

2008-03-10T19:18:00.000-07:00

Wednesday March 5th 2008

This is at the cocktail reception at the Biennial for the Whitney Contemporaries last week. This time with 81 artists, the show spread into the Park Avenue Armory ( my favourite part).The building itself, which has recently been restored, is just incredible....

Me and Paud

Here we go..

Djs Hanna and her friend

Bar!

I really loved this robot army

Artist Mordekhai Rubdenstein with his wooden camera and Chris Apple.

This tequila bar installation ( fully operational) went down well with Paud.

The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black / Kembra dolls. Too funny!

Not to be left out, Kitty came with us to see the newish shows ar MOMA; "Design with the Elastic Mind" and "Color Chart; Reinventing Color, 1950 to Today.
Here she is charging around artist Jim Lambie's floor.

Electric Fountain Neon Glitter

2008-03-05T14:53:00.001-08:00

Tuesday 26th and Wedsnesday 27th February 2008

It was my friend Liz Vap's birthday party at Black and Whites. DJing was legendary photographer Mick Rock, who Liz looks after,and it was a real downtown and dirty New York old school rock 'n' roll night out. Loved it!

The following evening I just about managed to get to the opening reception of Electric Fountain at the Rockefeller Plaza. This 35ft high illuminated sculpture by British artists Tim Noble and Sue Webster is a stunner!

The Electric Fountain in all it's neon glory

Liz Vap blows out her all her candles as Nur Khan tries counting them.

Mick Rock spins the tunes with Tweedle Dee (no idea who!)

His lovely daughter Nathalie Rock enjoying been 18 and out and about.

Mikey Boy and artist Tatyana Murray.

Viva,actor and very old friend Ale Magania with me

Jen Talbott and Maya Singer from style.com.

Double trouble; Rory and Rebecca Guinness.

Music PR Alex Baker has a go on the decks

Amir Zia, Sarah Cristobal the editor of Harpers Bazaar online, Liz and Kristen Alexander-King

Cai Guo-Qiang at the Gugg

2008-02-25T06:11:00.000-08:00

February 23rd 2008

On Saturday my friend artist Deanne Cheuk ( who also designs textile prints for my label) invited me to go the dinner at the Guggenheim to celebrate the opening of the Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang's retrospective "I Want to Believe"...

Inopportune: Stage 1. Wow! The exploding car tumbling through the Guggenheim's central space is spectacular.

Me with the artist Cai Guo-Qiang.

Oo Tiger!

Deanne, wearing one of my dresses from Spring in her Feather Oasis print, with me.

This installation is loosely based on a Chinese folk tale of a man eating Tiger. Hold on to you horses Paud!

One of Cai's beautiful gunpowder paintings, which he's really known best for.

Me and a ring of fire.

I loved this...99 wolves ( well really goats in wolves clothing)

Jeff Ng who started the successful Reed Space on the LES.

Michelle Ho, who's father- in - law Robert H.N.Ho's foundation made the whole exhibition possible with Jihae, co-founder of the Asian magazine Theme.

Aoife ( those Irish names!) from V magazine with Deanne at dinner.

Paud and me.

The amazing view of the show view from the top of the Rotunda.

Ginnifer Goodwin

2008-02-20T08:39:00.000-08:00

Tuesday February 19th 2008

Yey! Ginny Goodwin wore one of my dresses again.Here she is looking adorable in one of my new Fall 08 dresses in the Floreau Nouveau digital print at the Costume Designers Guild Awards last night in LA.

( Photo Getty Images)

My New York Fashion Week

2008-02-05T17:45:00.001-08:00

Friday 1st - Friday 8th February 2008

Fashion week in New York, again! After a few days recovering from my Fall /Winter 08 event I was ready to hit the town again...

Karen Elson and Sarah Sophie Flicker sparkling at the Marc Jacobs party on Friday night.

M.I.A mixes it up.

Maya Camin, Lindsay Thompson and stylist Natasha Royt.

Patrick Grant , over from his Saville Row tailors with Marc Jacob's mainline accessories designer Clare Corrigan, who I first met when we were 1st year fashion students on the dancefloor of the Daisychain at the Fridge in Brixton.

