Fashion Business Club

SECOND ANNUAL WGSN GLOBAL FASHION AWARDS ANNOUNCE OPEN ENTRY

WGSN will once again honour fashion’s most inspirational and innovative at the second annual Global Fashion Awards in New York City. The Global Fashion Awards were created by WGSN in 2010 to recognise and reward those who are pushing the boundaries of fashion, propelling the industry forward and setting the style agenda on a global scale. The second annual WGSN Global Fashion Awards open entry launches today and is a call for all individuals and businesses working across the fashion industry around the world. Entries can be made online via www.globalfashionawards.com.

“The WGSN Global Fashion Awards celebrate the fashion industry as a completely connected, global platform.  In order to be successful in this universe, one needs the talents and expertise of a wide variety of players, from designers to business leaders, retailers to editors and marketers to models – it takes a whole village…but a very chic one”. Fern Mallis, Founder of New York Fashion Week

The shortlist will be announced in London at a party on the 20th of June at the St Martins Lane Hotel and the winners will be announced at a ceremony that will take place at the Global Fashion Awards’ larger and more fabulous new venue, Gotham Hall in New York City on the 20th of October in front of an audience of fashion’s most influential industry insiders.

“As a creative company, we are constantly looking for new experiences. Getting in contact with new realities, markets, cultures and interesting people is our every day basis. Since WGSN has clients all over the world, the Global Fashion Awards exposure and event was great for us and our clients who joined us on the journey”. Fernanda Pigatto, Institutional Relationship Manager, La Estampa

This year’s categories will again encompass all major business and creative disciplines in fashion including design, retail (off and online), buying, visual merchandising, store design, marketing and ethical practice. The WGSN Global Fashion Awards are the first and only awards that recognise these achievements on a global scale.

The winners will be selected by an expert panel of judges, made up of some of the most prominent people in the fashion and style industries, including designers, buying directors, stylists, merchants and marketing executives. The judges’ panel was carefully selected by WGSN to ensure impartiality and global expertise. The 2011 panel includes:

Chee Au, Chief Creative Officer, Shanghai Tang

June Haynes, Senior Vice President of Retail, Valentino USA

Graeme Fidler and Michael Herz, Creative Directors, Bally

Orsola de Castro, Founder and Curator of the British Fashion Council’s Estethica

Dolly Jones, Editor, VOGUE.COM UK

Simon Kneen, Creative Director and Executive Vice President of Design, Banana Republic

Averyl Oates, Buying Director, Harvey Nichols – Menswear, Womenswear and Accessories

Jana Ririnui, Founder and Director, Academy of Freelance Makeup

William Tempest, Founder and Designer, William Tempest

Daisy de Villeneuve, Illustrator, Designer and Writer

Rebekah Roy, Fashion & Celebrity Stylist

“The landscape of the fashion industry has become more transparent and open. The Internet and social media have fostered new relationships, opportunities and means of operation for fashion businesses and exposed the fashion marketplace to a new global consumer. As the largest and foremost style and design forecaster, WGSN is charged with finding and honouring the world’s idea-makers – the ones whose actions and influence inspire the fashion industry and the broader consumer market”. Susanna Kempe, CEO of WGSN

For more press information on the WGSN Global Fashion Awards and to register your interest, please contact Courtney Blackman. Email: courtney.blackman@forwardpr.com Phone: +44 20 7839 5059

About WGSN

WGSN is the global authority on style and design. The company identifies and analyzes current and future style trends and provides its customers with state-of-the-art online tools that that can be used to create commercially successful products and services. WGSN defines and shapes wining style and design for over 36,000 customers globally. WGSN customers include many of the world’s leading apparel, style, design and retail companies including Levi Strauss & Co., Adidas, Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products, Benetton Group, and Marks and Spencers, among others. WGSN is head quartered in London and has offices all over the world including Milan, New York, Hong Kong, Seoul, Los Angeles, Melbourne and Tokyo. For more information, visit www.wgsn.com. Follow WGSN on Twitter: @wgsn.

FBC member Imran Amed, editor of The Business of Fashion held the third instalment of his Fashion Pioneers initiative on Friday the 26^th of November. An extra large studio in the lower ground level of The Hospital Club in London was the backdrop, with live streaming on various websites around the globe, including on FBC member DisneyRollerGirl’s site in the UK. FBC members in the audience included Fashion Scout director, Martyn Roberts, founder and MD of Muks, Jaime Cooke, and fashion stylist Rebekah Roy.

