For me, a year’s highlights include my birthday and pancake day. That is, until last year when I discovered the star-filled world of Vogue Festival.
I’d never heard of it before, as it was only the second year the event was held. So, on the first day and after envying everyone tweeting about it, I booked a train ticket and a ticket to Alber Elbaz: The Dream and Reality of Fashoin, dug out my favourite ever-so-slightly-too-small Allsaints dress and set off at 6 in the morning the next day.
Alone in the capital city with no phone (and ever-so-slightly hungover), I kept the ‘bricking it’ feeling to myself. I didn’t dare show it in front of glamorous fashion bloggers, designers, journalists all tottering around in amazing outfits put together days ago which took hours to assemble.
Being the little village Welsh girl, I had no idea who Alber Elbaz was or what Lanvin was, so I’d built up an image of an arrogant designer diva in my head and expected just that. But I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Elbaz transformed the cold theatre into a welcoming lounge just by his presence, and captivated a whole crowd of young fashion hopefuls.
He has a strange sense of humour, one that I’ve tried and failed to describe. But, it’s a sense of humour that I will never forget. It was an experience that I will never forget. I have no idea what made me pack a handbag and go on that adventure. but I’m really glad I did.
Llio Angharad 