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A girl's gotta dream... then make them come true

Yes Yes Yes! was my reply when Kate (Style's picture editor) said we were shooting Daphne Guinness on Wednesday, want to do it? and then I heard Rankin would be shooting it. So here's me feeling really intimidated working with Rankin, a hot photographer who's pretty damn cool and known to be a bit of diva, and Daphne Guinness, one of the most stylish British women ever!!

The brief was film noir and I knew I had some pretty decent bits thanks to Browns, www.net-a-porter and Matches and Daphne would be bringing along some of her own clothes. The lady's got great personal style so it was thought she should be her and just do her thing. Oh dear, but when she threw off her clothes and came out in just her stockings and knickers, I thought, uh-oh, I'm going to be in trouble when people see these pictures. Then she put on one of her shirts and a beautiful sequin corset by Chanel over the top and suddenly, she wasn't trashy, she's was very sexy and chic. We had a cover! And I had my very own real life barbie doll, the fruition of all my fashion dreams. 

Fashion Designers' blogs

The ivory tower of fashion design can seem like a pretty closed shop from the outside, and fashion designers have been largely reticent on the blog front (maintain the mystique, goes the thinking).

But a few have opened the windows. There's Eley Kishimoto's photostory-style reportage (featuring Mark and Wakako's trips to Paris and private order days in the studio etc; all posted by Mark Eley), Jun Takahashi of Undercover blogging on the Japanese fashion site www.honeyee.com (it might all be in Japanese, but you can get a good idea of what's inspiring him visually from the images he posts), English fashion designer Sue Stemp blogging from New York where she designs her party dresses (and parties with all of New York's socialites, if the blog is anything to go by), and Donna Karan on Huffington post, which amply demonstrates that you need to have quite some motivation to keep up a blog (La Karan's postings could be a little more regular).

SHOP, DRINK, GOSSIP, SHOP: AN EXCLUSIVE EVENING FOR STYLE READERS

Fancy joining Style regulars Claudia Croft and Colin McDowell at Harvey Nichols for a glass of bubbly, some fab shopping and some one on one fashion advice? Thought so. Well clear the diary for the evening of October 24, 8pm to 10.30pm, because you're off to Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge.

Tickets cost £10 each and include after-hours shopping, cocktails, nibbles and a ridiculously good goodie bag. Plus everyone gets a £10 discount on their shopping and the chance to enter a competition to win a shopping spree at Harvey Nichols in Dubai, flying with BA Club World and staying for three nights at the Arabian Resort Madinat Jumeirah and two nights at the Jumeirah Bab Al Shams Desert Resort and Spa.

You could also treat yourself to supper at the Fifth Floor restaurant, which is offering two courses, half a bottle of wine between two and coffee for just £34.95 per person. Book in advance on 020 7235 5250, quoting The Sunday Times.

What are you waiting for? Call the booking line on 0870 830 3485 to book tickets now. If you're still not convinced, go to www.shop.harveynichols.com to see what you'll be missing

The Boring Bit: Terms and conditions: 1. Reader evening takes place at Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge, London SW1, on October 24, 2007, from 8pm to 10.30pm. Tickets cost £10 and include admission to the event, £10 off any purchases made on the night, cocktails, nibbles and a goodie bag containing products worth up to £10. No cash alternative. 2. Restaurant offer (two courses, half a bottle of wine between two and coffee for £34.95 per person) is available on October 24, 2007, from 7pm only. Book in advance on 020 7235 5250, quoting The Sunday Times to avoid disappointment. 3. Harvey Nichols/BA shopping trip competition terms and conditions will be available on the night.

Smoking ban makes no odds to the fashion bunch

The smoking ban seemed to have made no impact on the smoking habits of the fag ash-fashionistas at London fashion week. In fact, fashion's favourite brand of cigarette, the evil Marlboro Lights, were in such plentiful supply you'd never have guessed there was a ban at all. Instead, ever the survivors, the ladies did lots of conspiratorial whispering whilst puffing on cigarettes in front of shops, on balconies and outside nightclubs. And teeth chattering, of course, since this season's Antipodium pinafore dresses, Balenciaga school blazers and Miu Miu patent leather lace-ups - or variations on that theme - proved not much of a match for the nippy northerly wind. Yes, in almost every respect, it was like being back behind the bike sheds all over again. 

