you can dress me up, but can you take me out

Actually... yes!

Topshop are doing something that I think is just so inspiring an idea, that I contacted them and asked if I could come shoot it. And, bless their cotton socks, they let me. Yesterday morning, in advance of the public, how cool is that.







The campaign is called DRESS ME UP, and it's for charity. Two, in fact: Help the Aged, and Age Concern. And considering some of my best friends are in their 70s, 80s, even 90s, and considering I'm not getting any younger myself, this is a cause close to my heart.



The idea is: some of the most stylish celebrities & style icons on the planet - Kate Moss, obviously, but also Olivia Palermo, Dita Von Teese, Scarlett Johanson, Peaches Geldorf, Nicola Roberts (with a bespoke dress from the Girls' Aloud tour, shown above & below), are all donating their gorgeous party dresses for the charities Help the Aged, and Age Concern. And, for just £40, you can wear THEIR dresses to your party, from 7th til 23rd December.




On the lower ground floor of Topshop's flagship Oxford Circus store, they've set up the most brilliant fantasy 'backstage dressing room' - just ONE girl can try on at a time - and then bookers will book you in for 48 hours. (In between, the dress will be dry cleaned, and the next girl gets to wear it). Isn't it the most lovely idea? I'm getting teary just typing this! Then, in January, the dresses will be auctioned off, so you'll get a chance to keep it.




Anyway, the longer I take to put this post together, the less your chance is of getting the dress you want for the dates you want, as I gather I'm not the only source reporting this, and word is already out. So I'll just get these shots up & try not to be precious about my favourite dress or shot - as I can always post more!




This is Zoe, Topshop's own vivacious blogger, trying on Alison Goldfrapp's custom made dress for a tour.



And these are Zoe's cool shoes ; )

This was such a fun experience for me, and the lovely young woman I met (Denise, seen in the mirror, below) is so nice, that I"m planning to come back Monday and see her again and shoot some of the public trying things on, so maybe I'll find you & shoot you.



But in the meantime, please don't wait on my account, as I'd hate to see you miss out on the dress you want on the night you want. I mean: can you imagine chatting up that guy in Sales you've always wanted to, in the same dress that, say, Kate wore the night she met Jamie? I do believe that clothes have an energy - we all have our 'lucky' pulling dress (& I"d love to hear what YOURS is).




Better get this up before it's too late. And soon as I do, I'm calling Barbara, who's 96, and then Dennis, and Major Bobby.. and Doreen, who I shall post about very soon. And in the next installment, I promise to shot dressing room shots of me trying to squeeze myself into a size minus 2 Herve Leger number that belongs to a certain supermodel! Not a pretty sight, I assure you.

DRESS ME UP is only at the Topshop flagship Oxford Circus location, on the LOWER GROUND FLOOR. It started yesterday at 1:00 and will run til 6th December. Check with the store for opening hours. It's hard to describe how adorable this little 'dressing room' is, but I'll be posting more shots to give you an idea.

For further info, go to Dress Me Up: Topshop.