Heifara Rutgers with skinny it-boy model of the moment Cole and James Gardner at Marc Jacobs.

Artist Dan Colon and me on tiptoes in 6" Prada shoes.

Thursday it was Agyness' birthday party at Don Hills, thrown by Anna Sui and the Misshapes.
Here's the birthday girl in fine form. One of the few girls I know who can really pull off a turquoise lace glove!

More photos from the girls bathroom.Irina lazareanu looking super cute. Oh and there's the glove again!

Hell knows who on the dancefloor..but those glasses are genius!

Zoe Kravitz (on the right) with her friend at Agy's do.

David Hershkovitz ,one of the masterminds behind Paper Magazine with me.

Brits abroad; Emma Reeves from Work in Progress with Katie Hillier who designs Marc by Marc accessories.

Vogue's Meredith Melling-Burke.

Giada from Milk Studios, Liz Vap, me and Thomasz.

LA stylist and buyer for Milk ( who supported me by buying my very first collection)Ilaria Urbinati.

The Paddingtons played.

Agyness and Patrick Grant having a dance.

Monday at the Halston party also at Don Hills. It was a little weird to me eating cavier canapes in what I would've previously expected to be the last place on earth I'd want to ever eat anything..but anyway!
The designer Marco had friends over to DJ and support him from club Plastic in Milan. I was loving these two with their Amy Winehouse / nurdy nurse look.

My friends Patrick O'Leary and Amir Zia at Halston.

The man himself, Don Hill.

The fantastic Slits. With their own inimitable brand of reggae punk on stage at Webster Hall for Chloe's official launch of her Opening Ceremony line.

Designer Ben Cho.

Rebecca Guinness at Chloe's party.

And Mr fashion himself, Hamish Bowles.

My Fall 2008 collection

2008-02-03T20:06:00.001-08:00

Friday February 1st 2008, 6 - 8 pm.

Last Friday, the first official day of fashion week, I held a presentation of my Fall 2008 collection at the Norwood club here in New York. It was the first real fashion event to be held at the new private arts club on W 14th Street which is an amazing 4 -story listed mansion that has been re-decorated by Simon Costin, so it was a bit of a coup.I'd also never really held a presentation before but this season I felt that a 2 hour intimate champagne event would be more applicable to the clothes, give more editors the chance to stop by and get a closer look...plus more fun!

The collection was titled " About A Girl".I showed 20 looks and used not only real models but roped in some of my lovely, supportive and ever glamourous girlfriends to wear the collection too.

Daisy Lowe backstage in her "Floreau Nouveau" printed silk dress, which I collaborated with artist Deanne Cheuk on. The starting point for my prints this season was art nouveau, in particular Klimt and Tiffany stained glass ( inspired by a photo of the interior of Maxims in Paris I had on my wall).

Girl on the go Kate Elson, who not only videoed the entire night for Vogue.co.uk but also modeled for me! He she is multi tasking with Maya Camin who whipped everyone into shape backstage.

Theodora Richards wearing one of my favourite dresses in the collection.

Kate Bartle my PR from Starworks, Paud and George MacPherson from my UK PR Goodly all having a shifty fag on the fire escape.

Hair stylist Ash Javier working his magic on model Ines.

Ines

Katie Toker my amazing assistant and me backstage.

Photographer Poppy De Villeneuve looking gorgeous in my chrome coloured chiffon dress.

The lovely Nathalie Rock ( Mick's daughter)who always models for me.

Gordon Espinet from MAC, responsible for the beautiful make-up, puts finishing touches to Nathalie.

This season I was lucky to be sponsored by the new skin product line Skyn Iceland and what was even better is it actually works!

Model Gantz in my hand silk screened "Swirly Girl" print dress

Brazilian model Solange in my pleated and hand printed silk jacket

Claudia S in another of my favorite dresses. This has textile designer Ben Copperwheat's hand printed Kaleidoscope design on it.

Stylist Alex Slavycz knots model Eva into her scarf dress, also in the handscreened Kaleidoscope print.

Leigh Lezark from the Misshapes wearing my striped tulle shirtdress

Girl about town Kate Schelter takes to a bit of modeling!

