Tuesday, September 22, 2009

LAST NIGHT...

I had a funny realisation last night that Garance and Scott aren't my blog friends I haven't met in real life yet. THEY'RE FAMOUS. Although I'm aware of the rough size of their respective international readerships, with the Internet it's hard to tell - in the space of four years, only one of my friends here in London has even heard of The Sartorialist. All day I heard; "You're going to see the What-ist?" "Gar-who?"

My friend and I first trundled along to Garance's opening in Kingly Street with minutes to spare - it was lovely, the T shirts all there, the illustrations and writing on the walls...Garance looking cute, friendly and approachable, but surrounded, and - I was too shy to approach her! Even though I know a couple of people who know her and I could have been all blahblahblah, I'm so and so, I'm a friend of so and so and thingy etc, I suddenly came over all coy. I'm no good at the blahblahblah. Arrghh, sorry, how rude - I go to your cocktail thing, look around, down a Bellini in three seconds then don't even say hi.

Never mind, off to Scott's book signing. I'm sure she'll be along there soon and I'll have a chat to them both together. It'll probably be quite calm in my second home.

The Liberty Men's Department was filled with a snaking queue of hundreds and hundreds of patient people adjusting their hats and lapels in anticipation. Literally, winding through all the departments like an insane fashion conga. I already had my book with me and we managed to ascertain that they had run . out . of . books, had gone and bought up the entire stock from Selfridges but had then run out again, which was causing the massive hold up. We tried to sort of mooch through to wherever Scott was just to wave, say hi, smile, anything, but no.

Because I already had a copy of the book, if I was prepared to go to the back of the queue (which in the intervening 10 minutes had grown alarmingly and now snaked up the stairs and out of the door) I had a slim chance of getting my book signed before they shut at 9pm, two hours later. I would not like to be in the Liberty Events Manager's shoes tomorrow morning (though I would probably like to borrow them if they're Nicholas Kirkwood). Just as I had decided; Scott, I adore you, but I don't need your signature that badly, Garance passed by me and...I was too shy to say hello.

Outside Liberty, I saw a man leaning against a wall that complemented the tones of his outfit, adjusting his scarf and looking around hopefully. I should have then continued on to the Kitsune/Ponystep party at Shop@Bluebird but somehow the idea of a slice of pizza at Princi and a slug of vino rosso sounded just about perfect.

Cheers to you my loves - Scott I hope your writing hand hasn't cramped up too much and Garance, I promise I'll work harder on my social skills.

11 comments:

July Stars said...

Oh, I went to see Garance too. We could have met! And I was supposed to go to the Kitsuné party but never made it ...

Claire said...

I thought you might be there, but I think I would recognise you and didn't see anyone fitting your description! I was only there for about 5 minutes near the end...when were you there?

Ammu said...

Isn't the book lovely? I was lucky enough to meet Scott - he was so gracious, and I was so pleased to see two pics of my friend Priya in the book.

Sadly though by the time I got to Kingly Court - 20 past 7, the GAP staff had shut the doors. Such a bummer. But the real gift is the exhibition, which is gorgeous, and which I ventured to one Saturday afternoon, when there was no one else there but a young French couple. Hopefully Garance will publish her pictures soon - I love her work.

I have never really met any of the bloggers whose posts I comment on (except Scott, very briefly last night) - it's funny though, how you feel a certain intimacy with people who exchange thoughts with on a regular basis, even though you have never met. And when they are famous, it feels even stranger.

Unknown said...

(me taking off my reading glasses...and rubbing me eyes)...
yes i find your shyness quite charming...really.
but after downing the bellini a smile, a wink, a little wave would have been suffice (i believe you do know some people in paris who now garance...n'est pas?)...and the waiting in line...yes a signature would have been great....uuuf but i bad at waiting in lines...

heheeh and had to giggle with the liberty mention...;))

Alex said...

You should have made it to Kitsune...

Claire said...

Ammu - how long did you have to wait at Liberty? And what was the exhibition bit there like? I must go back and check it out.

If Jane and Ammu - I've met up with some blog people and become good friends with some. It's good! But I get really uncomfortable in crowds/at events especially if there are people with huge cameras everywhere.

Alex - oh, why, was it amazing? (my pizza slice was pretty amazing though)...

Unknown said...

Oh no! Maybe you'll meet Garance in Paris though one day...

Claire said...

La - Yes, I hope so! x

Ammu said...

I waited for about an hour, maybe a bit more? Didn't really see much as far as the exhibition at Liberty was concerned - there were some pictures from the blog, blown up to big sizes, which were lovely. But I will probably head back when it's quieter and have a browse to see it a bit more carefully. It was so crowded!

Oh to be in Paris... said...

I know! I realised that my strong personal bond with them didn't actually exist anywhere outside my head when I read in The Guardian that they're dating.

The book is gorgeous. My copy arrived today as I was saving ordering it until I'd got past a big deadline. Shame I'm too pregnant to put any of the inspiration to good use, as currently I'm mostly wearing the elasticated waistband.

MissMtheBeekeeper said...

I went too and introduced myself to garance, after much insistence from my friend. She was lovely and sweet but there was that awkward realisation that I am just another adoring fan whereas in my head we are best friends!

Glad you got to enjoy princi, so gorgeous there. I headed to mildeds on seeing the queue at Sartorialist, it was just too much! I guess even LIberty manager hadn't realised quite how famous Scott is now!