Spring 2011 Fashion Week - Highs & Lows » Red Carpet Fashion Awards

I’ve posted my New York Fashion Week highs and lows, here’s a look at the rest of the season.

LONDON HIGHS
Invitations: Receiving more invitations to shows in my hometown than ever before.
Favourite shows: Christopher Kane, Mary Katrantzou and Peter Pilotto.

LONDON LOWS
Organisation: After New York Fashion Week’s super slick organisation, London didn’t live up to New York’s standard. Despite having a seat at the Osman show the people on the door wouldn’t let me in. After speaking to other bloggers apparently this had happened a few times. Venues that held 600 people would have 1,200 people with invites turn up because organisers over subscribed. Next season I hope they use Fashion GPS.

MILAN HIGHS
Showrooms: Fendi re-see and Brian Atwood. It’s so exciting to see the pieces up close.
Favourite shows: Jil Sander, Alberta Ferretti, Salvatore Ferragamo, Gucci and Versace.
Best Party: Alberta Ferretti’s Flagship store opening. It was a honour to meet the woman herself.
Eye-candy: Hot men everywhere, even some of the taxi drivers.

MILAN LOWS
Taxis: It was was not only hard to find a taxi, but really expensive to get around town and the traffic was horrendous.
UK Editors: Despite attending dinners and even being in their publications, some UK editors still hate to see bloggers attending shows. Can’t we all just get along? It’s been 3 seasons now. I always find it funny when I smile in their direction to see them look everywhere else just so they don’t have to smile back. Sisterhood is well and truly dead.

PARIS HIGHS
Special Delivery: I was super excited to receive a beautiful coat from Paris based designer Andrew Gn. I wore the Fall 2010 coat a few times in Paris and I’ve never received so many compliments on an item I’ve worn in my life.
Favourite shows: Elie Saab, Giambattisa Valli and Andrew Gn.
Natalie Massenet: The CEO of Net-A-Porter found me a seat at Roland Mouret when she saw me standing. I love this woman. She continues to support bloggers like me.
Elie Saab: Attending both his show and house party are moments I will treasure forever.
Subway: It was the only way to get around. Taxi’s were almost non-existent. I saw editors on the subway.
Discount: H&M’s Champs-Élysées store opening offered us a discount on their opening night. I got a wool coat, a leather jacket and many other pieces.

PARIS LOWS
Accommodation: Paris was packed due to Fashion Week and a car convention, so I had to rent an apartment. The internet didn’t work and it was exhausting to arrive back after attending shows to find the apartment to the same mess I’d left it in.
iPad sim: You weren’t allowed to purchase an iPad sim unless you were a French citizen. I don’t know why either.
Weather: Cold and rainy.
Why are we waiting?: Vivienne Westwood’s show started an hour and a half late. This is because Lanvin started late and they were waiting for Hilary Alexander to take her front row seat.