NET-A-PORTER.com’s 10th Anniversary Party

It’s 6 O’clock on a hot and humid Wednesday afternoon in London, and just hours before a night to remember will kick off. The dress (a black 80’s number with dramatic shoulders , a low back and a sequined low waist skirt) is picked out, the shoes (black, satin, chunky) are sorted and accompanying accessories (a Dragon shaped bag) have been selected: Ready, Set, Go. A quick car ride to Westfield and there I am, overdressed? No idea. Excited? Nervous, and yes. Hungry? Insanely. Greeted by one friendly face after another, accompanied from the car to the doors through the doors inside the lift up to the office up another escalator inside the venue: tadaa! One more breath and the doors open. There are exquisite canapés, flashing cameras, a live DJ, cocktail booths and shakers, a dance floor, male model waiters, runway videos, monochrome decor, white lush looking pillows to lounge on and above all: an impeccably dressed guest list consistent of  fashion’s finest: “crème de la crop” editors, It-girls and boys, designers, celebrities, crazy people, financial and creative directors. This is NET-A-PORTER’s 10th anniversary party and as expected Natalie Massenet & Co have created something well beyond perfection.

The fashion world is a completely unique one, one where everything is surrounded by an aura of mystery and exclusivity, clad head to toe in looks straight off the runway. And although someone like Henry Holland, Christopher Kane, Matthew Williamson or Roland Mouret may look unapproachable in Vogue or Elle, before you know it you’ll be doing the Macarena in a feather boa and pink cowboy hat with one of them, having a laugh before posing in front of a flip-book maker with another or getting invited to dinner by someone else. For a moment you’ll all be best friends, with someone you just met, but when you see each other in September somewhere backstage at fashion week, all will be forgotten as you walk on with your nose up in the air and radiate “I’m amazing and you know it.” Is it a hard, tricky, fall down loads world? Yes, definitely! But if you keep getting up, one day you’ll find yourself right in the middle of it all. And I’m pretty sure that that’s fantastic.

Read NET-A-PORTER.com’s 10th anniversary online magazine

XX Brains + Beauty

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