If I was there with you, here's what I would be doing tonight...
I'd start things gently with a
cheeky drink at Flannels over on The Avenue (M3), where Matthew
Williamson will be propping up the bar and signing t-shirts willy nilly.
After a bevvy, I'd take a stroll up
Deansgate toward House of Fraser (M3), or as proppa Mancs call it,
Kendals. Iconic vogue covers will be on exhibit and there's something about
their beauty hall that takes you straight into Miracle on 34th Street
In one door, out the other and
across the road into Harvey Nichols (M1) for a refresher glass of
bubbles and to see what Markus Lupfer, Sophia Webster, Philip
Armstrong, Roksanda Ilincic and company are up to.
Now, let's scoot into Selfridges
Manchester Exchange Square (M3) where we party with fashion royalty;
designers Erdem, Jonathan Saunders and Henry Holland and
play a spot of BINGO hosted by the fabulous and inimitable Jonny Woo.
Once I'd got a full house I'd hop
skip and jump to Manchester Arndale (M4), the centre of the city's
retail scene, for one hell of a party indeed. The frivolity features a moving catwalk, fashion shows every twenty minutes from
4pm, a super-sized digital Tweet wall to relay the live conversations and a
random pair of giant red killer heels to climb into for a photo to mark the
300,000+ pairs of shoes stocked at Manchester Arndale at any one time.
Once I'd had a snap in
the heels I'd bob into TOPSHOP (M4) for the Q&A with TOPSHOP
Creative Director and Vogue Co-Director, Kate Phelan.
Oh, just enough time to
run back to Harvey Nichols for the talk with Alexandra Shulman
and Paula Reed before a late dinner at Australasia (M3).
Have a fabulous time
Manchester, do me proud.
END.