It is a universally acknowleged truth that during Fashion Week, some of the juciest action goes down long after Somerset House shuts up shop for the night. Yes you may have been on your stiletto clad feet since the crack of dawn but with more fabulous soirees taking place every night than even the wildest of fashionistas could hope to attend, sleep is definitely not a priority. By day most people are far too busy rushing between shows, catching up on work and avoiding the dreaded February rain to get down to any serious socialising. After all, even the chauffer driven Vogue Range Rover is running to a pretty tight schedule. So it was at night that us London Fashion Weekers really came out to play, forcing our tired limbs away from our sofas and out on the town. You’d have to be a fool not to leap at the chance to mingle with fashion’s elite and if even that doesn’t entice you away from those pyjamas, then just think of the free champagne!

This season I made a resolution that no matter how exhausted I might be, there was to be NO flaking on worthwile parties. After a day of back-to-back shows, the idea of putting on an even more uncomfortable pair of 6 inch heels and venturing back out into the cold isn’t all that appealing. However, some soirees are more than worth a bit of initial pain and the Vivienne Westwood “Get a Life Party” was definitely one such event.

The party was held to celebrate the launch of Vivienne’s Palladium Jewellery collection, apparently inspired by her passion to stop climate change and preserve life. As the Grand Dame of Fashion herself so succinctly puts it…

“Get a Life is not about jewellery. Get a Life is about how we stop climate change and therefore preserve life for the next generation while at that same time get a better life”

A worthy cause indeed. Worthy enough to be celebrated with one of the most incredible parties I have ever attended in my life! The evening was held in the sumptuos surroundings of The Wallace Collection, and after a moment of confusion where we found ourselves lost amongst the priceless antiques, my party pal and I found our way to the enormous courtyard where the real action was happening. Everywhere was packed with beautiful, ridiculously well-dressed people mingling, dancing, guzzling champagne cocktails and getting snapped by the Vogue photographers circling the room.

The fashionable likes of Nick Grimshaw, Jo Wood, Olivia Palermo, Miranda Richardson, Cara Delvigne, Jodie Harsh and Roisin Murphy all showed up to join in the fun.

At one point I noticed Lily Cole enter wearing a particularly divine piece from the couture collection shortly before Brit award winner, and according to Justin Timberlake “the sexiest woman in music” Jessie J treated us to a performance of “Do it Like a Dude”.

Several hours and countless glasses of champagne later I managed to force myself into a cab and back in the direction of my bed. All in all, Vivienne’s shindig was an evening of excess and extravangance. We danced until our poor bruised tootsies could simply take no more. As you can probably imagine I was not at my most radiant the following morning but headaches and suspected sprained ankles be damned, it was worth it.

Love Ella. X