I was lucky enough to be invited at the Burberry show and party on 22nd of September, to what has been described as “the hottest ticket in town” by the British press: what better subject than an insider’s look into London most glamorous party could I find to launch Chic-Londres new blog?
Liv, Emma, Gwyneth and Mario at the Burberry Show Front Row (Photo Chris Jackson, Getty Images)
I knew when I received my invite by courier (a metal card for the show, a black card for the party in chic cardboard envelops) that Burberry meant business when it chose to show its new Spring-Summer 2010 Prorsum collection -the most luxurious and fashion forward- in London rather than Milan.
I had been invited before by Burberry, the former Establishment name which has reinvented itself over the past ten years to become one of the most fashionable and cool brand on Planet Fashion. Three years ago, I went to the launch party of David Hockney’s exhibition, sponsored by Burberry, at the National Portrait Gallery, where I met the Great Man himself (charming), as well as designer Christopher Bailey (lovely and modest), the talent behind Burberry rebirth. This party was lots of fun, with a good mix of Art figures (Tracey Emin, in a sexy black dress somehow spoilt by trainers), Fashion (shoe supremo Manolo Blahnik and top model Natalia Vodianova), Films (Miranda Richardson and Michael York), with a touch of royalty for good measure (Gabriela Windsor). I had a chat with actress Thandie Newton (very friendly, amazingly beautiful), whom I met in a restaurant in Sydney in 1999 when she was filming Mission Impossible 2 with Tom Cruise, as well as with Jamie Oliver (very cheeky, strong character), whom I had interviewed a few months earlier for a profile piece. In 2007, I was also invited at the launch of The Beat, Burberry’s perfume -modelled by Agyness Deyn-, a very rock’n roll affair at Koko’s in Camden, where The Fratellis played a private concert in front of London’s brat pack. So I had already witnessed firsthand that Burberry knows how to throw a good party…
However, the organisers went glamour-mad this time, the relative intimacy of previous events being replaced by something much more grandiose, of a scale rarely seen at fashion shows and parties, especially in London. Indeed, if London is universally recognised as a hot bed for fashion talent, as well as the home of respected designers (with veterans including Paul Smith, Nicole Farhi and Betty Jackson, and lauded new talents such as Christopher Kane and Todd Lynn), the city hasn’t risen so far to the fashion capital status held by Paris and Milan –hence the previous choice of Burberry to show its Prorsum collection in Italy those last ten years. So the fact that the British brand chose to show its new Spring-Summer 2010 in its hometown, where Fashion Week celebrated its 25th anniversary this year, proves not only that Burberry is confident enough in its renewed image as a global player to come back to London, but also that the latter is -at last- rightly recognised for its international impact and influence in the fashion world.
On arrival, the sheer number of paparazzi (dozens of them) and cameras was more evocative of a Hollywood blockbuster film premiere than of a fashion show, however glamorous. And when I took my place on the seat I had been allocated (AE39) at 6.30pm inside the Chelsea College of Art and design, I understood why The Evening Standard described it as « the hottest ticket in town ». Just opposite me, I had a direct view on Freida Pinto and Dev Patel, the stars of Slumdog Millionnaire (very cute and clearly much besotted), MTV’s hot property Alexa Chung (beautiful), actress Marie-Kate Olsen (wearing silly black sunglasses all along), model Daisy Lowe (very cool), actresses Liv Tyler (ethereal and fairy-like… But maybe this is only the Lord of the Ring’s effect?), Emma Watson (very distinguished for a 19-year old) and Gwyneth Paltrow (bright and smiling), star photographer Mario Testino (very comfortable) and slightly further, Victoria Beckham (slightly ill at ease -shy possibly?- but prettier than in pictures). In front of me, I could admire Anna Wintour’s perfect bob (cold but supremely elegant), as well as Carine Roitfeld’s perfect pins (as sexy and stylish as ever at 55). I also had many glimpses at Peter Mandelson (looking as if he belonged), as well as Samantha Cameron (very tall), wife of David and talented designer of Smythson’s.
After the show -which was lovely, with lots of sweet colours and ingenious drape (although I found the dresses a tad short- maybe an optical illusion due to the length of the models’ legs ?)- I walked with the other guests for a few minutes to get to the party, which was held at Burberry’s new HQ, between Victoria and Westminster. Located in Horseferry House, on Horseferry Road, the imposing building, which used to hold government’s offices, has been redesigned by Gensler (the company responsible for the Apple store in regent Street), with the help of Christopher Bailey, resulting in a very chic mix of glass, steel, light, leather and concrete, reminiscent of the historic Burberry check.
Upon arrival, amongst the first guests, I ended up face to face with Sir Philip Green, big boss of Arcadia and Kate Moss’s new best friend (she designs for his Topshop chain). As the room was still practically empty, I put my journalist cap on and literally jumped on him to give him my card, a brutal but usually efficient way to secure a future interview. Later on, I was introduced to him (again), this time by the delightfully naughty Rachel Johnson -sister of Boris, best sellers author of Notting Hell and new editor of The Lady- who also kindly introduced me (“You know Frédérique, don’t you?”- he didn’t) to Sir Stuart Rose, Marks & Spencer’s CEO (friendly). On the food and beverage side, we were treated to vast amounts of champagne (Moët & Chandon) as well as treacherous vodka blackberry cocktails, served with mini-burgers, bite size Yorkshire puddings eand tiny pies (a culinary symbol of Burberry’s English roots).
While I went outside for a cigarette (I only ever smoke at parties, after a few drinks), I had a good chat with Julia Restoin-Roitfeld (very pretty and spontaneous), Carine Roitfeld’s daughter and Tom Ford’s muse (she is modelling his first perfume, Black Orchid) who explained how she found it much easier to dress in New York -where she lives- and London -where she often visits- than in Paris, where people usually find her style not classical enough. Her boyfriend, Swedish model Robert Konjic (very kind and polite) told me about the house he just bought in Hvar in Croatia, where his parents come from, which is “old and decrepit, with no loos, but with the most beautiful and thickest walls”. It is only a few days later, while reading a newspaper, that I realised he was the new Gucci star model (he had been way too modest to brag about it).
After listening to Agyness Deyn and Alexa Chung, who were DJ-ing for the night, I went around 10pm to another room, where the Kooks were playing, and ended up listening to the private concert next to Liv Tyler, who danced, jumped and sang with the best of them (her dad Steven tyler, lead singer of Aerosmith, would have been proud). I eventually went back home around 11pm, while the party was still going strong. I wouldn’t say I had the most fun I ever had -as those events are, by definition, more about business than relaxation- but as parties go, it would have been difficult to find anything more glamorous than that. So well done, Burberry (and please, do invite me again!)
Frédérique Andréani
Left: with Rachel Johnson, Stuart Rose and Philip Green. Right: with Julia Restoin Roitfeld