FBC members Jaime Cooke and Rebekah Roy

Fashion Pioneers puts the industry’s true visionaries in the spotlight. The ones who had the foresight well before the rest of us and have shaped the way we all see, interact, buy and work in fashion.

Legendary image-maker and founder and director of SHOWstudio, Nick Knight took to the spotlight this time around for very rare live interview.

Nick has been a leading photographer for over 30 years after abandoning studies to become a doctor. He ‘liked the look of the art department,’ and he felt like life was leading him toward image making so he, ‘took up arts to prove something to himself,’ and it quickly became an ‘addiction…a curse and a pleasure’.

‘Ever since I started photography, I wanted to change it’. Nick felt that there was a new medium and that photography as it was, was shifting under his feet. ‘Photography has killed itself off. It references itself from a heyday that doesn’t exist anymore.’ Nick started filming shoots in the 1980s stating, ‘Clothes are designed to be seen in movement’. He wanted to show people the process, to lift the veil on how the media shows fashion, where it is ‘either trivialised or scandalised.’ He wanted to show the process, to give people access to how brilliant fashion is and to understand it as an art form, reinforcing that, ‘The biggest luxury we have left is access.’

Imran Amed and Nick Knight

What does the future of fashion hold? According to Nick fashion shows will evolve into huge consumer events and entertainment is the key. ‘You have to turn it into an event. You can’t just make it live.’ A fundamental revolution is underway. Production schedules will be brought forward to enable consumers to purchase immediately, distribution will change and designers will no longer have to have shows. Film allows designers to have much more control. In a nutshell, the industry is, ‘in total flux. It’s thrilling’.

So what makes a good fashion film? A fashion film has to make the clothes desirable and the message has to be delivered with intensity. There is no need for narrative. The message is imbued in the clothing, and the key is the relationship between the image-maker and the model. ‘You need to have that personal relationship.’ Nick’s secret recipe consists of two people (not a massive crew). One person is the image-maker, the other is the model. Also on the list are one camera and one light. ‘I don’t need a lot of stuff,’ he says, and he is adamant that technology does not have an effect on creativity. It is simply an enabling tool. ‘Technology gives you possibility’.

Imran Amed and Nick Knight

What is Nick’s advice to the budding image-maker? ‘If you really want to do it, you have to work harder than anybody else,’ and you’ll have to be prepared to give up your love life, food, security and be ready to take on board a lot of discouragement, but according to Nick, ‘It’s one of the greatest things you can do,’ and the only tools you really need are ‘your heart and your mind.’ Equipment is irrelevant. If you have something to say, you’ll find a way to say it.

At close, Nick pointed out a poignant industry truth. ‘The fashion industry is so frustratingly narrow,’ going on to say, ‘I’ve tried to articulate an alternative,’ in regards to age, race and shape. ‘Society isn’t well represented in fashion. It should be’.

Congratulations to Imran who says, ‘It was an honour to have such an honest and insightful conversation with an immensely important cultural figure such as Nick Knight, and share it with the global BoF community. There was much to learn from his experience and point of view’. Imran is also ‘excited that Nick Knight was a trending topic on Twitter during the talk’!

The crowd at Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™

The bitterly cold weather didn’t deter FBC members who turned up in force to hear WGSN’s Lauretta Roberts interview fashion retail expert Yasmin Sewell at Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™. Looking effortlessly cool in a Christopher Kane top, rolled up jeans and grey Topshop heels, Yasmin confessed to feeling a little daunted by all the attention, admitting  ‘I hope I have something interesting to say.’ She needn’t worry – with a career which started in real estate and window dressing at Browns, and saw her launch her own boutique and work with brands such as Rick Owens before becoming hot property as a retail consultant, she certainly has a fashion story to tell.

Lauretta Roberts interviewing Yasmin Sewell

Yasmin is renowned for the successful transformation of iconic London department store Liberty, which she achieved with the addition of around 70 new designers and a fresh design aesthetic, leading to the store reporting its largest half-year profit in 10 years. Yasmin admitted feeling a degree of nervousness about taking on such a well-loved institution, and her respect for the store is clear: ‘It’s magical – it just needed to be cleaned up.’

