text:
Sometimes, you just have to cut your losses. Last night I headed for the first night of fashion parties with three glossy invites tucked into my leopard Rika bag: first stop was the Vivienne Westwood party at the Wallace Collection, next onto William Tempest and Mechante at Maddox Club, and last stop was to be PPQ atop the Millbank Tower (site of the recent student protests, and judging by previous PPQ parties, almost as likely to be a riot).
But I have to confess: I made it no further than the Westwood party. All my good party-hopping intentions evaporated as soon as I began to ascend the grand staircase, accompanied by the strains of Vivaldi from a string quartet. Someone handed me a glass of Perrier Jouet and as I turned around to look at the glamorous guests resplendent in Westwood designs, I was a goner. I was here for the night.
The Wallace Collection is a museum set into an historic townhouse- an unbelievable place to hold a party. The walls are crammed with priceless works of art and guests were permitted to ramble from room to room, champagne in hand, pretending to check out the collection but secretly checking out each other. We spotted Olivia Palermo next to a Gainsbourg, pretty as a picture in Gianbattista Valli and a Temperley jacket. 'I wish my boyfriend could see this,' she said, 'but he's not in town for another few days yet.' Given that her boyfriend is the extremely handsome model Johannes Huebl, we kind of wished he could have seen it too.
Roisin Murphy looked silver screen beautiful in a long back John Rocha dress and
Dame Vivienne Westwood was obviously impressed by them too, as she took the opportunity to pose in front of them when she finally arrived, looking exquisite in a figure-defining pewter dress.
Mark Ronson's girlfriend Josephine de la Baume was gossiping in a corner with Cory Kennedy looking extremly cosy in conversation. Surprise of the night came when girl crush of the month Jessie J – wearing a crown of palladium oak leaves designed by Westwood – took to the stage to give us an incredible acoustic performance of Do It Like a Dude. It was too good to keep to ourselves, so here's a snippet of last night's action.
- Alannah Sparks