The Gin Den at Bistrotheque followed by a reggae party

Last week I went to Bistrotheque to a party to celebrate their newly decorated bar which was designed by House of Hackney and sponsored by Bombay Sapphire gin.  I'm rather partial to a bit of Bombay Sapphire.
House of Hackney are an interiors and lifestyle brand described as "Colefax and Fowler on acid".  Run by partners Frieda Gormley and Javvy M Royle, they're based in a house in London

88* by Bistrotheque. Where we go to dinner on a speedboat

Our destination - I didn't take this, obviously.
Last Friday evening The Actor and I had dinner at Bistrotheque's latest pop-up restaurant 88.  We're very lucky to be invited to such fun things.  The venue was a soon-to-be-demolished postmodern office building in Canary Wharf.  Built in 1988, the theme was the glamour and excess of that time.  All the music was from 1988 and the food reflected

Karlie and Princess Julia open The Amwell Street Knocking Shop

Last night I went to the preview of Karlie Shelley and Princess Julia's new place The Amwell Street Knocking Shop.  A fantastic pop-up shop open until Sunday 26th June selling vintage and archive clothing by their friends and lots interesting things from their personal collections.  

The lovely Karlie Shelley
My wonderful friend Princess Julia
There's label and non-label vintage from all eras

RIP Poly Styrene

"Some people say little girls should be seen and not heard,but I think, 'Oh bondage, up yours!'"
Poly Styrene(1957-2011)
I was very sad to  hear that Poly Styrene, the front woman of ground-breaking punk band X-Ray Spex died yesterday aged fifty three after a battle with cancer.  I was due to interview Poly for the blog but sadly we didn't get a date confirmed in time.


I grew up in London

In search of the perfect Turban

Photography by Edward SteichenGloria Swanson
I have a thing about turbans, not just turbans all sorts of hats and headdresses.  I've bought a few in my time but they've never been quite right.  Two rather horrid velour ones I bought last year are only good for wearing whilst taking off my make-up.  Turbans are great for making a dramatic statement and also covering up a bad hair day.  So, I'm

Alexander Wang and LOVE magazine party at Liberty

After Giles' show Daisy, Jo and I went to the Alexander Wang party at my favourite store Liberty.  The girls at Liberty are fabulous - Sophie, lovely to see you briefly.  And what a wonderful party it was!  I caught up with lots of people and the atmosphere was fantastic.  Here are some of my snaps, when I actually remembered I had a camera.
The windows outside

The party in the gallery

Beth

Pam Hogg AW11

Yesterday evening I went to my friend Pam Hogg's fashion show in Covent Garden with the lovely Princess Julia.
As usual the street was roadblocked.  Pam's shows are always a hot ticket and she didn't disappoint with a brilliant show full of leather, bondage straps, headpieces made of parrots and crows, multi coloured fur and her signature catsuits in a wood print worn with sky scraping patent

Fashion's Most Wanted - Kim Bowen Interview

Photography by Mick Hurd
Kim BowenStylist and Costume Designer
I've always wanted to interview Kim Bowen and we finally made time to do it.  Kim and I chatted  on our Macs the other night using iChat and I recorded it on my iPhone.  This isn't a plug for Apple but I love the fact we can talk for hours, it costs nothing and it sounds like we're in the same room.  Kim is clever, brilliant,

Giles SS11 and Giles/M.A.C after party

Photography by Alasdair McLellan
I may be biased as he's my best friend, but I thought the Giles show was AMAZING and contained touches of absolute genius.  After winning the ANDAM award two seasons ago one of the stipulations was that Giles had to move his catwalk show to Paris.  His extremely welcome return as top dog in London fashion went down a storm.

Giles' incredible eye astounds me

Pam Hogg SS11 Show

Last night The Actor and I went to our friend Pam Hogg's show at On/Off's venue in Bloomsbury Square.  We were a little bit late getting there and it was absolutely packed.  The catwalk was arranged in four big sections, all full like this
Normally I would take some front row pictures but the show was about to start and I didn't want to be flying up and down the catwalk when the models came out

Bella Freud and Susie Bick - Screening and dinner

Last night I went along to the screening of a short film for Bella Freud and Susie Bick's gorgeous knitwear label.  The film was made at my house so I was really interested to see how it looked.  Director's Willem Jaspert and Steve Langmanis had done a wonderful job.  I love the film!  I will be able to post it here as soon as the music is cleared.  They've used a great song by Susie's husband

Back to the Eighties

Marilyn and George, Blitz 1979
After posting pictures of hats yesterday, I remembered a few other clubbing pictures from the early Eighties, some featuring some rather fabulous headgear.  The pictures are from the Blitz and the Camden Palace.  I love the way everyone made a such huge effort with their clothes and make-up.  I think they all look amazing.  I wish people still dressed up like this

Fashion's Most Wanted Interview - Christos Tolera

Christos ToleraArtist
Born in 1962, Christos grew up in Islington and Dalston, London.  A man of many talents - he was co-lead singer in arty Latin band Blue Rondo a la Turk with Chris Sullivan, a model, an actor, a club promoter, an interior designer and  now an acclaimed artist.

A leading light in London's clubland and one of the original Blitz Kids, at eighteen years-old he had already