Lauretta Roberts and Yasmin Sewell

Modestly insisting the overhaul was the work of the whole team, she explains how energy flow is incredibly important in a retail environment - ‘I can get really spiritual when I want to’ – and that too much product clogging up the space can be detrimental to sales. Working for Liberty taught Yasmin the importance of trusting her own judgement, and – in spite of never having had any formal training – she was also able to develop marketing skills on the job. Summarising the project, Yasmin stresses the importance of a store understanding its core values, describing Liberty as ‘eclectic, a bit mad, not too fashion but still cool’.

FBC’s press director Penelope Sacorafou, tweeting to @FBCLondon

In her day-to-day role, Yasmin and her PA Hannah offer trend, product and buying direction for brands and retailers. Perhaps better known for her work with luxury brands, Yasmin’s clients also include high street retailers and she cites Topshop, Zara and COS as fantastic high street brands. Discussing the notoriously unfathomable art of trend forecasting Yasmin explains, ‘It often comes down to a feeling, as well as looking at what’s already happening in fashion and seeing how that can evolve. It’s also about opposites – if it’s all about skinny jeans it will go wide.’ Something of a globetrotter, she also gathers information from around the world, offering a personalised trend service for each customer.

FBC member Lupe Castro (centre) with visiting press Marian Kihogo and Michelle Bobb Paris

Although she prefers a physical retail environment for her own purchases, Yasmin is also an expert in online fashion retail. Asked about how the internet has affected consumer behaviour she explains, ‘It’s made kids savvy through access to information, which is scary for designers as they don’t want to be overexposed.’ In terms of bricks and mortar stores, Yasmin is of the resolute belief that service is at the heart of an outstanding retailer, alongside great product and ‘an environment that makes customers feel great when they walk in’.

Caroline Leaper and Sabina Emrit from ACCESS-FASHION with Nik Thakkar (centre) from KARLISMYUNCLE

With experience in the UK and across the pond, Yasmin feels that service is generally appalling in London compared to New York, and she’s vehement that the attitude on our shop floors needs to change. ‘It’s hard to change the mentality that it is degrading to serve someone, [but] I think it’s beautiful to serve someone and make them feel great in a dress.’ She does, however, give John Lewis her customer service seal of approval.

FBC member Frances Card of Matches talking with Sach Kukadia of secretsales.com

Yasmin Sewell with Andre DeVeaux and The Hub magazine editor, Tolu Adeko

As a mentor with the BFC, Yasmin is dedicated to supporting young designers and knows what it takes to stand out from the crowd. She explains that the ones who do make it have drive and common sense – as well as a little magic. Someone who definitely has ‘the magic’ is Christopher Kane, who she championed in her role as Buying Director at Browns. Her hot tips for brand new design talent are Thomas Tait and JS Lee.

What advice would she give to young designers? ‘Be unique, embrace who you are and know your market’. Having acted as a mentor for Estethica, Yasmin feels a mentoring programme for graduates would definitely be beneficial. ‘Sometimes as a young designer you’re in your own head so much that you can get quite delusional…you need to know what’s happening out there in the world.’

FBC members Helen Puxley of RAH Productions and Orlando Martins or Oresa

Her expertise comes with the benefit of considerable experience. Yasmin opened her own boutique Yasmin Cho at just 21, gaining her a reputation for spotting hot new talent. The store went on to be listed as one of the most influential in the world by the New York Times. Yasmin puts the eventual closure of the boutique down to being vulnerable, getting bad advice and making bad financial choices. It is from mistakes such as these, though, that she finds the most valuable lessons are learned, saying, ‘you get burned, you learn.’

So which store would Yasmin love to get her hands on? ‘Australian store David Jones, I’d work on the brand mix, layout and service in the store. I’ve always loved Barney’s as it is so gorgeous and intimate, although it doesn’t really need my help.’

FBC members & stylists Anne Look and Rebekah Roy with fashion photographer Christopher Dadey

Surprisingly for someone with such an obvious love for fashion, Yasmin keeps her wardrobe on the minimalist side, ‘I don’t like to clutter my life with too many clothes so every couple of months I sell them’. There were a few disappointed FBC members in the room as Yasmin revealed her cleaner gets most of her clothes – ‘I haven’t paid her in about 6 months!’ Despite clearing out all the clothes she hasn’t worn in a year, she admits to keeping around 10 special pieces. ‘Alaïa doesn’t go,’ she says with a smile. We can only imagine what these 10 special pieces are, but we’re told two of her favourite brands are Acne and Balenciaga.

