a busy little bee.

Today is so not over but I need to blog now so that i can get my head down to do another hour of work before i hit the sack. Friday night is not a party night in Paris. Not this week anyway.

I still have four folders that need filling with inspiration that i've pulled all week from archive designer collections, fashion editorials and just about every book ever made. I've spent the biggest part of the afternoon on the floor, laddering my new tights and sorting things out into different piles, labeling it all and trying to make it look as eye-pleasing as poss to hand to Vanessa first thing tomorrow. Saturday.

I'm kind of looking forward to giving them to her because after all the work thats gone into making sure they're tip top, it'll be like a weight off my shoulders. After i drop them off, i'm away to three different galleries, all in the name of research. Vanessa gets a lot of her inspiration from art references, culture and even music. It's way too easy to just go see a show and take it from there. She's not afraid to take risks and she does things her own way. And as they say, the proofs in the pudding. She's a really respected stylist with a great client list.

I'm taking the books around at 9.30am to her apartment, which by the way is exactly how i imagined it to be. Pretty much perfect. There's a huge entrance door opening up into a french courtyard with a windy old, wide-set staircase which spirals up to the second floor. Annie showed me what was what and where things were kept. The kitchen cupboards are crammed with magzines and fashion folders. I didn't ask where the pots were.

God i keep thinking about sleep. The lack i've had this week and how i am so looking forward to sunday when i can lie in, even just a tiny bit. By the time my head hits the pillow tonight, these books must all be perfect, packed and ready to deliver so that they are in her hands by the time she leaves for New York for fashion week tomorrow. I wish i could somehow fold myself into one of those plastic sleeves and go along with her. Maybies next time.

Just so you know what they are and why we do them, i'll give you the basics. It starts with Vanessa emailing over a never-really-ever-ending list. On it are names of designers, photographers, artists, books, stylists, locations - basically anything that she wants to know and see more of. Its our job to go about getting it for her, asap. Sometimes it's just a name. They can be alive or dead, really current or really old. A lot of the time it's a bit of a mystery to solve because she doesn't tell us what they do, who they are, where she's seen their work - so all we have is a name to go on. Not easy. But then you get nice days like today where i've been researching vintage Comme Des Garcons and i've pulled together the fattest folder ever. I kind of want it for myself.

One of the best wasy to get the bees knees of research is to go through the archives at the libraries. It can get a bit addictive though and you can be lost for days if you let yourself be. I wish you could take holidays to the library sometimes. Paid like.
I've gone and booked myself my first appointment in the huge Paris bibliotheque for next week, three hardcore hours. I have to give them a list of things i want to look at and then they'll prepare it and have it all out for me, so i hop straight on that photocopier. A good system really but three hours absolutely flies by and i need to make sure i have my head screwed on and that i'm prepared for a heavy dose of inspiration.

I feel like things are a lot clearer after today, which is good. Our morning meeting at Vanessa's took us through a detailed plan of what's coming up, what needs to be done and it gave us all a chance to set some deadlines. She goes to NYC to see her clients shows and then flies straight to Milan for another project - so it's pretty crucial we all know exactly what we have to do. My diary is cluttered with numbers, door codes, bb pins and addresses that i can hardly make sense of. Pretty. Please. Don't. Let. Anything. Go. Tits. Up

Cause i'm holding the fort in Paris this weekend and through to the middle of next week while Annie is away. It's nice that it's just the three of us. Wherever we are, there are constant emails pinging their way between us and if they can't get me it's usually because i'm already engaged, online or underground on route somewhere. Paris is not what i imagined but i'm falling hard in love with the place. Everyone says bonjour to everyone. Like people who have never met. Thats so refreshing after being barged and hit over the head with bags on the tube in grey London. J'adore Paris.

xxx
Co