New York Fashion Week part 2

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

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

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

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 !

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

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

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 ).