Sarah Sophie Flicker from the Citizens Band in violet chiffon

Model Emina in emerald chiffon

Elena in another "Swirly Girl" handprinted dress.

Jauretsi spinning

Nathalie Rock, Theodora Richards, me and Daisy Lowe

January 2008

2008-02-03T20:04:00.000-08:00

This month was all work, work, work! I did manage to fit in at least one or two good nights though. The Chanel Nuit de Diamantes gala at the Plaza was about as glam as you can get.This was debuting Chanel's diamond pieces from their archives but I was really more interested into seeing what the Plaza renovations looked like( plus seeing everyone else when I still had a remanent of suntan).
I also hosted my friend Amir's birthday party at my apartment, with a bit of a housewarming for me and Paud thrown in too.It was a lot of fun and I feel this is the beginning of my new entertaining at home phase..

Selma Blair with one of my first NY friends Jen Ramey from IMG, at the Chanel party.

Poppy De Villeneuve and Chiara Clemente with a friend.

Amy Sacco and Sarah Cristobel.

Leigh Lezark, Ben Cho and Leigh's roomate.

Stella Schnabel who was DJing and artist Terence Koh.

The new ballroom at the Plaza. Oooo!

Britt Olsen , Paul Sevigny and Greg from the MisShapes, who were also DJing too.

Sophia Lemar and me.

Chanel!

Amir Zia celebrating his birthday wearing my gift to him. Couldn't fit the straw in too well!

Kate Elson, Liz Vap and Kitty.

Me , Amir and Nancy Whiskey.

Scassi!

2008-01-06T09:20:00.000-08:00

Monday 17th December 2007

At the opening of the new exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum's Costume Institute, Blog.Mode ; Addressing Fashion, I got to meet and have a good old chat with legendary New York fashion designer Arnold Scaasi.His heyday was the '60s when he opened his couture house, and he has dressed everyone from Jackie Kennedy to the famously see-thorough outfit Barbera Streisand wore to the Oscars for "Funny Girl", plus he shares my love of vibrant colour. I was thrilled to meet him,looking splendid in his Turnball and Asser matching shirt and tie, he certainly knew his good angles when I he had his photo take with my i-phone!

Arnold Scaasi and myself.

Entrance to the exhibit and Commes de Garcons.This was a showcase for all the new acquisitions of the Costume Institute and invited everyone to comment on the "blogbar" installed.

The Temple of Dendur, where the evening continued. I've always loved this room in the Met, and it's now even more poignant as Paud's father Kevin Roche ( along with his partner John Dinkaloo) was the architect who designed it in the late '70s.

Paud Roche my boyfriend, examines the Eygptian antiquities.

Mexico City New Year

2008-01-03T09:21:00.000-08:00

23rd December 2007 - January 4th 2008

For Christmas and New Year I went with Paud and Kitty down to Mexico. We met up with my parents over from England in the quiet beach town of Akumal on the Yucatan, just north of Tulum and had a much needed rest.For New Year I left Kitty with my mum and dad and took off with Paud to Mexico City to meet up with our friend Jerry Stafford who was on a road trip.I really loved Mexico City;if slightly wary at first about it being a bit rough we didn't see many signs of it ( well apart from being woken up by machine gun fire ). There is such a huge amount of art, history and culture to pack in, and the architecture is an interesting sprawl of the old colonial city and decaying late-sixties modernism.

Arriving in Mexico City. It's vast, smoggy and surrounded by mountains.

First stop was the Saturday craft market shopping frenzy in the very pretty and slightly bohemian area of San Angel.

How cool were these! Loved this embroidery technique,very Matisse.

The local skater boys all had a good look of their own. Here at the obelisk to General Alvaro Obregan.

Me and Paud outside Frida Kahlo's house where she was born, lived much of her life and died, in Coyoacan.I've never been a huge fan of Frida Kahlo's paintings but what is really interesting to me is her and her amazing life.The house is really well preserved and insightful; it contains everything from her work, her clothes, furniture, knicknacks and memories of her love with Diego Rivera to her wheelchair.

Me in Frida Kahlo's garden.

The splendid Christmas tree in Santa Catarina square.

Paud outside the Iglesia de Santa Catarina. We discovered a great old bar here too called Cantina la Guadalupana.

