It’s twilight hour and Harry Lambert, Saul Nash and Feben are squeezed into a hot air balloon hovering over the Champagne region of France. Below the balloon, designers Foday Dumbuya, Annie Noble and Marco Capaldo chatter in excitement as Chateau de Saran towers above them not so far in the distance. Built as a hunting lodge in 1801 by Jean-Rémy Moët, the private stately home now only opens its doors to friends of Moët & Chandon, from Kate Moss to Jay-Z.
But for tonight, it’s all about raising a glass to British fashion as the group have been brought together to celebrate the future of the capital’s thriving industry. It’s a fitting venue considering Moët & Chandon’s legacy in the fashion world: From supermodels sipping Moët Minis backstage at iconic 90s shows to their ongoing programme championing up and coming and established industry talent.
The balloon comes down, and Annie Doble of Annie’s Ibiza can’t wait to have a turn to jump in. Visited by everyone from Adwoa Aboah to Aimee Lou Wood, Doble’s boutiques are full of one-of-a-kind vintage pieces and her own re-purposed designs, one of which she’s wearing. It’s a pink corseted princess dress that requires a number of helpers to get her into the basket. It’s been a big year for Annie’s Ibiza, she showed on schedule at London Fashion Week for the first time in February, a moment she pinpoints as her favourite of 2023; ‘We had 250 guests at Saint Paul’s Cathedral and celebrated at the Dorchester afterwards, it was a really special moment from this year.’
She’s not the only designer celebrating a landmark year. North London menswear designer Saul Nash, showed independently at London Fashion Week Mens in June for the first time. ‘It felt like a massive celebration for us. We all went straight to the pub to celebrate afterwards. We’re not great at planning the after parties but the whole team were there so it was really nice.’ Nash’s 2023 had a lot to live up to; in 2022 he was presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design by the Duchess of Cambridge.
Dinner at Chateau de Saran
Back at the Chateau, everyone sits down for dinner around a gigantic modernistic glass table decorated with candles and orchid flowers. Over scallops and grilled fish all served with accompanying bubbles, Nash describes his best nights out, ‘I love going out with Bianca Saunders, I love going out with the girls,’ he laughs. ‘The best party I’ve ever been to was a Fashion Awards after party, where I got to dance with Rihanna,’ he says, beaming.
Annie from Annie’s Ibiza hops inside the hot air balloon basket
Across from Nash sits Feben, in a cherry red, asymmetrical dress. As a designer, she has already dressed Erykah Badu and Jan Monáe, while Beyoncé asked her to create costumes for ‘Brown Skin Girl’, her ode to the beauty of Black women. Earlier this year Feben was awarded the Breakthrough Designer Award at the Style Awards, which celebrated the creative designers and talents reimagining the world of fashion.
Another man reimagining how we dress for parties is Marco Capaldo of 16Arlington who is talking to stylist Harry Lambert across the table. Capaldo is wearing a black t-shirt and suit, ‘I’m always in black,’ he smiles when asked how he dresses for the festive season. ‘My go-to party look is what I wear everyday: a good pair of tailored trousers and a good fitting black top, which is usually a knit. Although I do love a good suit.’ An evening at Moet’s chateau is Capaldo’s idea of a perfect night, ‘I think some of the best nights have been intimate dinners where you’ve been able to have really nice conversations with people, just like this.’
Moët & Chandon is the official Champagne partner of The Fashion Awards 2023 taking place December 4 at Royal Albert Hall, London.
