The London-based editor, consultant and writer of Private Parts takes us through the day as she attends London Fashion Week. Read the full piece on Substack.
I wake up at 7.30 a.m. I feel like during fashion week I always wake up a little bit afraid. Tired, afraid, and excited. But, obviously, in London, what’s nice is that I’m at home. So, the first thing I do is make myself a coffee, a black coffee, and I get some work done. Usually, I make myself a hot water bottle, in case that’s of interest.
During fashion week I always feel like I need to put on a bit of makeup, because you’re about to face the world, the photographers and the bright lighting. I usually spend about ten minutes just anxiously tapping concealer onto my face. And most days it tends to go that I wear too much eye makeup, especially for 7.30 in the morning. But by the time I realise it’s too much, I can never really wash it off and start again.
I then get dressed. My first show is the Simone Rocha show at the Old Bailey, so I wear this really gorgeous sequinned skirt from the brand and this sweater. I decide to drive because I have a car, and it’s Sunday, which means there’s free parking in London. Except I am late, because my road is closed.
So I speed down, trying to get there in time. Her shows are always in beautiful venues. This time, it’s actually at the Central Criminal Court. Thankfully, I’ve never been there for that reason; the only reason I have been to the Criminal Court is for the Simone Rocha show.
I see my friend Jodie [Hill], who is wearing this really fab Joy Division T-shirt under her Simone Rocha jacket that, actually, she had made for her wedding with real (upcycled) fur that she supplied Simone. I also spot Nick Tran and José Criales. They’re two of the loveliest, chicest people in fashion. I always love seeing wonderful friends at shows. I then take a seat next to my friend, Supriya [Lele], who’s a designer. We take a picture of our legs sitting down as I admire her satin-toed Chanel pumps.
And then there is the show. It’s really beautiful. I think it is my favourite Simone collection yet. It isn’t as girly and poofy as it usually is, which is really good for me because I’m not really a girly girl. I like it when she kind of goes a bit more sporty or a bit more technical. Obviously, it has this kind of romance to it, and it’s the kind of clothes that do just elicit a symphony of sighs. Although that said, I was overcome by a pang of desire for an altogether different reason: the bodyguard standing in the background of all my photos looks like Tyson Beckford. It was, at times, difficult to focus on the clothes.
I say hi to Simone Rocha backstage after the show. Fun fact, she’s also my neighbour. So, usually, I see her running around with her kids. It’s always kind of weird, seeing each other in a different context. She sees me in a tracksuit most of the time or on a lime bike, in stilettos.