Finally Jerry and writer William Middleton arrived, yey!I'd bumped into Stella Schnabel and her mum that day at the market and we all met up for dinner and a gossip at the Four Seasons.
Jerry Stafford and Stella Schnabel.

Jacqueline Schnabel.

Early the next morning we went to the enormous indoor market, Mercado de la Merced. Feeling a bit hungover this wasn't such a good move; it was pig head heaven!

Cacti at the market

The traffic lights are hysterical. The go sign is a man running really fast.

This is the main square in the heart of the old city centre, the Zocalo. The Catedral Metropolitana is the largest in Latin America and is really magnificent, although sinking.

Christmas decorations in the square.Tasteful!

Paud still with a thumping headache getting serenaded right in his ear at the Cafe Tacuba.

I knew I'd ordered the wrong thing for breakfast there.

These old green VW Beetles are the taxis.This is in front of one the 1968 Olympic stadiums.

Xochimilco. This is a network of canals and islands in the suburbs but really worth the trek. On Sundays it turns into a bit of a fiesta. Families rent out the painted punts, have a picnic on board and hire a Mariachi band ( also floating on their own boat) to play.

Jerry on board, fitting right in.

Paud and me .

Feral Afghans roaming on the shore. Who knew?

Being punted along and serenaded by La Cucaracha.. (it was the only song I could think of!)

Loved the hotel where we stayed, the Camino Real in Chapultepec. It was designed by Mexican architect Ricardo Legorretta in 1968 and is a huge 900 room legacy to the style of Mexican modern architecture of that time... and now has a China Grill inside!
This is Paud in the Blue Bar ( literally on water).

The bubbling Noguchi fountain in the hotel.

One of my high points in Mexico City was going to see the Lucha Libre wrestling. William was writing an article on it and got us really good tickets ( he had a backstage pass..all the wrestlers arrive for work with their masks on!)The audience also wear masks...and it can get a bit rough ( they took my camera away to protect the identity of the wrestlers). It's also really camp!
These are the masks for sale outside.It was another shopping frenzy for us.

Kids in masks outside the Lucho Libre arena.

William, Jerry and Paud at the newish cool design hotel Condesa DF. We were all freezing having dinner in the lovely but roofless courtyard restaurant.

Jerry outside the architect Luis Barragan's house..it was closed on Dec 31st ( as was a lot of Mexico City)

Teotihuacan. This trip we did was just amazing. About an hour outside Mexico City is this site of relics from a mysterious ancient civilization from around the same time as the Roman Empire.The entire population disappeared. You couldn't help but think about some form of space craft landing at the site...which is enormous and quite unearthly in it's appearance.
The Moon pyramid.

Me and Jerry at the Sun pyramid. Jerry and Paud intrepidly climbed to the top of everything possible ( I have really bad vertigo so sat happily at the bottom with the Mexican jewellery seller in her pink velour faux Juicy tracksuit).

The view from top.

Paud and Jerry outside Diegio Rivera's house. Also closed! Our timing was impeccable.

It was New Years Eve and we decided to start off the night with a civilised dinner at nearby restaurant.
Jerry in party spirit.

The rat appetiser!

We then went onto the gay club Living for midnight. I was living for Living, until they confiscated my camera, yet again. Fun though. This is Paud making new friends!

Me back at the hotel.Knackered.

New Years Day with Paud by the hotel pool.

We didn't manage to squeeze in going to Mariachi Square by night ( meant to be a bit dodgy too), so we popped by on the way to the airport and only managed to see a few lone, leftover Mariachis that no-one had hired...

Back to the tranquility of Akumal. On the beach with Paud and Kitty.

Me with my parents on our last night.

Office Party Season

2007-12-14T14:22:00.000-08:00

Thursday 13th - Thursday 20th December 2007

The office party season kicked off it's Christmas countdown for me on Dec 13th with the Starworks ( my PR company) Christmas dinner at the Little Inn on W12th, followed the next week by the Createthe ( responsible for my website) Christmas do at Soho House, then back the Little Inn on W 12th on Thursday 20th for the Lipman party. What a blur...

Jauretsi at the Starworks party. What an enviously little waist!

