Prom power




Lovely Claudia who did work experience with me last year is in today’s Times magazine. Their reporter followed her and two other teenagers around at their school proms and published a feature in today’s supplement. Claudia also sent me this picture which wasn’t used but I absolutely love* – behold that rainbow of dresses! If I’d been in charge, this would have made the cover of the mag rather than boring old Brad Pitt.

I’m slightly resentful that we didn’t have proms in my day, God knows we had seen Grease enough times, we would have loved a prom. It’s also interesting that prom is only just being picked up by the mainstream UK media now. A few years ago when I worked on teen magazines, we would do a prom issue once a year and oh, what a production it was. We’d do the prom fashion shoot, the prom makeover, the prom beauty feature, the ‘Are you a Promzilla?’ quiz, the Win a Prom competition and on and on. But could we get decent prom dresses to use in the fashion shoots? No we could not, the only time you could get dressy dresses was at Christmas so we would cobble our features together out of whatever bits and pieces we could find. Here’s a message for high street retailers – prom is bloody massive, start exploiting it!

*Double click for full effect
[Pic: Louis Quail]


A cape to covet




Summer’s not over yet (although it might as well be) but the new collections are flooding in so of course I’m going to get excited about them. A few days ago I was interviewed for a book on bloggers and was asked a question about my must-haves for autumn-winter. After the Isabel Marant ankle boots I saw at Merci in Paris, and the entire Sonia by Sonia Rykiel collection that has just landed at My-wardrobe.com, the only thing I could think of was something that doesn’t exist. Or does it? I’m hankering after a knee-length gold sequin cape – or chain mail at a push. Something dramatic and luxurious that would work as an entrance-making evening coat. Let’s be clear, I’m not talking about a namby pamby Primark flammable capelet sprinkled with a few cursory gold-coloured beads, but something substantially fabulous that weighs a ton – something Patrick Wolf might wear. 

The more I think about it, and the more I realise it just isn’t out there, the more I want it (of course). In the meantime, at the other end of the cape spectrum, I’m really feeling ASOS’s duffle cape with its straight front, draped back and nice school uniform-ish navy blue colourway. Not quite the show-stopper I had in mind but possibly something that might get more wear. Hmm, fabulous or practical – such a tough call, no?


Snippets



Today has been a complete whirlwind so I’m speed-blogging to get it all down.

Breakfast with Tiffany
9am Brekkie at Automat with a very blog-savvy PR. Lots to discuss including the importance of brands to have a two-way conversation with consumers online.

First look at APC
1030am Love that familiar signature candle scent on first entering the new Dover Street store and I immediately eyeballed all the shirts, wedges and belts. Welcome back to London APC!

Murdock opens store no 3
1045am Just a stone’s throw from APC in Dover Street was the latest Murdock luxury barbers (5B Stafford Street, W1). These guys have cornered the market in high end (but not poncy) male grooming. Alongside the trad barbers service, they offer a lovely retail experience, especially if you’re a girl gift-buying for a fussy discerning guy. When I asked to have a nose round, I was invited to have a look upstairs, even though ‘it’s not finished yet’ and my host also revealed that Scott Schuman had recently enjoyed the Murdock experience. Didn’t surprise me one bit, this place is a must-visit for all sartorialists.




Falling back in love with LK Bennett
1130am: As I was in Bond Street, I decided to give Fenwick the once over including a mini- tour of LK Bennett. Wow, it’s suddenly totally right for now. I liked the high-on-the-instep Mary Janes (Selina, £155), roundtoe courts in an array of heel heights (Sabira, £130, Shilo, £140) and red low-heel pumps (Samedi £125) to go with crop skinny jeans and ankle socks. Nice work LKB.




Short Cuts
12pm This Uniqlo window caught my eye – same-day instore alterations. Me likey.
Daily Candy and arm candy
3pm After more meetings and lunch I headed to Fashion Business Club to take in an interview with DailyCandy.com‘s London editor Malika Dalamal. Daily Candy is looking into encouraging feedback from its readers via comments which I think is a very good thing indeed as it harnesses the community spirit and keeps the punters coming back. Post-interview I caught up with a number of fashion people including accessory designer, Quentin MacKay. I first met MacKay years ago when he had designed some very simple black leather wristbands and I had bought one (I think it was when Browns Focus had just opened). I still have it today and was pleased to discover that following successful stints at Tanner Krolle and Samsonite Black, MacKay has now launched a luxury accessory line under his own name – it’s the real deal, have a look here.