This week I was invited over to the fancy-schmancy Arcadia offices for a exclusive UK Blogger Event, which was ultimately one of the coolest ways to spend an evening. Ever.
They let us come in, have a sneak peak at their Autumn Winter ’09 collections for Topshop, Evans, Wallis, Miss Selfridge, and then –then! – try on whatever clothes from the new lines we wanted, and have our photo taken by the incredibly fabulous photographer, Alistair Guy. (Who had on some amazing shoes, by the way...)
To be let loose in Arcadia’s offices, to try on clothes, makeup, accessories (and if we wanted to, fake hair) was like a dream come true for everyone there. It was basically the adult, blogger version of playing dress-up with your mom’s clothes...with a professional photographer.
For my outfit, I picked out a very Coco-style black and cream striped sweater from Topshop, and a pair of dark, skinny jeans from Wallis. The shoes (that you can't see) are my own (they’re about three years old and were $15 at Target) and I believe the fascinator I’m wearing is from Topshop, as well.
While I’m not a massive Topshop whore (and Kate Moss’s line always makes me yawn) the have some absolutely magnificent pieces coming out for AW09.
September’s EDIT collection, a pop-up boutique showcasing a mash-up of young international designers, showcases some truly fabulous dresses, trousers, and skirts. Take for example Italian designer Babbu, who’s handmade dresses and coats from Cesena, Italy focuses on “quirky, feminie pieces”.
EDIT also includes some of the best international talent in jewellery, with collections from designers such as Emillie Morris, Jenny Lenny, and - my favorite - Violette van Parys from Paris who has created a fierce line of porcelain brooches with animals, speech bubbles, fun phrases and beautiful illustrations on them.
Between the EDIT collection, and Topshop’s new “Neurotica”, “Highland Fling”, “Manhattan Cocktail”, “Marianne” and “Horror Girls” lines, this winter should be anything but dull and drab.
Now, if only I can get to Topshop and buy the sweater I’m wearing in my size, before everyone else gets to it...
All photography courtesy of Alistair Guy.
To see more from the event, go over to Topshop's Facebook page, and make sure to check out Mademoiselle Robot, Disney RollerGirl and Miggy from Pout's posts about the event, as well! They're some pretty foxy ladies...