Me with the mastermind couple behind Starworks, Alana Varel and James Grant.

Lovely Leigh Lezark

Melissa Lun and Kate Bartle from Starworks; Eskimo kissing I think.

Paud and Lyle Maltz, (wearing one of of my cashmere chequerboard scarves!)

Kelly Penford, cheeky chappy.

Amir Zia and Tony King from Createthe at his party.

A hot chick from Createthe and Kevin Robinson from Kevin Krier.

Amir, Drew Cramer and James Gardner, the other host.

DJ Honey Dijon doing her thing

David Lipman trying his hardest not to notice the burlesque stripper next to him at his Christmas party.

Quynh Mai from Lipman and her photographer boyfriend Nick Heavican.

Milana Lipman, Amir and her friend from school.Too cute.

The world record holding sword swallower , who after stealing my champagne whilst talking to me in a thick Turkish accent, turned out to be from exotic Bromley in Kent.

Mark Meyer, me and Jack Flannagan

Amir with the gorgeous Tina Lipman.

Miami Art Basel

2007-12-14T14:21:00.000-08:00

I was there from Thursday 6th - Sunday 9th December 2007.

Along with friends James Gardner, Drew Cramer and Massimo Cuviello, I went to Miami Art Basel for a few days and nights of sun, sand and art along with half of New York. And the fun!So much to do and see in such a small time, here are my highlights....

Outside the Bridge art fair.

Art writer Nev Wakefield with girlfriend Lisa at the Tokion party at the Standard on Thursday night.

Emma Snowdon-Jones looking sultry at the Standard.

PR girl Jen Talbott, Mark Meyer from Lipman and David Gruning from Swarovski, not looking sultry all.

Maya Camin with new friend.

Later that evening was the Agent Provocateur party at Lenny Kravitz's new Florida Room lounge in the Delano. London nightclub legend Phil Dirtbox with Agent Provocateur's Joe Corre.

Phil double fisting before his performance.

The Paper magazine tent outside the Raleigh.Here are some celebrity portraits by the Creative Growth Art Center curated by Cheryl Dunn.

Balloon art.

Massimo, myself and James at the Raleigh.

On Friday we had lunch with the godfather of modern skateboarding Tony Alva and his girl Katy Rodriguez from the vintage treasure trove Resurrection.That evening Tony performed at Art Positions with some local skate kids and Assume Vivid Astro Focus created the sounds and visions revolving around the 70 ft skate ramp.
Tony Alva in action.

Tony up close with the kids.

Jessica Joffee with British gallery owner Chris Taylor of Museum 52.

Mandie Erickson poolside after dark.

The Purple party at Le Baron.Stylist Haydee Finley Levin manages to keep her lippy on!

My New York girlfriends hit the dance floor. Graphic designer whizz Prim Chuensumran and stylist Susan Joy.

Me with James Kaliardos from Visionaire.

The ever glamourous Mandy Brooks from the Soho Grand.

Assume Vivid Astro Focus at Le Baron.

Purple's Olivier Zahm.

The lovely Rebecca Guinness, my partner in crime for the night, with London art boy Elliot McDonald.

Swimming at sunrise with Rebecca and co.

That night was the Accompanied Literary Society and Swarovski's party for the launch of the book "The Worth of Art" published by Assouline at the Raleigh.There was dinner and a panel discussion which was then followed by an afterparty, phew!
NY artist Drew Cramer with one of the back-up singers from the Voluptous Horror of Karen Black.

Tamsin Lonsdale from the Supper Club, me and David Gruning.

Leigh Lezark DJ-ing at the Raleigh with the MisShapes.

Getting blown away on the roof, Massimo, me and James.

Twin cheerleaders wearing matching tracksuits and turquoise glitter eyeliner having Sunday brunch at the diner. Miami!

Nights at Norwood

2007-12-05T06:40:00.001-08:00

Friday 30th November and Monday 3rd December 2007

The new members-only arts club, Norwood House on W14th Street has rapidly become my favourite new hang-out. The landmark 4-story mansion, built in 1845, still maintains many of it's original features,but has been re-decorated and designed exquisitely by Simon Costin.I had a couple of really good fun nights there this week, entertaining friends who were in town was the excuse!

