*Firstly a big apology for lack of posts of late. My life has literally just been that hectic that i've not had time to sit down and properly update you all on it! So here I am with an afternoon spare to share the adventures of months past.
It seems like years ago that I received an email from the Fashion Director at Cosmopolitan asking me to assist on a celebrity photo shoot , "I know your parents are down , and the shoot is on a Sunday but we'd love it if you could assist on the shoot". I checked with my parents and after an assuring "Deni go for it!" there I was waking up on an oddly sunny April sunday , making my way to Notting Hill for a location shoot with 90210 starlet Jessica Lowndes. Of course I knew the show , and exactly who she was , however I had no idea what would follow. As she came beaming into our trailer my first reaction was 'WOW , those eyes' , I've yet to come across anyone with eyes as piercing as hers , and her big smile was one warm and welcoming , like family. "I'm Jessica" , she said as she extended a hug and kiss. With that , I was head over heels in love - this girl had such an amazing energy , that it was impossible to not smile around her. Bonding over a mutual love of hip hop, red velvet cupcakes from Hummingbird Bakery and boys , we spent the day on shoot mostly hanging out chatting between takes. The shoot in itself , set across London from Notting Hill to Kensington Gardens , was a beautiful way to spend a Sunday , combine this with fashion and for a second I felt so blessed to work in an industry that
allows me to have these amazing opportunities. By the end of the shoot we were tweeting each other and when told she'd be staying in the UK for the summer I thought , 'I must get in touch with her while she's here, I would love to work with her'. 2 weeks later I was standing in customs coming back into London after travelling with my family , reading an email requesting I style Jess for various events she had coming up. Before I knew it , within 3 hours of being in London I was doing appointments pulling Matthew Williamson cocktail dresses and Jimmy Choo heels as options for film premieres and fashion launches. The following day I was sat in Jess's hotel room talking about boys & music and deciding between a metallic Matthew Williamson or coral Zac Posen dress for the premiere of Pirates of the Carribean that very evening. Deciding on the metallic Matthew , I walked out of the hotel with a big smile on my face (always the after effect of being in this amazing girls presence) and when at 1am that evening I saw pictures of Jess from the premiere - I leaped out of bed and did a little dance in my jocks across my room!
Two nights following there was a Marie Claire event at the gorgeous W Hotel. After wearing a Felder Felder belt and cuffs to the film premiere Jess fell head over heels for the designers , so we opted for a full Felder Felder look for the evenings event. The perfect little black dress toughened up by leather and studs! After our fitting , I was invited to go along to the event with Jess and before I knew it we were sat in her car and en-route to The W. As we talked about our family & boys (again), it became more apparent that a really beautiful friendship was forming.
During the party , I got to introduce Jess to Danielle Felder (one part of the Felder Felder design duo) who was thrilled to see Jessica in their design. For a moment I kind of had to pinch myself , this was the kind of moment I've dreamed of my whole life, being taken as a serious stylist by a designer who firmly approved of my styling, too surreal. After the formalities of the party , we were en route to Soho for a group dinner with some of Jess's friends, ending the night with cocktails on the rooftop of the Soho Sanctum Hotel - a bond was formed and over the course of the next month a little family formed. Friends I will have forever , beautiful people like Jamie Shepherd & Matt Johnsons , news reporters to London , big brothers to me and Laura Beverley
Glamour model -turned big sister all of which saved my life after a night of too much Grey Goose. Then there is Jessica , no longer 'Jessica Lowndes of 90210 fame' but now just Jess , my gorgeous canadian friend who is immensely talented with a gift in singing & acting, whom I share a love of Hummingbird cupcakes and The Nanny with. That is the most fulfilling part of what i've been lucky enough to call 'my job' , not the "meeting famous people" which can so often become an element that distracts people of their true self, but making incredible friends and memories both of which will last a lifetime! It is for this that I feel truly blessed! xoxo Deni
