Seen and Overheard: I Can't See Her Hair

Just a few of the quotes overheard at Beach Blanket Babylon's after-party last night:

"A latex mask must get really hot."
"That drag queen with the great legs thinks the music is crap and wants to leave to go get a KFC."
"Is that Alice whatever-her-name-is, the model, over there dancing? I can't see her hair to tell if half of it's missing."
"I just saw the drag version of Jon Bon Jovi."
"Is that guy wearing a g-string? Oh...no, no...and now he's...oh, she's whipping him."

As you can tell, things got a bit out of hand.

Seen and Overheard: Dita Aloud

Hot-ticket designer William Tempest delivered a collection of gorgeously architectural, Tudor-inspired dresses just a few hours ago (full review later), and like the members of Fash Pack, Emma Watson and Sophie Alexander seemed pleased. Assumably, so did the reps from Sass & Bide who were also sitting in the packed house at Vauxhall Fashion Scout.


Backstage, we found out a few things:
1) William's grandma hasn't planned a celebration, but she sure hopes she can take him to coffee later.
2) William has set his sights on dressing Dita von Teese, whom he's already met a couple of times, or at least Girls Aloud.


Watch those tabloids closely. With comparisons to Alexander McQueen and Christopher Kane, this kid is going somewhere.

Seen and Overheard: PPQ party

Scene: In the queue outside Cafe de Paris on Coventry Street

Bouncer: "Where are you going?"
Fashion person: "We're waiting to go into the party. They should know us"
Bouncer: "I don't know you. You haven't been here all this time. People have ben queuing up for a long time. Go and join the queue all the way at the back round the corner"

I didn't know waiting in the cold for a party could be so fun!

Bring on tonight!

Roving Reporter: Ann-Sofie Back

Boo! Did I scare you? If so, then you shouldn't look at one of the oversized jumpers Swedish designer Ann-Sofie Back rolled out this season, which had the three-letter word dripped across a model in a very bloody font.Although unexpected, it was appropriate for a show that found its theme in Halloween films such as Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The dreamweavers attached to tops and skirts were slightly harder to understand, but Back worked her theme well with zombie-eye contacts, Frankenstein-haired models and every pattern of jersey and denim slashing known to man.

Sound a bit overboard? The audience seemed into it, and everyone's extra treat came at the very end of the show. That was the first time I ever heard a designer end a show with the Ghostbusters theme, and assumably it'll be the last.

Roving Reporter: Eley Kishimoto

Suzy Menkes of the International Herald Tribune was among the front-rowers to check out Mark Eley and Wakako Kishimoto's 'Jet Set Masala' runway show at the tent today. The theme translated into '60s flight attendant silhouettes and Bollywood brights, with the occasional bowler or riding hat to top things off.

Models clomped down a red-and-white checkered runway in structured blazers with gold-button epaulets and embroidered insignias, when they weren't wearing oversized purple or teal jumpers as dresses. The wilder side of the subcontinent reference became more blatant with a giant tiger printed on one jumper, and box-pleated tiger prints draping from the waists of patch-pocketed frocks.

This, plus bright and bold geometric prints and plenty of harlequins, made it the typical sensory overload we've come to expect from Eley Kishimoto. Photos and updates to come later.

Seen and Overheard

"I've given my assistant all of the off schedule shows to do this evening. I've got to get to the PPQ party on time" said an editor in the media centre today.

It's official. The PPQ party at Cafe de Paris tonight is the biggest most anticipated party of the season.

Come back for pictures and more seen and overheard from the party tomorrow

Seen and Overheard: They Like Me, They Really Like Me

Betty Jackson has plenty of adoring fans, judging by the presence of Jefferson Hack, Erin O'Connor, Leah Wood and Lorraine Kelly in her front row and the hefty pack of well-wishers who mobbed her backstage after her show. Colin McDowell suggested singing a song, and Hilary Alexander couldn't gush enough.

"The whole show - fabulous," she told me. "It redefines feminism. It's what women want to wear right now."


Well said, Hil. Full review of the print- and floral-heavy show (with more pictures and inside details from Betty herself) to come later. We need time to pick the best shots of Jourdan Dunn, Liu Wen and Tanya D.

Seen and Overheard: Models Unite

Sometimes it's surprisingly hard to find Lily Cole at London Fashion Week (maybe she's off on more French Playboy shoots), but luckily enough, we've spotted her with a handful of other big-name models of all generations.