Lauretta and Yasmin with FBC co-founders Courtney Blackman and Alison Whelan

Listening to Yasmin talk about her career and achievements, it’s clear she has the Midas touch when it comes to fashion retail, but also that her numerous successes have been achieved through old-fashioned hard work. Judging by the amount of FBC members who stay long after the chairs have been cleared away to chat with her over a little champagne, it’s clear she has many more inspirational nuggets to share.

By guest editor, FBC member & editor of Fashion Monitor, Victoria Todd

Photographs by FBC member Venetia van Hoorn Alkema

FBC is very pleased to have been an official partner of the inaugural WGSN Global Fashion Awards. The awards were conceptualised by FBC member Lauretta Roberts, WGSN’s digital development director, and executed to perfection by a WGSN team from around the globe.

The awards ceremony took place on the 18th floor at the Waldorf Astoria in New York on the 10th of November. Hosted by Nigel Barker, one of our proudest moments was when FBC member Harold Tillman CBE was recognised for his 40 plus years in the industry with the John Rocha designed, Waterford crystal trophy marked with Outstanding Contribution to Fashion. The award was much deserved as Harold is chairman of the British Fashion Council and owns two of Britain’s most iconic heritage labels: Jaeger and Aquascutum.

Nigel Barker, Harold Tillman and Barney’s Simon Doonan

FBC blog editor and celebrity fashion stylist, Rebekah Roy was responsible for nominating her longtime client, London-based fashion designer, William Tempest in the category of best Emerging Brand or Retailer. With a shortlist that included strong brands from around the world, William came out on top and won the award. William also was charged with dressing FBC co-founder Courtney Blackman, who wore a one-of-a-kind William Tempest dress to the awards ceremony, then changed into a piece from his SS11 collection for the after party. Courtney was representing the Global Fashion Awards through her PR agency, Forward PR and was there in the capacity of official FBC envoy.

Sarah Curran (2nd from right) with her team: Luisa de Paula, Fiona McIntosh, Jean-Marc Bouhelier and Lauren Stevenson

The winners of the Global Fashion Awards were selected by an expert panel of judges, made up the most influential people in fashion and style, including FBC board member and editor of VOGUE.COM, Dolly Jones, who was present at the ceremony in New York along with FBC members Sarah Curran, founder & CEO of my-wardrobe.com and executive headhunter, Orlando Martins of Oresa Limted.

Congratulations to Lauretta Roberts for creating a truly amazing event. We’ll look forward to the 2011 Global Fashion Awards!

Visit the GFA website for full details and results from the evening: WGSN Global Fashion Awards.

See Lauretta on the 25th of November at Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™ for the next FBC meeting, where she will interview the legendary Yasmin Sewell. For details contact: membership@fashionbusinessclub.net or press@fashionbusinessclub.net

In just over a month FBC co-founder and co-chairman Courtney Blackman has managed to organise several fashion shows through her PR agency Forward PR, an FBC meeting featuring FBC board member and VOGUE.COM’s Dolly Jones interviewing Laura Bailey, be hailed style icon and if all this was not enough, she is about to moderate a debate called Fashion Meets Tradition for SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS on the 20th of October before flying off to New York for the WGSN Global Fashion Awards (FBC member Lauretta Roberts‘ initiative). To describe Courtney as busy is surely an understatement.

The discussion will include contributions from authoritative guest speakers such as FBC member and fashion & celebrity stylist, Rebekah Roy, fashion designer Maria Grachvogel, Swarovski’s director of trend and design, Ute Shumacher and Rasha Khouri from Dia Boutique.

“I’m really looking forward to moderating the Fashion Meets Tradition with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS seminar at Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™. We have the most amazing panel that spans the globe with a designer from London, a manufacturer from Dubai and a top fashion editor from Lebanon, and a host of media is being flown in from the Middle East to mix with the best of London’s fashion industry. It’s a hugely important event that will explore culture, history and how traditional wear it is being brought to life in the contemporary world through modern design and embellishment. I can’t wait!” – Courtney Blackman

The seminar follows the private view launch party of the stunning Jawaher (Jewel) exhibition the evening before on 19th of October, featuring a fashion spectacular alongside an exhibition of creations from global designers. FBC’s venue partner, Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™, run by FBC member Stine Brogaard, will be lavishly decorated in styles reminiscent of an Arabian palace with an exotic Bedouin tent. Opulent mirrors, mosaics and drapes bedecked with crystals will complement interactive floor media, and sensory reactive crystals will further add to the enchanting, ultra-luxurious atmosphere.