Paud Roche and me at Kevin Carrigan's boyfriend's birthday party ( photo by Mark Borthwick!)

My friends Patrick Grant from Saville Row tailors Norton and Sons with British designer James Abbott over from LA.

Photographer Mark Borthwick and Zero designer Maria Cornejo.

A few days later my old friend Amie Witton, London PR girl, was over with new hot shoe designer Jonathan Kelsey. We had dinner in the Norwood restaurant, and James Gardner showed us his napkin folding party trick.....
Me, James Gardner from Createthe, Jonathan Kelsey, Kristen Alexander and Amie Witton-Wallace.

Kristen and Amie paying attention to the folding technique.

Things then went a bit awol with over excitement, and we all ended up at the Beatrice Inn close by.
Kristen, Amie and me.

Oh look natural boys. Kristian Laliberte, James and Jonathan at Beatrice.

Derek Blasberg and Lyle Maltz from Starworks.

Uptown Girl

2007-11-20T19:24:00.000-08:00

Having just moved to the Upper East Side, which is a bit like a foreign country to me, I was delighted to be able to walk to a few things going on this week in my new uptown neighbourhood!

Thursday kicked off with Chloe Sevigny and Carrie Imberman hosting the opening of the"Kentshire" gallery on Madison; Carrie's family's business which deals in amazing estate jewellery,antique furniture and objects. It was all SO gorgeous, although I had to blink twice where the comma was on the price tags.

Following this I went down to the Accompanied Literary Society's event for the launch of "Seven", the new superhero comic book by Denise Wohl ( Arden's mum) and James C.Shooter, at Philippe Starck's Gramercy Yoo.

Then Friday we went to the always glamourous and quintessential New York hotel the St Regis, for a Paper magazine party celebrating their recent "You Are It" fashion story.

Chloe looking stunning and sunkissed does a re-touch in the toilet queue at "Kentshire".

The other lovely host Carrie Imberman with Kate Schelter.

Me and photographer Danielle Levitt.

Emily McInnes and baby Sophie.

Designers Ben Cho and Marcus Burrowes from Rockers NYC. Loved that sweater.

Interesting girl with braids and a yellow ombre long dress.

Cindy Greene from Libertine and her mates.

Arden's mum Denise at her launch.

Jen Talbott,Brooke Geahan and Mandie Erickson.

The lovely Paul Sevigny DJ'd, with me.

Matt Kays from Seventh House.

The ceiling ( I wasn't on the floor when I took this).

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld and Kitty admire the decor in the St Regis' Fountainbleu room.

Designer Lola Faturoti.

Mickey Boardman checking in.

Paud and Kitty at piano.

Kate Schelter looking fantastic as usual in my playsuit from Fall.

Korean and Karoke on W 32nd Street

2007-11-05T19:43:00.001-08:00

Friday November 2nd 2007

On Friday me and Paud were really treated to a fun night out in Korea town with the Korean girls; womenswear designer ( and my lovely studio neighbour) Doo Ri and her friend Eunice Lee, the designer behind the menswear line Unis, plus some of their staff.
After a few (!)cultural glasses of shochu and some delicious BBQ , kimchi and the lot, we staggered a few doors down and upstairs ( not getting off at the co-ed spa btw) for a good night of tone-deaf karoke....

Doo Ri kicks off with "Stand By Your Man".

Eunice on the tambourine as Paud recovers from "Staying Alive "( he has a great falsetto!)

Me with Chris Constable from LaForce and Stevens, giving Bananarama's"Venus" a go.

The charming shopboys from Unis.

Chris , Doo Ri and myself.

A Flying Visit to London

2007-10-18T04:45:00.000-07:00

October 9th - 13th 2007

On the way back to New York we had a couple of days in London to pick -up Kitty and try and see a few people. All a bit of a rush, didn't even get to Top Shop which I wasn't too pleased about!

We did manage to squeeze in a pub though. Gambling age?

I had a very civilised afternoon tea at the Wolsey with the lovely Dolly Jones from Vogue.com and George MacPherson from my London PR, Goodley.

Kara Goodley and Sarah Harris from British Vogue at E & O in Notting Hill.

