• On Oct, 22, 2016
•  wellstyledstylist
•  Style Events

Stylist Live is a four day extravaganza

On my 45th birthday this month, I left Tunbridge Wells and went shopping in the trendy suburb of Islington and then sought style inspiration at Stylist Live. Stylist Live is a four day extravaganza of “cocktails, catwalks, culture and conversations…” they said.  It was held at the Business Design Centre in Islington.  It was an event where loyal Stylist magazine readers, only privy to London commuters, can experience their favourite award-winning magazine come to life.

Stylist Live Event 2016

What else do you do when you’re a personal stylist on your birthday?

Stylist Magazine Covers

In its second year running, I had high expectations.

Vintage Shopping in Islington

I arrived at Islington late morning and spent a blissful few hours browsing in the hub of unique artisan and eclectic boutiques.  I like nothing more than discovering hidden boutique gems and their treasures not found on the high street.

Islington antique shops and market (Camden Passage).

There was a fine selection of preloved vintage boutiques around Camden Passage.  It was perfect for a good few hours of rummaging.

Siobhan Young Personal Stylist WellStyled shopping in Islington.

At 2pm it was time to head over to Stylist Live when the doors would open.  They didn’t.  Due to a computer glitch, there was a long queue and a wait so we stood next to the finely dressed fashionistas shivering in the autumn wind and people watched. The queuers were a mix of fashionistas/instagrammers/ students looking fashion blogger-tastic in their mid 20s up to 50s.  Stylist Live is certainly an event for any age.

Stylist Live Event 2016

Visitors wore the best of this season’s prints from pony, snake and leopard. It was a rainbow of fake furs, velvets and shiny pleated pleathers. I was in my element.

Glass of Chambord & goodie bag

Once inside 30 minutes later, the chill was quickly forgotten thanks to a complimentary glass of Chambord.  I was invited to help myself to a goodie bag. Now, if I had a VIP ticket, I would have been offered a bag jam packed with £150 worth of goodies from Clarins, Urban Decay, Bumble & Bumble, BOOM Cycle, Chambord, Illamasqua, Johanna Basford and Teapigs…amongst others.

Instead I was offered the standard ticket goodie bag.  This contained a guide of the event. Only. You get what you pay for.

Apart from the initial chill and goodie bag sulk, the event had a real buzz about it and you could feel the excitement that retail promises.   It housed an interesting collection of more than 100 fashion, beauty, food and drink.

Industry heavy weights and celebs

There were a few familiar faces at the event including celebrity speaker writer, broadcaster and feminist, Caitlin Moran and singer of that song, remember… Murder on the Dance Floor, Sophie Ellis-Bextor!

The highlight of the event was the choice of inspiring talks and workshops. You could attend a talk about how to create the perfect wardrobe edit, coding, launch a business as well as hear talks from celebrity speakers.

Swarovski supported Catwalk Show

With my Standard ticket I attended one workshop and a Stylist catwalk show supported by Swarovski featuring key AW16 trends and style ideas straight from the high street.

The trends to watch out for include:

• Spice World
• The Navy Coat
• Sportswear
• Velvet Goldmine
• Intergalactic

Stylist catwalk show supported by Swarovski TREND INTERGALACTIC

Stylist catwalk show supported by Swarovski TREND SPICE WORLD

Independent pop up shops

Stylist Live was an emporium of independent pop up style shops and internationally recognised brands from free delicious chocolate tastings to a free Clarins pamper.

Cup Cake time at Stylist Live

It was fabulous to see one of my favourite eclectic vintage shops from Tunbridge Wells LoveInc showcasing their highly desirable retro neon lights.  LoveInc donates 10% of their profit to Hospice in the Weald. Hannah, the owner is inspirational and innovative. We had a lot of fun together earlier in the year when we were part of the judging panel for Young Fashion Designer of the Year Awards 2016 at Kent College Pembury.

LoveInc Tunbridge Wells Shop showcasing their neon lights

Free pamper

Dyson Supersonic Hair Clinic for long hair

I learned some hair tricks at the live demo by top stylist Nicola Smyth as she demonstrated how to use the new Dyson Super Sonic Hair dryer.

It wasn’t just a load of hot air either! Did you know heat damage can really affect hair shine? I’ll be putting my hair dryer on a lower cooler setting and also add the Dyson to my Christmas wish-list. It will set you back £300, but who’s complaining with all that super Dyson engineering involved. They invested a cool £100 million on developing the model.

I also loved the beautiful inspiring choice of books at the WaterStones stand.

Waterstones stand with Get a Life the Diaries of Vivienne Westwood

So the Stylist Live certainly brought its readers closer to the magazine they know and love so well.  I loved the special treats they had in store from the champagne bar, designers brands and live talks and shows with industry fashion heavy weights.  I would love to go back again next year, but I’ll go VIP and get the full scoop.

Did you go to Stylist Live?  What was your experience? I would love to hear all about it.