girl a la mode: charlie may

When the alarm went off on Tuesday morning at 6:00, at Shini's really cool loft in East London, after our girls sleepless sleepover, I really, really didn't want to go to St. Pancreas for the ungodly hour of 8:00 a.m. for the Next event. I mean, I really, really didn't want to go.

But if I hadn't, I wouldn't have got to know my new friend Charlie May, GIRL A LA MODE. And I wouldn't met the other lovely people I did. And I always know: when in doubt, show up. Or you'll be kicking yourself after.





Charlie is so cool. In that way that's modest about the right things, and quietly confident, too. I asked what she wants to be when she grows up and she said a designer. And she's working for someone she clearly enjoys working for: Thomas Tait (above). She just lights up when she talks about him. Isn't his work amazing? And I love his face. You can read more about him in the New York Times article here, or in this Elle piece.



The thing that is so extraordinary is how, in the chaos that we were styling our outfits - Jazmine said, as we rushed past each other, it was like being on some mad shopping spree but we don't keep the clothes - and somehow Charlie managed to layer and style hers to make it edgy. When I had asked her to describe her style earlier she gave me a few designers' examples but I feel her styling, using the given, in her case, of the white Don Johnson circa Miami Vice jacket, was the clearest answer. It's quite subtle and sophisticated, how she arranged the elements, don't you think?



When we were on the coach, leaving Next HQ, I sat with Charlie. As we reached the train station everyone just hopped off but I was struggling with my bags, including that silly giant flowered bag containing the blanket that I didn't even end up needing. Charlie took one look over her shoulder and saw me floundering and just without thinking hoisted it over her shoulder. Once an intern.. she just instinctively knows how to assist in whatever form that takes. And you just know that she's the kind of human being that, when she's this famous designer, everyone will be clamouring over each other to work for her. And I can say 'I knew her when.' Can't you just see that name on the BFC catwalk list? 'Oh I love that look, it's so Charlie May S/S 2012'. But meanwhile, cupcakes, we've got Thomas Tait to look forward to.

Have a lovely weekend everyone! Off to see Major Bobby: he sounded much brighter this morning, so fingers crossed. Thanks for your kind thoughts: you are all the loveliest of flowers, truly. xoxo