My friend Su who's flat we stayed in on Drury Lane, trying on the Bombshell dress I gave her.

At the Union Bar on Greek Street with the girls; Nicky Lawler and Kirsty Allison

The girls I used to work with at Ghost; Tamsin Walters and Jill Entwistle,

and Ris Fatah. It wasn't Karoke!

Me with Caron Kinks.

On the way to the airport and home. We stopped of at the Bluebird shop on the Kings Road where I popped in to say hi to the staff selling my Fall collection.

My Paris Fashion Week

2007-10-18T04:44:00.000-07:00

October 2nd- 8th 2007

I had to take my spring collection to Paris for sales.Not having been to Paris during fashion week for years I was SO excited! I love Paris, plus it was going to be my birthday and I would get to see a lot of old friends from London and Paris, so we had a lot to cram in....

Loved this, the Lego runway at Colette.

At the Galliano show with Katy England and Jess Morris. The set was incredible and included a carousel.

Irina opening the show, which was a gorgeous romp loosely based on Grey Gardens.

More Galliano. You can never have enough turquoise tulle.

Fran Cutler fan dancing.

We had front row seats at Galliano, just down from Naomi and Kanye West...the paparazzi.

Mine and Mickey Boardman's birthday. We celebrated at the New York, New York night at Paris Paris, which was hosted by Tommy Saleh from the Soho Grand and the Misshapes played.It was very much a home from home and a lot of fun.

Janneke my ex-intern came over for the weekend from Holland.

Designer Magda Berliner and friend.

NY artist Scott Lifshutz and stylist Keegan Singh.

We then made our way to Club Sandwich at the old and untouched disco gem leftover from the Seventies, La Scala. Here we met up with Astrid Munoz and Jerry Stafford.

Erich Conrad and Dan MacMillan.

I did fit in a bit of shopping, and ran into designer Ben Cho in Saint Germain.

The McQueen show. There was barely a dry eye in the house at the end when Neil Diamond was played at the finale of a stunning show tributed to the life and style of Issy Blow.
Me backstage with model of the moment, the lovely Magdelena Frackowiak.

After the show it was off to the Ritz for a cocktail before the afterparty. We ran in to Jefferson Hack in the Hemmingway bar.

Anouk Lepare and Jerry Stafford.

Oo cheeky! Annabelle Nielson looking fabulous in McQueen. The regulars at the Ritz were treated to a real eyeful that night.

Me with the glamourous Daphne Guinness ( after her 3rd outfit change of the evening, she decided to loose the top hat )and Kerry Youmans from KCD.

The weather was great. Paud and me take a minute in relax in the Place des Vosges ( after a bottle of rose).

The Agnes B show at the Palais de Tokyo. Chris Apple hard at work.

Paud at the Palais de Tokyo.

Tommy Saleh and Mandy Brooks at Agnes B....chic!

At the finale of the show some of Agnes' star graffiti friends got their pens out. Here's Skii in action.

Only in Paris!

One of my oldest and bestfriends, plus ex- flatmate from London, Chris DiPietro from Vivienne Westwood, with me and Sidonie Barton, at Argentinian restaurant Anahi.

The rest of the Westwood gang recovering the day after the show, Murray Blewett and Mark Spye.

More old mates from home, Thmoas Jibogan and Olivier Van der Velde.

Me and a bit of bone marrow.

It was also Maria Cornejo's birthday whilst we were there. Here we all are at Mathis ..Maria with Jerry and Carly Willis from the Satine boutique in LA.

Marysia Woroniecka , Maria's partner at Zero, with photographer Maciek Kobielski.

We then all went to the club next door to hear Catherine Baba DJ. And that was a real chandelier on her head!

Lisa and Nev Wakefield.

Me with my spring collection at the Showroom Seven showroom in the Marais.

Burnham Carnival

2007-10-18T04:18:00.000-07:00

Saturday 29th September 2007

On the way to Paris we took a bit of a detour and stoppped off at my parents' house in my home town of Burnham - on - Crouch( or Burnham - on- Scrunchie as Paper's Mickey Boardman likes to call it) on the Essex Coast.It just so happened it was Burnham Carnival that night. This meant a lot to me! Burnham used to have the longest illuminated carnival procession in the world and growing up it was one of the top nights of the year.It's any excuse to dress up ; it was an early influence.