Interested in attending the preview evening on the 19th or the seminar on the 20th, or both? Please contact Chloe Wheywell at SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS: chloe.wheywell@swarovski.com

FBC members were invited to an afternoon tea and vintage shopping event by FBC member Rachael Sardelich, fashion and beauty director of the Sanderson and St. Martins Lane hotels. Sapphires’ Neely Reyes, Fiona of Morgans Hotels, FBC co-founder Courtney Blackman and Ian Warren of  Sapphires Model Management.

Emma, Rachel & Estella from Mathew Williamson (CEO Joseph Velosa is an FBC member).

Rachael Sardelich with stylist and FBC Blog editor Rebekah Roy enjoying the handbags!

Also in attendance were FBC members Anne Look, fashion stylist and Amishi Dhanuka of Amishi/Blue Lotus.

FBC Blog editor and stylist Rebekah Roy will host a three-hour master class at Kensington Palace on Wednesday, the 11th of August, from 2:00 to 5:00 pm.

As the fashion editor of Fashion.Music.Style magazine, and catwalk stylist, Rebekah is one of the most sought-after stylists for fashion advice in London. Her extensive clientele list includes William Tempest, Alice Palmer, Kate Nash, Bishi, Sarah Brightman and Billy Idol. Rebekah writes for Drapers online and has her own popular blog called Stylist Stuff.

Rebekah’s creative session at the palace will focus on contemporary fashion and she will discuss her work, as well as showcase several styled looks. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions.

The cost of the class is £20 (£18 for Historic Royal Palaces’ members), which includes refreshments and entry to Kensington Palace.

For details: education.info@hrp.org.uk

Fresh off of the inspirational words of FBC guest interviewee, Edward Enninful at  Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™, FBC members Bunty Stokes, UK sales manager of Vente-Privee, Courtney Blackman, FBC co-founder & co-chairman, Neely Reyes, managing partner of Sapphires Model Managment, Rebekeh Roy, fashion stylist & FBC Blog Editor, Sam Fearn, MD of Fearnhurst PR & founder of Fashion Press Week, Frances Card, merchandise manager, Matches, Mark Bage, creative director of Coggles, Victoria Todd, editor of Fashion Monitor and myself all made our way to One Marlyebone to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Drapers Awards.

FBC members Anne Look, Courtney Blackman, Neely Reyes & Rebekah Roy with Joseph Wan

We were greeted in style by waiters and waitresses wearing pink ties and pink and white fedoras. Swirling pink lights ran up and down the surrounding walls and stained glass windows below high-arched ceilings made it the perfect venue to honour one of Britain’s best-loved fashion industry events.

Where there is business, there is FBC, and we mingled and chatted with industry giants. FBC member Bunty Stokes gave a speech on behalf of Vente-Privee, who sponsored the evening, and Neely Reyes got some helpful business tips from Harvey Nichols CEO, Joseph Wan.

The deadline for entries for the Drapers Awards is August 5th. Details can be found on the Drapers website, and the winners will be announced at a ceremony on November 17th.

FBC member and founder & editor-in-chief of The Business of Fashion, Imran Amed interviewed Net-a-Porter’s Natalie Massenet, with his iPad of course, as part of his initiative: Fashion Pioneers – and pioneer is not a word he takes lightly. At a sold out event, filmed and streamed live globally from Net-a-Porter’s HQ, Imran delved into the making of the world’s most famous online luxury retailer.

What started as a 5-person operation out of an artist studio in Chelsea ten years ago is now a global operation that Natalie considers both a luxury fashion business and a technology business with a tech team that she considers “the brain hub” of the company. The online retailer has been profitable sine 2004 and has over 650 employees. The brand reached the greatest mark of success earlier this year: being purchased by luxury group, Richemont for £225 million, allowing its shareholders to realise their investments, and then some. Quite an achievement for a woman who said, “I never in a million years thought I would be an entrepreneur, certainly not a business one.” Natalie did assure us that despite the acquisition, Net-a-Porter is still very much independent.

