I have been smiling since this morning because of the 'kindness of strangers'. One lovely person sent me a photograph from Ancestry.co.uk of my Grandmother who I had never met, Valda Foreman. She was persona non grata and had three children under 23. She ran away from home and never saw her children again. In the 1930's this was shocking and clearly, she had post-natal depression. In her photograph, she looked like a radiant bride with a Gatsby look. Very fashionable.
This was a good surprise as I arrived back from a whirlwind tour of Los Angeles. In the rain, it was not the same but at the Oscars, the best dressed in my opinion were Cara Delevigne and Florence Pugh. I was at boarding school with Cara's Mother, Pandora who saved me from being bullied. Pandora probably does not remember but I do, Cara was dressed in Ellie Saab and of course, as a number one model had an unfair advantage of height and beauty, but she killed it. Florence Pugh dressed in black hot pants and an opera coat by Valentino was modern and glamorous. Truly though they were really the only ones, the rest looked like they should be on a beach, with too much tummy and legs. I am old fashioned I like no drugs, no drink and a body covered up. This appears to be entirely old-fashioned in Hollywood where Ganga stores are on every corner.
In any case without the help of Interior designer Nicky Haslam getting me into parties, my Oscar night was spent comfortably in the Hollywood Hills in a Portuguese Palace of my friend Mara. she wore designer pyjamas and I wore my uniform, black Burberry 24-year-old skirt and a Versace sweatshirt. We were very happy under the blankets watching Hugh Grant lose all sense of reason and I hate to say it was extremely rude for no reason. He is in the business of show business after all.
The Oscars need to be careful as they are easily in my opinion beaten by reality shows especially those on real crime stories. where last week Murdaugh was put into prison with two life sentences for killing his wife and son. Judge Newman won for good manners and empathy under difficult circumstances.
Getting back to fashion, the talk in general is about buying vintage or second-hand. To save the planet and get better quality. Clothes are becoming too expensive and it is uncool to spend money when people are suffering after all that has gone on.
I was however entertained beautifully in Sue Wong's amazing house in Los Feliz which was turned into a Morrocan Palace. I was hosted also by Tamia Abaye owner of a hotel in Santa Monica, and then also given a very generous dinner at Soho House by Nigel Daly and Wes Carroll. I sadly missed Loree Rodkin's party as my flight was delayed due to bad weather. I am a huge fan of her jewellery. With kindness from Mara Granderson who had me stay in her guest wing, I was treated like a Queen.
I stayed two nights in The Prospect hotel which looked stunning decorated by Martyn Lawrence Bullard and. one night at The Chateau. I was a very lucky girl.
I was also introduced to an outsize clothing range by Gigirl which runs from size 10-26.
Next year God give us good weather and Los Angeles will shine again.
