Imagination is more important than knowledge.

- Albert Einstein

DANGER McQueen sample sale!

Thursday was the seasonal Alexander McQueen sample sale held at Clerkenwell in London. This was the first time I had been to a McQueen sample sale and therefore did not know what to expect.

I arrived at the beginning of the sale ensuring what I thought would be an easy transition into the sale to find my season bargains and get out of there faster than you can say 70% off. How wrong I was...

What looked like a relatively small queue equated to half an hour, an hour and before I knew it I had spent two hours, yes, two hours waiting to get a glimpse of what I hoped would be worth the wait inside.

When inside it was clear as to why the wait had been so long, it was the calmest sale I have been to due to a strict one in one out system. I usually avoid participating in the fashionista games of sprint to the accessories line, for the exact reasons stated, but this was different.

I was pleased to see a great range of coats, dresses, casual wear and accessories and ensured I took my time after the unanticipated wait to get in there. After two hours browsing and trying on I settled for five purchases which seemed to make the taxing afternoon sufficiently worthwhile.

A stunning black velvet column dress (perfect for my week in Paris before Christmas!), a navy silk jersey dress, a cream blazer with black lapel and a pair of gold platform heels- job well done!

On waiting in the queue beforehand my friend had scorned at me when I questioned "Is McQueen really worth it?" On surveying my prized purchases I will have no hesitation in going through the rigmarole next season, maybe I'll bring my tent next time....

I'm dreaming of a Black Christmas..

Hannah Marshall AW09

Forget a White Christmas, a Black Christmas is much more fun. The Jean-Pierre Braganza & Hannah Marshall Black Christmas party was held at Seymour Place last night and featured DJ sets from Skin and Malcolm Pate.

I arrived decidedly too fashionably late hot stepping from my frenzied sample sale day, and consequently didn't get a look in at the black vodka cocktails on offer. But the atmosphere was still electric.

Jean-Pierre Braganza SS10

The invite only crowd was hip, draped in the uniform black, you could feel the fashion consciousness oozing from every corner and smouldering through the smoke covered room.

Having had a night out with Hannah over fashion week, she is refreshingly grounded, a regular girl from Essex with an extraordinary talent and a penchant for the darker things in life...

The designers' pop-up store collaboration opens on December 7 at 4-6 Seymour Place, Portman Village, London.

Here's a clip I didn't post over fashion week from the Hannah Marshall spring/summer 10 collection.

Raiding Cheryl's wardrobe

Another sample sale, another purchase. This time it was a more intimate affair at the house of Cheryl Cole's stylist Frank Strachan.

I picked up a Versace dress, Costume National cage shoes, black velvet dress and a couple of belts for the bargain price of £65!

Granted the dress has endured a Girls Aloud sweating in it but nothing a dry clean won't fix! I was extremely pleased with my purchases which are now queuing up in my wardrobe to make it into my Paris suitcase in two weeks time.

Frank was a fab host and a really nice guy along with his friends from Attitude who were lending a helping hand.