Third and final instalment of La Petite Anglaise 2013 coming up my friends! Despite the increasingly sodden state of London and hefty uni final year workload, I’ve evidently still managed to have a pretty darned good time.
New York Fashion Week SS14
Oh New York, New York. Could I adore you any more? That’s perhaps a pointless question as I fall deeper in love with the city that never sleeps every time I visit. My friends and family can confirm this as I inevitably recount tales of my time there endlessly upon returning to Blighty until eventually they get bored enough to threaten violence if I don’t shut the hell up about my stateside adventures. I have to say, this season was particularly excellent. After spending a blissful couple of days catching up with friends and exploring the stores, fashion week itself kicked off with a wild night of parties involving rappers, cocktails and cruising around town in a ginormous SUV. The following seven days and nights were a beautiful blur of gobsmacking collections – Thakoon I’m talking to YOU – and parties involving supermodels, funfairs and Phillip Lim all the while debating the preppy V cool conundrum as I raced around my favourite (sorry London) place on Earth.
London Fashion Week SS14
I considered lumping New York, London and Paris together under the heading “fashion month” but so many fabulous things occurred during each that would be to do them all a disservice. Despite my borderline pitiful obsession with NYC, London is and always will be my home and it’s fashion week the first I was lucky enough to attend a whopping seven seasons ago. As such, I always feel a combination of excitement, contentment and pride as the world’s fashion elite descend and our homegrown design stars wow their stilettos (or in the case of many an Editor this season, sleek n’ chic flats) off. I have to say, this season London nailed it. Admittedly I probably enjoy fashion week more than most regardless of weather and wardrobe malfunctions but between Christopher Kane’s alternative take on plant biology, Mary Katrantzou’s homage to footwear fetishists, Burberry’s sugar sweet English roses and Meadham Kirchoff’s folklore meets boudoir subversion, SS14 was sublime. And then, of course, there were the parties. On night one I dined with Serena, Bip Ling, Daphne Guinness, Tallulah Harlech, Sasha Wilkins and countless other major fash names at the M.A.C x Miles Aldridge dinner at Somerset House. The rest of the week’s evening (to early-the-next-morn) engagements involved David Beckham getting cosy with Anna Wintour, near miss ankle breaking and scoffing Pizza with Nicola Formichetti at The Serpentine. In a word, it was awesome.
Paris Fashion Week SS14
As you probably remember, God knows I banged on about it enough, October 2013 included my first EVER Paris Fashion Week! Not to discredit New York or London, which are both utterly fantastic in their unique ways, but Paris is another level. It’s exactly what every sartorially obsessed little girl or boy dreams fashion week would be. Spectacle, drama, stunning FROWS and oh those clothes! Having kicked off September with the burning urge to swap London for New York, then changed my mind once back on home turf among, arriving in Paris instantly had me wishing I was a Parisienne. Highlights of those four fantastic days have to include the Kenzo and Chloe shows (indoor waterfall and old school house takeover, respectively), Kenzo after party in an aquarium, exquisite Valentino collection and last, but most most MOST certainly not least, Louis Vuitton. It was both humbling and utterly incredible to attend Marc Jacobs’ final show for the Maison I so adore. Despite being allergic to clutter, the invitation addressed to “Mademoiselle Ella” retains pride of place on my dressing table.
Grazia x Apple Fashion Blogging Masterclass
Sorry that’s a helluva lotta words already but from now on I’ll keep things succinct. Or at least I’ll try to but, well, you know me. In November I was truly honoured when Grazia Magazine asked me to give a fashion blogging masterclass at the Regents Street Apple Store with mega bloggers (and good friends of mine) Emily Johnstone of Fashion Foie Gras and Ella Gregory of Coco’s Tea Party. Unsurprisingly, I was extremely nervous beforehand but it all seemed to go ok. At least I hope so. You can watch or even download the podcast on iTunes here.
Louis Vuitton Cruise Icons Shoot
There is definitely no need for me to profess my feelings for Louis Vuitton YET AGAIN but suffice to say, when they approached me to do another collab in November I didn’t need to be asked twice. This time the project was in celebration of their mind boggling Selfridges Townhouse. See the shoot on La Petite Anglaise here, Grazia Daily here and read all about the fabulous townhouse launch here.
InStyle Magazine “20 To Watch For 2014″
Being featured in Miss Vogue and Company Magazine last year was so exciting I still can’t believe it happened. However, I did at least know it was happening several months before it did so had time to vaguely compose myself. InStyle’s “20 To Watch For 2014″ piece on the other hand, was completely and utterly unexpected. The idea that anyone would include me amongst a coterie of inspiring individuals including Author of The Luminaries and youngest ever winner of the Man Booker Prize, Eleanor Catton, Lorde, Imogen Poots and Jack Reynor still blows my tiny mind. If ever I were to use the maddening-beyond-belief hashtag #blessed, this would have been the moment.
British Fashion Awards 2013
My final 2013 blogging highlight has to be the 25th annual British Fashion Awards to which I wore a divine frock by Matthew Williamson. Admittedly, there were a fair few fun times had between then and now but I fear those of you who’ve persevered up to this point may be losing the will to live. So without further ago, click here for all the juicy juicy details.
Once again, I have to thank you, my lovely and incredibly tolerant readers for sticking with La Petite Anglaise. Bring on 2014!
Love Ella. X
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