F A S H I O N | W E E K | P A R T I E S

Opening a packet of unseen film just printed - there's no thrill quite like it. I got my disposable camera films from Paris fashion week developed during my quick trip back to the UK last weekend, which brought hilarious memories flooding back. Everyone's on their worst best behaviour at the fashion parties - it's a high-adrenalin school reunion for the international fash pack, and those free cocktails bars can be terribly, dangerously generous. Some old classmates ... Audrey, Nadia, Kimberley...

VOGUE'S FASHION NIGHT PARIS

It took quite some energy to will myself to cross town for the Vogue Fashion Night on Thursday, mostly because it was my day off and I quite fancied a day off from fashion, and also because my friend Hugh and I were enjoying some serious animal entertainment from Youtube, namely things along this line. But also because I know that the Paris Fashion's Night Out isn't a patch on the London version; it's a lot more snooty, there isn't really that much going on in the stores and it's isolated on just one street - Avenue Montaigne. In all the stores I went into, I never saw anyone buy anything so I'm not sure entirely how successful it is in Paris as an marketing tool, but hey - it's always fun to mingle with the well-heeled, in any city where there's free champagne. 

The 7th arrondisement by night // Hugh - a great friend from university - and I at Prada // Super sketchy Prada mannequins which looked like domestic abuse victims with bruised necks // Audrey and Haleigh

Haleigh's dashing ensemble

Me snapped by Audrey. I wore Zara fedora and orange fur stole and Andy Warhol print Lisa Perry dress // The Vogue mini coopers // Chloe balloons

More victims at Prada. I think extreme heat in the store may have been the cause of their death, it certainly caused us to burn up!

GREAT rock&roll cover band at the Chrome Hearts store. You can't see here, but the lead singer had two cigars stuck in the back of his music stand. This party actually got shut down by police while we were there. 

Our Chrome Hearts crooner // Prada windows // Model in a bath at Chrome Hearts. I can think of worse ways to spend an evening - she had a full glass in her hand all night!

PARIS, TEXAS

Photos by Audrey & Haleigh

Saturday night at Frassy HQ: with Audrey back from Spain, Haleigh having returned from the States and designer Michelle Goldie on a long weekend, it was a good enough excuse as any to throw an impromptu wig party. We all wear Frassy Spheres.

PEACH BEACH DREAMS

My beautiful friend Sophie and I celebrating her 21st birthday on Portobello Beach, Scotland after a perfect balmy evening of champagne and ceilidh dancing. Sophie's regal gown is from Mango, mine is vintage from Armstrong's Vintage Emporium. Shortly after these shots were taken the dresses were off and we were in the sea (we're Scots, there's no such thing as cold water).

Happy 21st my darling!

THESE BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS

When the lovely folk at Jersey Pearl gifted me the gorgeous 2-metre strand necklace from their Twenties collection (worn above with faux pearl and diamanté necklace from Martine Webster), I knew within a second the perfect occasion for their début: A prohibition-era themed country party. Our 'speakeasy' was a spectacular barn, and everyone seized the occasion in costume - I've gotten so into the fancy dress party trend now that I always get a little disappointed if there isn't one. 

I've read and re-read Evelyn Waugh's Vile Bodies and the Fitzgerald novels enough times to develop a serious desire to host my own Bright Young Things party for many moons now, and Ned & Jamie's prohibition soirée (wrong continent, right epoch) was the best opportunity I've had to indulge in my Gatsby's party dream, complete with genuine classic car. 

There is something so inherently sophisticated about wearing pearls, especially real pearls (they're my first!). My Jersey Pearls have a sublime lustre to them and are beautifully strung and knotted in silk. I'm bewitched. 

www.jerseypearl.com

TWENTY-ONE AND UP FOR FUN

MY 21ST BIRTHDAY PARTY

I'd had my heart set on a bollywood themed party ever since I travelled to India at 18. I bought the pink and cerulean saree in Dehli and have kept it neatly folded in a drawer ever since, awaiting its occasion.

Three months of solid planning did I invest in this endeavour, and when the date finally rolled around, I couldn't quite believe it was actually happening. Guests came from far and wide to Edinburgh: London, France, Italy ... I can't tell you how touching it is when you see someone arriving in full regalia with a big grin on their face. It absolutely poured with rain for days before and for the duration of the party, and 15 minutes before my guests arrived I was up to my elbows in mud, desperately trying to salvage what remained of my set-up for a 'garden' party and on my knees in darkness in the tent, re-fusing a lighting rig damaged by rain. I've never gotten ready quicker in my life - 3 and a half minutes - a new record!

I was completely overwhelmed the whole night: by everyone's costumes, by the divine presents (including my beautiful Taj-esque cake hand baked by my sister) and the divine presences of people who have meant the world to me the last 21 years.  Ten hours disappeared in a bottle of Cobra beer and a waft of incense (I still had time to fit in an outfit change of course) and I woke up the next morning thinking 'Oh...it's over!' and wished I could do it all again, and pay better attention this time.

photographs by David Hall
The Indian tent is handmade in Rajasthan, provided by Delightfully Lavish Events. I would wholeheartedly recommend.

MIDNIGHT IN MOROCCO

You are cordially invited to

Lulu Wimbush's Midnight in Morocco party

Wilderhope Manor, Shropshire