MY WEEKEND WITH KATE (MOSS) PART THREE...

Day two - Officially THE most surreal day of my entire life...

Miss Moss arrives three hours late, but of course, fashionably so in her staple uniform of jeans, black blazer and again, those Louboutin knee-highs.
On her arm? Mr Hince.

As Kate is whisked off to hair and make-up, her then fiance joins me on the sofa and there we sit, happily reading the morning papers. 

By this point, there is mention of three male models arriving on set - news that is more than welcome to my pearl studded ears. And through the door they walk, perfectly chiseled, tanned: the epitome of handsome. One gives me a wink and a cheesy, "Hey", but yes I'll admit - my knees did wobble and I think my response was more a squeak than anything reminiscent of the english language. 

They start looking through the rails, obviously confused by the lack of menswear...

 Sorry boys, that's just it - there are no clothes for you - no, instead you will be stripping down to (and forgive the phrase) your tighty-whities. But that's for later... till then - have I introduced you to the sofa?

Queue Kate - hair and make-up done, we're ready to go. 

First look of the day? This Elie Saab number:

Followed by Valentino...

Note the sign of a true model, they pose literally from their fingertips to their toes:

 Oui - je sais... c'est juste magnifique.

With the shoot fully underway, the wigs come back out, spirits are high, Elton John is singing his heart out through the speakers and before we know it, it's 10pm. 

The male models? Fast asleep on the sofa - they've been waiting ten hours for their moment BUT finally, here it is. Time to flash those whites, and believe me they have no qualms about showing them off.

 With a touch of make-up, they're ready. 

Miss Moss? Not quite.

Another hour passes while Kate is in make-up, and in that time I kid you not - the boys stood in their pants, in a row, in front of the mirror - no conversation exchanged, just merely admiring their own reflections. 

Now I'm not one to stereo-type, but...

Et voila - the finished product. 

Poor lads - ten hours of waiting and they only got their arms in the shot, but hey, it's the experience that counts right?

 And what an experience.

To round it off, we finished at 3am with this Givenchy masterpiece and Elton John's 'Rocketman' on full blast.

WOW.

And in the words of the song:
I think it's gonna be a long long time
Till touch down brings me round again...

Le trench.

♥ Oui! c'est moi, sporting the new Trench ♥

(with brother's shrunken Zara jumper - shhh don't tell him! Primark top, Topshop jeans and vintage Ferragamo shoes)

See what the rest of the Elle team wears to work here

Moi, je compte sur Comptoir...

La Voguette est SUPER contente... (et oui, un peu obsédé par la langue Française aujourd'hui - j'en ai parlé toute la journée - avec des autres... avec mes chiens... avec moi-même... si, la folie.)

For months now, I have been pining for this Comptoir des Cotonniers trench.

Sublime non?

We first met in a fashion cupboard, two seasons ago. 

I should have been enjoying the freedom that is out of office hours, a.k.a Saturday morning, but instead, little miss Voguette was working like a fiend. My eyes/those buttons, it was an instant attraction - mutual - I knew we belonged together, but alas like all samples, the clock would strike 12 on Monday morning and the courrier would come to take it away, never to be seen again. 

Sadly, that is what happened.

I searched every boutique, every website, I even tried the PR - No. Such. Luck.

It was gone, forever - a distant dream, a distant memory...

That is, until two weeks ago.

Something within me stirred my curiosity, I just had to know if it was out there. I began searching frantically on Ebay for my long lost trench and several descriptive combinations later, there it was - in all it's perfect khaki glory. Just an English Channel apart, nothing would stop me; I would fight to the bitter end, defying anyone who tried to out-bid me.  

I won.

Et je l'adore.

MY WEEKEND WITH KATE (MOSS) PART 2.

Wearing a grey cashmere sweater, jeans, knee high Louboutins (which I am now endlessly searching for on ebay) and a black floppy hat a la Faye Dunaway - Miss Moss had entered the room. 

"Hi, I'm Kate" - Yes, I know.

(To say I was a little starstruck would be an understatement.)