Net-a-Porter’s offices are contemporary and clean – a manifestation of Natalie’s imagination for a media company where she “visualised a large white space with lots of young people working and smiling.” She has blazed a trail in what is the most successful means of retail sales, and in the beginning was “always confident in the business plan more than her own abilities,” and recalled the early years when people would see her at shows and say, “that’s that girl doing that funny website.”

There was a buzz in the room about the launch of Mr. Porter – the counterpart of the female-focused Net-a-Porter. The new mens site has been well researched and will be an online space for great style, with changes in tone of voice, navigation and packaging to suit the male shopper, and hopefully attract gift-buying women.

Imran Amed & Natalie Massenet

Natalie did tip off the audience with a few secrets on how to get on the site as a supplier:

1. Never try to go the personal route through her husband, friends or mother. It’s business.

2. Don’t crash her computer with large files.

3. Use catchy subject lines and include visuals (just not big ones per above)

4. Illustrate how you differentiate yourself from similar brands and how Net-a-Porter would tell your story.

5. Be persistent. Net-a-Porter is unpredictable. One day they may reject your brand, the next day they may love it.

Coming from a content background as a magazine editor, Natalie has expertly fused commerce with content, and considers herself an editor more than a buyer saying, “a successful retailer will think like an editor.” Three simple words of wisdom: “follow the consumer.” Women are working. They are not out lunching. They are behind screens and that’s where they shop now…and it’s evolving from computers to mobiles and iPads, so think applications as well as websites – which are the “most powerful tool for global consumers.” During the interview Net-a-Porter actually launched its new iPad application, which is a weekly magazine with purchasing capability, filled with rich video content and overlays. They are looking for feedback, so if you purchase the application, do let them know what you think.

Imran Amed with FBC blog editor & fashion stylist Rebekah Roy

On social media: Natalie is a big supporter as it “drives business.” Net-a-Porter has an affiliate programme of 430 bloggers and websites that have been handpicked to drive traffic and sales, and if companies are not using social media, “they’re missing out.”

Oh, and our favourite part of the evening was when Natalie countered Imran saying that he was inspirational, and after the talk admitted she does not enjoy public speaking, but really believes in Imran’s business, so did it for him. FBC thinks Imran is inspirational too. Well done, Imran!

Neely Reyes (centre) and Ian Warren (far right) with models and staff

FBC‘ers turned out in their fashion finery on Wednesday night as fellow members and managing partners of Sapphires Model Management hosted their London launch party in the Billiard Room of the Sanderson.

The event was packed thick with with the industry’s finest from Sapphires’ Neely Reyes and Ian Warren to models, fashion stylists and editors, film directors, designers and artists.

Daisy de Villeneve & Neely Reyes

Amongst the guests were FBC members: Rita Nazareno, FBC membership director & special projects manager of S.C. Vizcarra; Daisy de Villeneuve, FBC board member, illustrator, designer & writer; Courtney Blackman, FBC co-chair and MD of Forward PR; Giovanna Velasquez, founder & creative director of Magenta 8; Rebekah Roy, FBC blog edior, fashion stylist & creative director; Daniella Steadman, FBCtv’s new producer and executive producer of fashion & beauty at Love; Frances Card, merchandise manager at Matches & Drapers blogger; Sam Fearn, MD of Fearnhurst PR & founder of Fashion Press Week; Martyn Roberts & John Walford of Vauxhall Fashion Scout; myself, Anne Look, fashion stylist and blogger; and Rachael Sardelich, head of fashion & beauty at Morgans Hotels.

Rebekah Roy & John Walford

The two-hour event, commemorating the opening of Sapphires’ Soho office, spilled over into nearly five hours as guests chatted to background music mixed by internationally renowned DJ, Jeffrey Louis-Reed and sipped cocktails made from Aussie Spirits’ Vodka O & Kinky Rum, and Jameson Irish Whiskey.

Guests countered the cocktails with Mojito, chocolate-banana and coconut-lime cupcakes from Sweetie Darling’s (the Mojito cupcake was possibly the best). The VIP gift bags were overflowing with beauty products, drinks, sumptuous vouchers, a lovely handwritten scroll from Neely and Ian, and even clothes!

DJ Jeffrey Louis-Reed with Anne Look & Rachael Sardelich

Neely and Ian were delighted at the overwhelming turnout. “We’re very grateful to have the support of so many leading industry figures,” says Neely, “Sapphires’ move to Soho is a big step for the company and we can’t wait to see where this new adventure takes us.”

Congratulations, Neely & Ian!