fashion foie gras’ tote launch for coach and seven normality fails

Image courtesy of Fashion Foie Gras

Well, it can’t be said that when I try something new I don’t do it properly. For the first fashion event I have ever attended, I chose a pretty darn good one! Well, ‘chose’ might be a slightly misleading word; I wasn’t actually invited (normality fail number one) but tagged along happily as the plus one of the wonderful Becky Gregory of Delightful Finds and Me.

The launch party was a blast. Emily Johnston, of Fashion Foie Gras was beaming throughout the evening. She looked so proud of her gorgeous tote that she designed in collaboration with Coach and rightly so, as quite frankly any bag that doesn’t have a secret shoe and camera compartment is simply inferior in my eyes from now on. Coach displayed Emily’s mood board for the bag so we could see her ideas and inspirations and we all got our hands on the bag for a good inspection too. The drinks were flowing, the music (courtesy of Mademoiselle Robot) was fab, fashion types decorated the room, the atmosphere was electric and the whole evening passed with elegance and the normality you would expect from such an established brand and brilliant lady.

Emily Johnston and her Coach Creation

Of course, from my side of things everything did not go according to plan; what did you expect from me really?

It all started the day before the party. The invitation arrived and I went into absolute panic; what would I wear? How will I ever pass myself off as a real fashion type and not get sent away at the door? How in this ever-increasing state of hyperactivity will I manage to remain a professional and credible person in the fashion industry?

I decided to take a big step in my career… I produced my first business cards. Business cards mean you are a real, professional person right? They mean that no matter how much of an idiot I make of myself I can still produce a card and say “look, see me here; I am a REAL person doing REAL work, ha!” This is normality fail number two; I spend £50 producing fifty cards at the last minute and I hand out a total number of two at the event. TWO!

Normality fail number three is a major sartorial one. I spent a considerable amount of time deciding what to wear; I wanted to get the balance just right. Not too formal, not too scruffy, on trend but not into ‘wannabe’ territory. Unfortunately, I neglected to factor in warmth and heat into my decisions and ended up wearing too many clothes. I looked great (I think) but I wore a cotton jacket and tights that were just too warm for a bustling indoor party.

Image courtesy of Fashion Foie Gras

After the initial panic of attending such a great event, Becky and I began to get excited. On the train journey into London we discussed the amazing bag, Emily’s amazing blog, all the other amazing bloggers that might be there, the amazingness of the London Christmas lights, and so on and so on. After some fairly typical train ticket issues at every underground station, we arrived at the event early. Normality fail number four lies here. We decided to go round the corner for a quick drink before things started. We were so involved with chatting about all those AMAZING things that we ended up being late. We then had to run round the corner and turned up slightly flustered. Luckily, I don’t think anyone noticed.

Image courtesy of Fashion Foie Gras

As a direct result of our lateness we come to normality fail number five. I grabbed a drink. Then another. Then another. I needed a little Dutch courage to try and speak to people. And the cocktails were really very good. I probably should have stopped at four…still, no drunken mishaps or inappropriate comments so we’ll chalk that one up to a near miss – phew!

So after a fair amount of hovering and feeling nervous we finally go and say hello to the woman of the hour, Emily Johnston. I’m sure she has no idea who I am but she is so nice and friendly that it really doesn’t matter. I am so happy that she is talking to me and smiling. We talk to another lovely girl of Cult Beauty and it’s while we’re chatting away that I come to normality fail number six. I am bad at networking. What I should have said is this:
“Hi, I’m Emily, I have a lifestyle blog called Normality And Me and I’m a fashion writer, writing for Fashion Beans. It’s lovely to meet you; I’m such a fan of Cult Beauty/Fashion Foie Gras/insert successful blog title here. What a great event!”
What I actually say is this:
“Hi, I’m Emily. Oh, I have a little blog but I’m just here as a plus one. Becky’s the stylish person here” *followed by some intense and awkward smiling then looking at the floor*

I then spy Sasha Wilkins of Liberty London Girl (my blogging hero)and begin to get heart palpitations in sheer awe. I decide I’m far too scared to talk to her – especially with the social ineptness I appear to have brought with me. I have another cocktail.

After the initial awkwardness and panic, we start to relax… or is that the vodka in my veins? We have great fun slipping off stools and trying to look cool in the photo booth erected for everyone to have a pictorial memento of the night. Then finally we talk to the lovely Isa and Megan, who are fashion PR girls from Propellernet, and we chat about fashion, bags, blogging, PR and boys. I manage to actually mention my blog and writing credentials – with a little persuasion and encouragement – and I finally release two of those business cards! Normality Win!

Becky and I in the Photobooth. Cocktail in hand.

I am so pleased to have been included in such an excellent event. I couldn’t speak more highly of Emily of Fashion Foie Gras and Coach for the exquisite tote they have produced together and the outstanding event they held. Big thanks to everyone who made it all happen and an even bigger thank you to Becky for taking me with her and having a brilliant girls’ night in the process.

I’ll leave you with normality fail number seven. As soon as we left the Bond Street Coach store, I was forced to immediately remove my shoes due to the sheer agony of the statement heel and walk barefoot through London, getting funny looks on the underground until we reached our departing train at Waterloo. If only I had had a sneaky pair of flats stashed somewhere clever in my bag to whip out for such an occasion? Oh well, Fashion Foie Gras Coach tote savings account may have to begin in the New Year… if there are any left!

Thanks all. Normality Fail.