Her voice was raspy and childlike, making her seem almost fragile, naive - like she needed to be wrapped up in cotton wool, away from all the media attention and pressure. And yet, she was excitable, bouncy almost, desperate to play dress up amongst all the couture.

We started with the Armani Prive.

Wigs were flying, from a Debbie Harry blowout, to well, the little pink number pictured above. Mert (of Mert and Marcus) was sporting a rather fabulous multicoloured crimped 'fro a la Topshop Unique circa SS11, while my own head became prop to a thick fringed blonde bob - a look I certainly won't be trying out any time soon. 

  

Yes, the madness had begun.

Before I knew it, Kate had placed her engagement ring in my hand, asking me to keep it safe for her while she was on set. Now, I could of course, have run away there and then, made my millions and be living on a yacht somewhere... fortunately (for Kate) I decided it was probably a little too risky.

Oh and yes, the ring? Absolutely BEAUTIFUL.

By now, the shoot was in full swing.

Elton John was on repeat, followed by George - all the gay greats. Part of me wanted to give in to the music, find a microphone and belt out 'Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me' with the best of them (Karaoke is a regular occurence with the French Vogue team). But no, I reined it in, and instead, focused my attention on Kate.

She was beautiful. Once you see her in front of the camera, you automatically understand the reason behind her success. I found myself in awe, emotional even...

There I was, lucky enough to witness an icon, no a legend, at work.

It was simply incredible.

Stay tuned for Day Two in Part Three...

Mayfair in Miu Miu

This is my favourite look from Autumn/Winter 2011.

So 1940s Hollywood Glamour, so Rita Hayworth.

And today - I got to wear it.

Yes, sometimes I just LOVE my job.

The September Issue of ELLE will reveal all...

My weekend with Kate (MOSS) PART 1.

So a little while ago, I mentioned having spent a very surreal weekend with none other than Kate Moss herself.

Now, if I'm being honest, surreal doesn't quite cut it.

This was 100% THE most unforgettable 48 hours I have ever spent in my fashion career so far.

I just wish I could reveal everything, because believe me, it is fashion GOLD.

But if I did that, I would probably never work in this industry again - some things are best kept as secret...

I won't deny you everything though.

Here's a PG version of the most incredible shoot I have ever worked on:

---------------------

PART 1

Couture, couture and more couture.

Literally a week fresh from the Spring 2011 runway, myself and the other French Vogue assistant are busy unpacking the world's most incredible, and most expensive garments of the new season. Dior, Chanel, Valentino, Armani Prive, Jean Paul Gaultier... oh and of course, Givenchy, which did I mention, travelled especially on the Eurostar, accompanied by one of their PR's. Fedex? please, this is couture darling. 

There is an obvious buzz in the atmosphere - for everyone knows that the best of the best are all here to produce something quite incroyable. It's extremely exciting. Mert and Marcus are busy setting up, Emmanuelle is examining the rail, looking effortlessly fabulous in her staple ensemble (skinny black leather trousers, loose tee, navy Balmain blazer) and I'm quietly trying to channel Gaga by cramming my feet into some 8 inch diamante encrusted platform Christian Louboutin's (let's just say I wasn't born that way).

Queue Kate...

Stay tuned - there's nothing like suspense to keep you wanting more ;)

Tights Please.

I must admit, I've never really been tempted to join the dark side - that is, to go GOTHIC.

My pale skin already leaves me bordering on Vampire status - flaming red hair, alabaster skin - the perfect DNA for a Twilight character.

But then Sarah Burton changed everything. Giles Deacon, Oliver Theyskens, Julien Macdonald.. they've all moved to the dark side for Autumn/Winter and I, like a black sheep, am finally ready to follow their lead. 

So when my lovely friends at Tights Please asked me to try out these beautiful Jonathan Aston socks, I responded with an absolute YES. Decorated with delicate black lace - my milk bottle legs never looked so good.

Now my official go-to for all things hosiery - Tights? Stockings? Socks? 

You name it, Tights Please have got it.