I was asked by Vogue to blog about their Fashion Night Out which arrived in style last Thursday onto the streets and in the shops of Manchester. Originally invented by Anna Wintour in 2009 to encourage shoppers to support the fashion industry in these grim economic times it has since been held all around the world. As this is the first year it has graced Manchester, it felt very special to be involved, the atmosphere was brilliant with so many people out wearing all manner of outfits it was quite a spectacle to behold!
First stop was The Chinese Arts centre and their ReForm design show which included this corset by recent Manchester graduate Sophie Ho. We then went downstairs to a jewellery workshop hosted by Julia Roy-Williams of Wonderhaus and made my very own bright pink perspex bangle. The third photo is of my very lovely and talented friend Lydia Meiying who is an illustrator and surface pattern designer, Lydia has brilliant wares for sale in the Chinese Arts Centre and at her website http://www.hellomeiying.com.
We then went onto Topshop where Kate Phelan was giving a talk about key pieces for the next season. I was impressed with Kate's polished appearance and how she had combined black trousers with some simple pumps and looked so effortless and chic. The crowd were an extremely fashion conscious lot and it was great to see how much effort everyone had made.
We went onto Selfridges and Harvey Nichols and consumed many freebies including mini hotdogs, alcoholic snow cones, sweets, truffles, popcorn and champagne. Harvey Nichols had little huts containing real life designers such as Sophia Webster, Roksanda Ilinic and er Jamie from Made in Chelsea where you could get your FNO t-shirt customised and the icing on the cake - a free pick and mix station. I spotted model of the moment Sam Rollinson and had to refrain from asking her to test shoot with me.
The highlight of the evening was meeting the lovely Christopher Kane who was walking past with Jonathan Saunders, he very kindly agreed to have his picture taken with me and asked me about my snow cone!!!
