By: Emmanuel Ray

Emmanuel Ray takes a look back at London Fashion Week

 

 

In the first of a new series for Pride Life, Emmanuel Ray, Fashion Expert, Style Guru and Socialite Boy takes a whirlwind look back at London’s Fashion Week.

 

London Fashion Week effortlessly breezed in like a gossamer scarf flapping in the wintery wind.

I arrived fashionably late at Somerset House on the first day as I had been on the Viagra ice cream the night before with Nina Wadia from EastEnders and Hotel Babylon’s Michael Obiora at the launch of Icecreamists – the hot new ice cream boutique in Selfridges.  My first Viagra experience was deliciously exhilarating.

At Fashion Week’s launch I kept checking myself out in every reflective surface.

I was wearing vintage Dior thanks to a rustle through Radio Days, a wonderful shop hidden away in Lower Marsh, Waterloo plus black trousers, black shirt, white jacket, pointy white faux snakeskin shoes with gunmetal tips, a white vintage hat with slanted brim and topped off with a fabulous oversized envelope clutch by IMAN.

My agent Simon Wilson joined me and whisked me off to be photographed with Mayor of London Boris Johnson.

Boris looked well groomed and smart in a dark suit. His messy hair seemed to have been styled that way.

A journalist standing next to us pursed her lips, frowned and remarked “the only thing fashionable about the Mayor is the fact that he travels with an entourage”.

Next, an interview with Next TV before being ushered into Caroline Charles’ fashion show. She greets me warmly, hugs and kisses me.

I then hear a purr from behind and the words ‘I like your hat’ as I turn around to see the ultimate glamour puss Joan Collins – another famous face Simon knew from old and was about to introduce to me.

We chat about her ITV1 fashion makeover show and both settle down to watch Caroline’s beautiful chiffon, silk and lace creations – a mini fairy tale on the catwalk.

Just before the show started Joan asked me if her husband could have his seat back – sorry, Percy!

As Fashion Week opened, hand-written tributes to designer Alexander McQueen were being pinned to a board by guests at the main venue.

I left my message: ’Alex, you are a generation’s inspiration. You will be greatly missed by everyone who shared your passion for fashion’.

More food at the Walkers Do Us A Flavour launch – yes, I really did turn up for the opening of a packet of crisps!

Tara Palmer-Tomkinson fell in love with my slim green vintage clutch purse, Zoë Salmon turned heads in a salmon (!) pink outfit and fa-boob-lous Nicola McLean’s purple dress with frills did a lot of justice to her ample bosom.

I’d be more than happy to share my last pack of Cheese and Onion with any one of them!

Emmanuel Ray is a Fashion Expert & Socialite