Mr Pig ( probably the local butcher) does his bit for charity.

Local girl

I couldn't get on the Twister quick enough.It's all about the cheap thrills.

Local Carnival Queens on their caged float.

A majorette in the procession.I've always wanted a go at that twirling.

The fairground.

My New York Fashion Week

2007-09-20T17:58:00.000-07:00

September 6th - 12th 2007

Still on a bit of a roll after my show until exhaustion really kicked in mid-way through the week, I started off on Thursday at photographer Marilena Borgna's cool exhibition of rock'n'roll photos at the Dactyl foundation gallery show.

The lovely girl of the moment Agyness Deyn DJed.

Me and Steve Dellar from One models.

Oi Oi! Nurski!

Some of the work.

Tommy Salah from the Soho Grand.

Friday Sept 7th I went to Doo Ri's( my studio next door neighbour)show at Milk Gallery, which was breathtakingly beautiful.Later that evening me and Paud went to the Prada store party and saw the Hours perform...it was packed! But the Damian Hirst decorated store did look pretty amazing and it was well worth the squash. We then scurried out of there for a quick dance around at the Dazed and Confused party at the Tribeca Grand before bed.

Multitalented film director John Maybury with Erich Conrad.

The Queens of Noize were there straight from playing at the Cavalli party with Flo ( Florence and the Machine) and her sister.

I had a lovely Sunday afternoon with Kitty in the Village. We stopped by Lulu Guinness' store on Bleeker Street for the preview of her spring 08 bag collection and her collaboration with photographer Poppy DeVillenueve's portraits and her sister Daisy DeVilleneuve's illustrated book.

Poppy DeVillneuve and Chiara Clemente with Kitty.

Rebecca Guinness and Kitty.

Monday Sept 10th and the Marc Jacobs show.OK ,it was 2 hours late, but personally I wasn't complaining at all as I sat around the corner tucking into poppadoms in an Indian restaurant with James Gardner and Tony King from Createthe ( who design Marc's website) and Haifara Rutger ( who also works for Marc, so I guess we were on call). The show was well worth waiting for , the set was incredible, and the clothes I think were possibly my favourite Marc Jacobs collection ever, they were truely gorgeous, I loved the colours, and the shoes were to die for.

It must have been past midnight by the time we all piled out of the Armoury and made it to the afterparty, where we had a blast!

Going there with James and Haifara.

We picked up Serena Rees, Camille Bidault-Waddington, Alister Mackie and Suzanne Deeken on the way.

Debbie Harry backstage...my style icon.

Venetia Scott.

At the afterparty I played find the bar with Simon Le Bon and his friend.

Boot envy! Camille had on the most amazing pair of purple Westwood boots ever.

Me with Purple Magazine's Olivier Zahm.

Terry Richardson looks on.

Katie Hillier, the bag designer genius with her boyfriend Patrick Grant from Saville Row.

Foxy Serena with me at the Marc Jacobs afterparty.

The following evening was a show at the Milk Gallery of unseen mannequins originally painted by Halston's boyfriend Victor Hugo in collaboration with Andy Warhol.

One of the mannequins.

I was so pleased to see my old friend and new mum Jess Morris ,who's the PR Director of Agent Provocateur and had just arrived from London, snuggling up to Mick Rock.

Artist Anthony James and Kitty in her new hareem disco jumpsuit, hot from under the sewing machine.

Jess with me and Liz Vap who organised the event...not sure that's the best camera angle for us!

Weds night Agent Provocateur held an intimate dinner on the Gramercy Park Hotel roof hosted by Magie Gyllenhaal to celebrate the new campaign she starred in and the "Lessons in Lingerie" book. As it was the beginning of Rosh Hashanah Maggie treated us all to apples and honey first, before we sat down.

Jess reads "Lessons in Lingerie" whilst Paud pretends to be disinterested.

Waris and Rosario Dawson.

Alana Varel and Sharon Ainsberg fornm Starworks with Serena.

Afterwards we piled off to the Purple Magazine party at the Beatrice Inn.

Chloe Sevigny and Ben Cho really enjoying the music they played!