With New York Fashion Week still a blur of runway front rows and stolen street style moments, it’s time to hop the pond and invade London, Paris and Milan for the continuing Fashion Week (month?) circus.
Rihanna and Stella McCartney.
Who better than Stella McCartney to unofficially kick off the week with a black tie dinner and presentation of her Winter 2012 evening collection, in celebration of London? Judging by the guest list—Rihanna, Kate Moss, Bianca Jagger, Stella Tennant, Juergen Teller, Anna Wintour, Mario Testino, Simon Le Bon, Alison Mosshart, Sharleen Spiteri, Laura Bailey, Jamie Hince, Twiggy, Richard E. Grant, Katy B, Marc Quinn, Chantal Joffe, Alexandra Shulman, Tim Walker, Barry Reigate, Paul Whitehouse, Nick Grimshaw, Dionne Broomfield and Anya Rubik—there was no better seat to be had than at one of these coveted tables.
Anna Wintour and Hamish Bowles.
Dutch illusionist Hans Klok and Alexa Chung performing a magic act.
The dinner was held at a neo-classical landmark building in Mayfair where the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra who played a selection of British and American jazz standards. Dutch illusionist Hans Klok accompanied by It Girl, designer and style icon Alexa Chung performed his signature magic acts.
Kate Moss and Jamie Hince.
Models turned performers donning looks from McCartney's limited edition London Evening Collection Shalom Harlow made a special guest performance during the fashion presentation.
A sudden performance kicks off amidst the dinner as models, including Tati Cotliar, Bette Frankel, Ginta Lapina and Aline Weber, dancers with the special participation of Shailene Woodley, Amber Valetta, Shalom Harlow, Yasmin Le Bon, Lucie De La Falaise and Anouck Lepere burst into a surprise performance choreographed by Blanca Li to a classic by Led Zeppelin. All the female performers were dressed in the new Stella McCartney Winter 2012 London Evening Collection.
The collection emphasizes eveningwear, pairing masculine and feminine with bold marble prints: swirling tones of blues, greens and gold in playful exaggerated volumes; graphic monochrome: architectural contour silhouettes in black, white and navy with gold accessories; delicate lace: vibrant and rich embroidered in shocking orange and cobalt blue. Accessories mirror the collection in platform pumps and elongated clutches, while jewelery is oversized in gold with colored gems and faceted Plexiglass.
The one-off Winter 2012 London Evening Collection will be available at Stella McCartney Bal Harbour in July.
