Four cities, three time zones, an average of 12
fashion shows a day, adding up to around 250 shows a season. This
is fashion month, not fashion week, month. And there's no time for
"I have nothing to wear today." (Yes, with a wardrobe happily
bulging, even I say it).
On the plus side, I've never subscribed to the idea of
peacocking, and it's just as well, because I really wouldn't make a
very good one. I don't ever wear colour (navy and khaki is as
colourful as I get), and prints repel me. I love them on
other people, but they have always felt alien on me, and
so I tackle show dressing in the same way as every other day,
except elevated by 10 to 15 per cent more thought.
My style is and has always been simple. The concept of a day
dress or skirt has never existed for me; I rarely stray from blue
jeans - from skinny to boyfriend (Paige), and so that makes things
easier when packing for fashion weeks in New York, Milan and Paris
- cities where you don't have the luxury of your total wardrobe at
your dispense.
Picture credit: Getty
And so to packing; I've never checked in luggage for fashion
week. Primarily to eliminate the risk of my suitcase going astray
(I can't think of a worse time to experience lost luggage), but
also because I'm a scrupulous packer; I never take more than I
think I will need. Five days before I leave, I check the weather
and then I figure out exactly what to take by working out outfit
ideas to the days that I'm away for. Six days requires six outfits,
with two extra looks for mood change, and no more than three
evening options. I try to do these calculations early bearing in
mind some things might require dry cleaning.
Shirts and jackets is where my money goes when it comes to my
wardrobe. For any fashion week, I always take at least four shirts
(Tome, Celine and Valentino are
favourites; several jackets (my Saint Laurent
leather fringe style, a quilted leather bomber by Jonathan
Saunders, a black Givenchy tuxedo
jacket, and Valentino's black suede cropped number decorated with
silver studded monkeys). A variety of jackets are my
can't-be-without, I can wear jeans and a shirt every day but I rely
on a jacket to transform the look from grunge to polish and
everything else in between. Whatever I wear has to take me from 9am
to at least 9pm and so comfort is important. Anything fussy or too
complicated just doesn't work, and if I start the day out in Jimmy Choo or Tabitha
Simmons heels, I will rarely finish the day in them, and so I
always have a pair of Adidas Raf Simons x Stan Smiths to slip into
when they start to pinch. The great thing about the September shows
is that it's still relatively mild (highs of 30 are expected in New
York) and so most days will be spent in my Manolo
Blahnik, and Paul Andrew
gladiator flats.
Picture credit: Getty
I never underestimate the power of a blowdry; whatever else I
wear, a blowdry suggests effort. I always book in the day before I
fly, because for me, it's better slept on. When it comes to a
manicure, I either opt for a buff without paint to make the natural
nail shine, or a coat of sheer pale pink; Hi Maintenance by Essie
is a favourite. I've had a red or navy blue manicure before but by
day three of shows my nails are inevitably chipped and there is
barely time to take it off, let alone spend the time getting the
colour re-applied.
The good news? If I'm seriously lacking something in my luggage,
I'm always in one of the best shopping capitals of the world, and
yes, even with a schedule of some 250 shows there is always time
for a pit stop to make a purchase.
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