burberry prorsum SS10

If there is any time to amend my habit of lateness, it is was for the Burberry show. With half an hour to kill before meeting Ella of Coco's Tea Party for a cuppa, I strolled from Pimlico station towards the venue, getting a sense of the building excitement the closer I came to the Chelsea School of Art. Photographers and news reporters were stood on street corners nearby taking orders over the phone from their editors and I laughed as I passed a coach just down the road with the handsome all male waiters and events staff piling off in a sea of black shirts and excellent gene pools. I later told Ella is was like the 'anti school trip' with these young men looking like they'd been sent straight from a casting agency.

Disney Roller Girl was right when she compared the proceedings of the evening to a film premiere. As I arrived and took a seat on a bench just outside the Tate Britain to watch it all unfold I realised I had been a little naive about what to expect. The sheer scale of glamour and gloss was overwhelming; a white carpet and an army of press, this was of an entirely different level to the Unique shows I've attended.



Having my heroes walk straight past me was incredibly surreal, and I'd love to say that I acted all cool and uninterested as is convention at fashion shows, but alas, with Carine Roitfeld, Mario Testino or Anna Wintour walking by it's impossible not to bat an eyelash.

The start of the show sent shivers down my spine as soon as the opening track started. The haunting lyrics of Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors by Editors (not usually a fan) and the glow of the all white tent set a peaceful tone. All the more perfect when combined with the soft botanic pastel shades that sailed down the runway to reflect the distant spring. The understated confidence of the models and their gentle glides had me entranced, despite the intricate garments they wore and the price tags attached to them, it was all very modest and unshowy.

Altogether it felt like a very special moment to be witnessing; the show symbolised the close of a hugely successful 25th London Fashion Week and of course Burberry's return to show at London after eight years. Burberry has never been a label I would particularly see myself wearing (bank balance aside..) purely because, well, it's just not very me. However, sitting in a tent full of fashion industry bigwigs and veterans sitting elbow to elbow in anticipatory silence to left me feeling rather patriotic (not a common characteristic in Brits!) and proud of the status of this British brand.



After the show ended, we all left (though Ella and myself went via the front row to sneakily grab Carine Roitfeld and Mary Kate Olsen's place tags (see, I told you we weren't part of the aloof brigade, and anyway we used 'But I'm a blogger, it is my duty to return with evidence' as our excuse for such behaviour..) and with Disney Roller Girl quickly met Mario Testino before heading to Burberry HQ for the afterparty.








Any worries of a school disco type scenario, with that metaphorical 'loser' wall being designated for the bloggers were put to rest when we went inside. Actually it was quite the opposite as rather ironically the area which had been set up with computers for some instant reporting had been adopted by Team Paris Vogue and Team Love as their very own hang out.
So as we settled down to do one obligatory post before enjoying the rest of the party me and Ella exchanged bambi style glances at the situation we found ourselves in; Carine and Julia were dancing to La Bamba by Richie Valens just behind us as the rest of the room clapped and watched their performance.




l-r julia and jessie from les mads, and ella from cocosteaparty with myself.

Later, we met up with Jessie and Julia from Les Mads; they are truly the most gorgeous and lovely girls and we shared a couple of drinks before all bowing out. There was something imensely satisfying about returning to my Aunt's flat in Finsbury park, taking off my make up and changing into an old tee shirt before bed. It was the ultimate juxtaposition of glamour, but with images of Carine, Katie Grand and Mario floating around my head all the more enjoyable.

Thanks to Amy and Miles and everyone at Burberry for making it such a fantastic night and making the bloggers feel perfectly well looked after!