VOGUE Festival 2013

This weekend London’s Southbank was overrun with fashion lovers heading to the Vogue festival at the Southbank Centre. This was my first year at the festival and I was massively impressed by the whole set up – it was a perfect way to spend a sunny Saturday afternoon.

Attending a talk called ‘Behind a VOGUE covershoot’ with my sister, we arrived early to soak up the atmosphere over Americanos and the best people watching you can imagine! A Vogue cafe and shop were erected in the entrance of the hall, with branded muffins and coffee cups – a lovely touch.

The festival is a chance for admirers and fans of fashion to get the chance to hear talks and attend masterclasses from the creme de la creme of the fashion world. Anna Della Russo trotted past us looking utterly fabulous in a wide rimmed black hat and fishnets, with publicist extraordinaire Liz Matthews running around looking after her clients such as Alexa Chung who was hosting a talk with Paul Smith.

(Alexa Chung – Picture from Vogue online) 

(Laura Bailey – picture from Vogue online)

The ‘Behind a VOGUE covershoot’ talk was fascinating. Chaired by British Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman, the panel consisted of make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury, Sam McKnight, fashion director Lucinda Chambers and model of the year Cara Delevingne. Each of the panel brought something different to the hour’s session and it was genuinely interesting to hear from the horses mouth how a shoot for the world’s most famous magazine gets put together. If you’re a regular reader of my little blog, you’ll know I already have a bit of an obsession with magazine covers and am always on the look out for the new mags on the stands each month to see which covers pop off the page.

Lucinda Chambers was particularly endearing as she discussed disasters and successes of her 30 year long career, such as Emma Watson’s cover shoot where none of the clothes arrived in Paris to which Miss Watson wasn’t best pleased; “I’ve waited ten years for this…” she apparently said.

An interesting part of the talk discussed Vogue’s using of celebrities AND models on the cover of the magazine, something other rival publications don’t do. It now seems incredible to note the rise of models to becoming celebrity figures themselves. Take the Victoria Secret models, or Cara D herself – she now has nearly 700,000 Twitter followers who follow her every move across the globe from shoot to music gig to hotel room. Alexandra commented that Vogue doesn’t have a ‘girl’ or a ‘look’ for its any one cover, it tries to mix it up, but still stay true to the core essence of ‘British Vogue.’

(The panel and Cara D – pictures from Vogue online)

Following the talk, my sister and I decided to embrace the ‘when in Rome’ philosophy and took part in the ‘Vogue covershoot’ set-up, where Chanel had loaned key pieces of their current collection (including THE ‘It’ Hoop bag) and you could have your picture taken for your very own Vogue cover for a steal at a tenner. We were like kids in a sweetie shop playing with the Chanel goodies….

(The sis getting her make-up touched up at the Chanel beauty booth before our shoot). 

Just before leaving, I also spotted by fashion blogger crush Garance Dore, whose blog I follow religiously and use as a guide when in Paris – follow her stylish life here.

The VOGUE festival is an absolute must if you’re a fashion fan – highly recommend as a thoroughly enjoyable day out in London. My sis and I finished off the day by heading back to our beloved Notting Hill for cocktails and snacks at The Electric. A perfect Saturday.

 LMNH x