Wednesday 28 April 2010

F L O R E N C E + T H E M A C H I N E



(Yours truly, having a drink with Florence)






Despite the hectic schedule I've had this week, when the tickets for the CLIC Sargent care charity gig fell through my letterbox and I read Florence was playing, well, I felt obliged to go. London's Best Friend is all for charity you see, and when fashionistas, artists, musicians as well as delicious goody bag come into the mix, it's very hard to say no.
Walking into the Sanderson Hotel in London is an event in itself, if ever you feel homeless in the London, I give you permission to hop into a taxi and go there immediately. The eclectic interior design combines a mirrored bar with stainless glass windows, metal railings and a corridor painted acid green, so that the trip to the loo can be a very harrowing experience.....there is a definitive moment when you have to make sure you're not actually tripping.
As I walked in, the floodgates of photographers were already in full swarm, snapping away at the plethora of editors and artists casually meeting-and-greeting as though they were in a Pret- A - Manger. I spotted Kim Hersov, editor at Harper's Bazaar, as well as the owner of the Haunch of Venison art gallery (they recently curated the art for the opening of Soho house in LA.) A flash of red within the crowd and the subsequent shouts was all I needed to tell me Florence had arrived, mounting the stage in a beautifully flowing vintage gown, all smiles and giggles for her audience and unbelievably good-looking guitarist.
She was, amazing. Obviously. After the gig I happened to get talking with Welch, her entourage bobbing around her with their undercuts and tailored jackets, I told her one of my friends had died their hair in a moment of 'Welch inspiration' and she laughed. Fun Fact: Florence used to hang out with my best friend's older brother who was a Dior model and in a band called Fucking Vegas.