'Everyone was going to mental asylums for inspiration, but I just wanted to make HOT, SEXY clothes' - M WILLIAMSON

‘Tell the truth’, ‘don’t be bullied’ just a couple of pieces of industry advice given to us by fashion writer Colin McDowell. He seemed so sure of the advice he’d just given us, smiling to himself as he finished his sentence. ‘Though, it’s him you ought to be talking to’, he said pointing at the ever-glamorous Matthew Williamson, glowing from the 6 days he’d spent previously in the Maldives.

We had encountered them at a talk led by McDowell about Williamson at the V&A only a few days ago. I spent the night in awe, completely dazzled by my surrounding; from the lecture theatre itself, to the flock of well-dressed people around me. 

We'd made it early - much to Jordan’s relief. The room began to fill, and each seat was slowly taken (we'd tactically taken the centre-left row) the room then became silent with the presence of the people in the front row: fashion folk. Presumably friends of Williamson. my friend turned to me, 'they are beautiful', I agreed. 

There were only a few spaces left vacant on the front row, a man entered one but last: hair slick back, and dressed in a smart tweed knee-length coat. He removed his coat to unveil an expensive tailored suit. He turned to the audience, scanned the crowd and paused as though he was waiting for an applause before facing the front and once again taking his seat. 

Williamson's limelight was definitely not compromised by his audience though, the strangers watched and listened intently to the designers ability to talk so openly about his life. From living happily in Manchester to meeting his partner (- and now business partner) Joseph. The objection of course to sell as many publications of his latest book as possible.

There were hundreds stacked outside the hall, and I'm sure hundreds were sold. I cheerfully bought into the hype, a momentum from my inspirational evening. 

We left absolutely buzzing.

Williamson stopped us on the street to borrow a light, after blowing a cloud of smoke into the air above us he thanked us for our attendance and returned to his friends. Fancy that, Matthew Williamson thanking us for our attendance, not baaaad for a first encounter!