Lily Cole modeled in the Qasimi show today, with Erin O'Connor opening and Jaquetta Wheeler and Jasmine Guinness walking later. Even Yasmin Le Bon took a surprise turn on the runway, with hubby Simon watching front-row.

But none of the girls got as big of a cheer as Carmen Dell'Orifice, the legendary model who still sparkles at 70+. The Harry Winstons on her neck didn't hurt...

Seen and Overheard: Mr West, Mr West

Your faithful Fash Pack would recognise a certain semi-mulleted 'former' rapper anywhere. And what I'm saying is that Kanye West took his new girl, Amber Rose, and an abbreviated posse to the Peter Jensen and Ann-Sofie Back show tonight. Seems he's serious about that fashion career because he picked one of the week's most buzzed-about shows to (nearly) upstage.


Although Rivkie, Naomi and I were just as pleased to see the short-haired blonde directly in front of us. Kate Lanphear (fashion director of US Elle) showed up to the Topshop venue, and it's seriously the jackpot of the fashion lottery to sit a foot away from the person who can even make High School Musical actors look badass.

Seen and Overheard: Making an Entrance

Naomi tends to be very thoughtful, which can either come in handy or get Fash Pack members into difficult situations. Like hauling a Red Bull refrigerator into the champagne lounge of the tent.


"Need a hand?" Naomi asked a poor young thing with a fridge wedged between one hip and two gate posts outside the Natural History Museum. Unfortunately, the girl said yes. This turned into the three of us taking turns holding a side of the fridge, carefully navigating tourists with whining packs of children, and eventually climbing perilously narrow metal steps to the lounge.

At which point, the organiser of the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards pulled Naomi, Red Bull girl and myself aside for a scolding. "Check with me the next time you bring over deliveries. That was kind of awkward."

Thanks, Naomi.

Seen and Overheard: Sasha P

While waiting for the Eun Jeong show, it emerged that one of Fash Pack's favourite emerging designers has none of the clothes he designed left.

But no worries - because they're off being shot on Sasha Pivovarova in the Seychelles. No big deal.


More details to come xoxo

Seen and Overheard

Okay, so it's only day one of fashion week and I've already have my first embarrasing moment.

Leaving the tents this morning after the Noir/Bllack Noir show, thinking I was looking rather stylish I might add, a fashion friend and I were stopped by the London Lite. Okay, not French Vogue or Scott Schulman but still!

Here I am approaching the photographer about to do my Chanel Iman fierce look and to my despair, they were actually asking my cute fashion friend to pose for the picture.

Luckily while she took the picture I was saved by street style bloggers that took a firm liking to my platforms.

I was so caught up in the embarrasment that I didn't realise that their journalist was actually shouting my name to come and get my photo taken too.

One embarrasing moment down, several more to go.........

Seen and Overheard: Love Stoned in the Park

I once sat in Justin Timberlake's restaurant eating some of the most delicious macaroni and cheese ever while watching Trace Ayala (aka Justin's restaurant/design/every-other-business partner) take pictures with beefcakey firefighters on the pavement outside. For whatever reason. If only the firefighters could see Trace now...

William Rast, which Justin and Trace design with two others, showed right before Marc Jacobs and put up a decent fight for attention, despite the unfortunate time slot. As my friend Lizzy and I would say, that's William Rast Brand Fantastic. (Inside joke.)

Oh, and for anyone else who goes to that restaurant - Southern Comfort in New York - the mac and cheese recipe has changed and now tastes no different than the stuff at the supermarket. My tastebuds weep.

Seen and Overheard: Show Yourself!

Spotted: Yohji Yamamoto making his first runway appearance at Y-3, the Adidas collaboration that's getting a new children's line this year. So Yo, do you always bring that many kids with you?

Seen and Overheard: Big Hair and Pop Stars

What did Daily Telegraph Fashion Director Hilary Alexander think of the LCF master’s runway show?
“I loved all the big hair and makeup,” she told her extra-fashiony group. (Well, Hillary, we agree! And let’s hope we see models like Irina Kulikova sporting the same look next Fashion Week.)

Who does sequiny superstar Manjit Deu want to see wearing his dresses?
“Oh, so many people – Kylie Minogue, Lady Gaga…” (We say: Just Dance, Manjit.)

Which looks at the MA show captured Girls Aloud singer Nicola Roberts’ attention?
“I loved the dresses with all the big knits,” she told the Pack. (But Nicola, we love your nude-and-neon Richard Nicoll mini-dress!)