Well I’ve just tottered over to my trusty laptop, and it seems to have gone midday already…wow, what a night to remember! You may have realised (as you’re now reading this) that Frock went live live live last Thursday, and so we had our VIP star-encrusted wonderful launch party, at the delicious Blag Club in London’s Holland Park. (Swankieville even for me!) It’s a darling little club, done out in a gorgeous deep red, with lots of yummy little buddhas in glass cases, and a very yummy bar boy too!!!
I got there nearly on time, with Rachel’s friend Miles to help put the models through their paces, pack the goody bags, and put the champagne on ice! It was a whirl of sequins and chiffon, and Rachel was floating around making sure all was going according to plan, while still looking as cool as a cucumber. Before I could say Heisenegger, there was a queue waiting outside!
Now before I go on, I can hear the cries all over the country… ‘What did you wear Corinne?’ Well it was hard to choose, very hard in deed, what with Rachel being a vision in the Frock signature pale grey dress….She had said on the telephone – when I was running late – that she had had her hair done and looked like Gwen Stefani! Now I’m not really a fan of Gwens, and rushed even more quickly to get there on time, to encourage her to put on a large hat, but luckily she looked more like Veronica Lake, straight out of a beautiful forties film! Squeeeeeee!!!
Now where was I…ah yes, I wore this little number…at least up until 9.30pm when I changed into THIS even more little number!!! It’s great having the run ‘behind the scenes’ and I didn’t spill any champagne anywhere! Not on this night anyway!!!! It’s just as well that Dearly Beloved was still laid up…and there was no way I was helping him down all those stairs at the club as I got more than my fair share of ‘attention’ by some of the boys there! Hello boys!!!
We all got on famously….the lovely DJs Dan March and Nick Hullin had a lot of grooves to lay down, and Rachel had spoilt us with the champagne! I met her cousin Portia (Hi Portia!!!!) and ended up chatting to lovely Kate, who had come straight from her office in Primrose Hill! It was great to bump into Peter from Numph; one of Frock’s new clothing suppliers (Hi Peter!) as well as a lovely girl from Time Out, another Kate…hi Kate! I was just about to try and find Hala Khalil from the Daily Express when the fashion show started! AT LAST!!!
As I turned my computer on just now, I have had literally two MILLION people email me and ask what each of the different models were wearing. Well having rehearsed them thoroughly, here’s Corinne’s OFFICIAL! guide to the show.
Yin opened the show, striding down the catwalk wearing the lovely trench coat that we’ve had on all our publicity, with the belt and the vintage buttons. The soft grey colour looked lovely with her long dark locks and I know you are all dying to get your hands on it…well check out the website in a few days time!
This contrasted very well with Alison whose gorgeous blonde hair set off this lovely long white frock in silk cotton; ideal for the garden party. I got chatting to Alison’s escort for the night…he was a tree surgeon!! Lovely Green fingers!
Jenni was set to stun in this beautiful blue strapless dress, although you couldn’t see just how lovely the ribbon detailing was.
Lovely little Cat (I want to eat her up!); she’s the one who had her hair in a quiff, was straight from a French beach in these lovely little shorts (the ones I wore to the boat race!) and a simple-but pretty v-neck top.
Vicki Jones showed us just how to create that water cooler moment in the office in that gorgeous silk green blouse and tight pencil skirt with the bows on the pockets.
Rebecca stunned us with a delicate white tea dress dress (the cameras were really flashing by now!).
It was then the turn of our pair of Gabbis! Gabs de Plooy, and Gabbi Challiner! Now I’m sure that Jane Austen once wrote that a fashion show can never have too many Gabrielles, and she was jolly well right! Gabbi C floated down the catwalk in a floaty silk chiffon dress with an empire line of ribbon, in a lovely green colour, looking astonishing with her chestnut curls, and as for Gabs, she wore the same, but in the coral, which was set off by her long blond hair!
We bought the daywear to a close with lovely Gemma (who has a very famous cousin!) wearing a funky jersey tunic, with bow detail.
Well, I barely had time to reach for the bucket (champagne bucket!!) before the occasion wear was spinning down the catwalk. We transformed Miss Yin Tong by putting her into this lovely silk dress with the pattern straight from 1969! Groovy and flirty in pinks and greens.
Lovely Alison’s blonde curls then tumbled over this darling silk-crepe wrap dress in a turquoise pattern….the fabric looked so wispy and floaty! (and her surname is Silk too…how absolutely marvellous!)
Jenni Harris looked an absolute dish of the day in the halter neck floor length purple dress, major glamour-rama.
Cat Marshall went from the beach to the prom, in a gorgeous gathered prom dress in shocking but lush coral.
We put Vicki Jones in green again….this lovely moss green dress with the plunging neckline, which goes with this handbag, which is sooo beautiful. Thanks for coming early to have your hair curled Vicki!
Beki by this point had donned this exquisitely chic dress in black! This dress is being featured in a French ladies’ magazine! Both Rebecca’s outfits showed how loose and wispy or fitted and sexy, can both be both fashionable and romantic. Well I think so anyway!
Then it was the turn of the Gabi and Gabs! Gabs was last seen in this pretty white coat with the big buttons – if Audrey Hepburn had been blonde, she’d have looked like this! Gabbi C then showed off this lovely black shift dress with enormous bow at the back, with the wonderful, wonderful fascinator and butterfly bag. She would definitely be photographed at Ascot in this outfit!
Lovely Gemma bought proceedings to a close in a sweeping full length dress, with an asymmetric bow. Somebody in the audience said, ‘she looks like Lily Cole’!!!
Now I have to say, when the models swept out for the grand finale, I had a tear in my eye, and had to have another swig of champagne! They looked sooooo beautiful and I know Rachel’s and my heart-felt thanks go out to all of them!
The evening didn’t end there though… there was still all the dancing to be danced, although I have to say I reclined decorously on the lovely comfy couchy things…. What I nearly forgot to take were the divine goody bags in the decadent Frock colour of purple! I found a gorgeous book in mine, which was donated by Miles’ best-friend-from-sixth-form’s-husband Ian West at Quadrille Books (available from all good bookshops) and a lovely Icelandic lipbalm! Apparently they came from www.taer.com. The beautiful flower arrangements decking out the club were arranged in the wonderful flower school of Constance Spry in Surrey www.constancespry.com.
Phew….what a night…not just beautiful people, but nice, beautiful people! I think the good ship Frock has been well and truly launched, so God bless all who sail and shop with her!
Cheers!!!!!