Hi, Baukjen here.
It seems so long ago since the last time I wrote on our blog. There’s been a lot going on…
We recently launched the SS collections (and true to tradition, it snowed on the day we launched SS). We’ve loved hearing all your feedback. We’re glad the new online brochures are proving so popular!
We’ve also been in New York, participating in a show at New York Fashion Week, The Red Dress Collection for The Heart Truth. This charity event raises awareness and funds for heart disease in women. When we learned more about the charity and heart disease, we decided to donate 20% of sales of all red clothes (in the month of February) to The Heart Truth and the respective UK charity. We are proud to be a part of this.
The New York trip was exciting, exhilarating (and exhausting). We dressed Bethenny Frankel for the show. Fittings at the Bryant Park Hotel, filming at Bethenny’s home for her upcoming TV show and of course the fashion show itself. The show was a huge event. It started backstage with a frenzy of make up artists, assistants, journalists and sponsors. There must have been a few hundred people backstage. There were various celebrities participating in the show and they got dressed behind curtains in the backstage area. At one point Bethenny and I had to go behind one of the curtains to do a final fitting and there were a few of these celebrities getting in to their dresses, all totally relaxed and excited to be part of the event. If anything really stood out for me, it was the friendliness of everyone, especially the celebrities. No diva attitudes, all wishing each other good luck. I laughed so much when Joan Collins walked past and all these professional people lost their cool and were shouting “Go Tiger!” and Joan responded calmly “Thank you”. A very collected lady who makes people weak at their knees.
Bethenny was absolutely amazing. Honestly, I don’t know how she stayed so calm. Moments before we went on the red carpet, she was showing us the draft invitation for her wedding, wanting to hear our thoughts. Bethenny was so calm (her husband and I were perhaps not in that league). And then Bethenny and I went on to the red carpet… she was so gracious, trying to pull me in to the interviews she was doing whenever she could.
And then the show started. Gorgeous women in gorgeous red dresses. When Bethenny came on, she walked the runway as if it was something she did every day. Fabulous.
It was a special moment for Isabella Oliver. We were so proud to participate and also to have Bethenny wear Isabella Oliver. My brother and sister in law joined us on the evening despite my brother missing a really important business conference call (of a major new client, thanks so much Marc) and my sister-in-law recovering from being ill. Having them there to share the moment was wonderful.
Afterwards, we went to the post show reception. Everyone was relaxed and happy. We had a glass of wine with everyone and posed with Bethenny and her husband in front of a huge heart made of flowers. Afterwards we went to Soho House (where we were staying) and joined many designers (who had participated in the show) in post post drinks. When we went to bed that evening, we had big smiles on our faces (and aching feet from the very high heels).
The days that followed, we went to a couple of shows (my favourite was Preen), had some meetings and then returned to London yesterday. It was a fantastic week, but it was also lovely to come back home and also be back at the office with everyone. This was a special time for them too even though they weren’t physically there. Thanks team IO for all the help in making it happen and all the support!
A big thank you to Bethenny for everything. You made it an absolute joy. Best wishes the coming months to you both!
Before I sign off, I’d like to say a big thank you to BPCM, our PR agency in the US (and UK and France) for everything, it was an unforgettable week and one we are proud to have been part of, thank you on behalf of all of us, Baukjen.