What it's really like inside Bungalow 8

It's not always like a hen night at Amy Sacco's New York import Bungalow 8 - a super-exclusive members-only "nightlife lounge" - unless you happen to have landed when Matthew Williamson is hosting his post-show party, like he was last night... hence all the glossy girlies who outnumbered the men by very many:very few (very boring).

But frankly, even if the place was sardined with CK male models in tight pants, telling the world what to expect inside would just be academic - it doesn't only require a £350 annual membership fee, but social and professional credentials that would make Tamara Mellon develop an inferiority complex.

So to save yourself the humiliation, here's what you're missing.

Decor: Black and white horizontal striped walls (most probably some kind of slimming device), low-lying seats skirting the room (most definitely where to find the VIPs and CIPs huddling), a "dance floor" that comprises a body-bumping space between tables (most definitely a rumour-creating device).

Music: Ibiza-lite disco; nothing too out-there sonically. You wouldn't want to scare away the wealthy hasbeens.

Dress: When even the cocktail totty are wearing black silk Issa halternecks, this is when you need to be Matthew Williamson's bum chum.   

Verdict: Surreal but sterile, says Aesop's sour-grapes-eating fox.

What on Earth do you Wear to your own Party?

Take a leaf out of the fashion greats' books:

1. Diane Von Furstenberg at her store launch in Bruton Street, W1:

The hostess's wardrobe dilemma is almost cause enough to design your own clothes. DVF wore - surprise, surprise - a deep fuschia DVF shirt dress, this season's of course, in taffeta with ruffled sleeves, and look, there's that telltale red sole peeking out of her shoes; from Christian Louboutin's latest collection.

2. Julie Verhoeven for Mulberry

How to avoid wearing the obvious, straight off the rails of the label you'rein bed with? How to avoid allegiance to rival designers? Step into vintage - Julie was in a vintage Windsmoor blue polka frock (think ironic mumsie British brand), vintage golden shoes, a Julie Verhoeven for Mulberry "Made in England" shopper (Mulberry has a factory in Somerset) dutifully slung over her shoulder and a oversized ringpull keyring (also designed by her for Mulberry) worn around her neck. Julie was celebrating the launch of her new collaboration with Mulberry - which also included two styles of T-shirt and a dress - all made in England of course.

3. Camilla Morton's book launch at Brown's

"It's Jil Sander," squeals Camilla, with demands for her attention being called from all directions. What's more, it's bare of shoulder (porcelain flesh), strong of colour (deep magenta) and thoroughly fit for the red carpet.

Christian Louboutin's Dream Job

Hanging outside the Vanity Fair party with all the smokers (NB: smirting on  pavements is THE place to mainline fashion gossip), Christian Louboutin is singing the praises of that pocket-sized pop star, Prince. As he explains how his week's party schedule is entirely planned around being on top form for Prince's gig at the O2 centre ("just a couple of parties tonight, a couple tomorrow... I must save myself"), and how he practically pulverised a check-in chick in rage when he missed a flight back from Portugal recently to see the purple popsicle, he then reveals the root cause of his obsession. "I wish I could have been a pop star." Why not try your luck at Lucky Voice, Monsieur Louboutin? He harrumphs, and scoops up Diane Von Furstenberg to head off to Camilla Morton's book launch.

They do say the funniest things at London Fashion Week

1. Waiting in line for the Marios Schwab show:

Thin Waif 1: "Have you had any breakfast yet?"

Thin Waif 2: "I had a cereal bar"

Thin Waif 1: "Yeah, I had half a cereal bar"

2. At the coatcheck for the Vanity Fair/Michael Roberts' book launch party:

Glossy Conde Nast sloany pony: "Can you make sure the sellotape doesn't go anywhere near the leather of the bag"

3. In the toilets at the Boombox party: Drag queen to his fag hag friend: "You'll tell me if I flash my gusset, won't you?"

4. Outside the Luella party at Claridges, Brook St

Bewildered, middle-of-the-road Joe Public: "What a bunch of queer folk!"

5. At the Browns/Camilla Morton book launch party

The 90-year-old Mr Burstein (wife of Browns' grand dame Mrs B): "I hate the party. I'm a child of nature. I can't stand all this music [Gareth Pugh was on the decks]"