Champagne, style secrets and a fashion moment at Victoria Gate
If you’re looking for a little style inspiration, Victoria Gate in Leeds was the place to be last week. I spent a lovely afternoon there at Boodles, meeting fashion designer Amanda Wakeley and Glamour magazine’s former editor, Jo Elvin. I felt so fortunate to have been invited!
The event was part of filming for Friday Night Fashion, Amanda and Jo’s You Tube show which was being recorded in Leeds last week. It’s actually the first time the show has ever been filmed outside London.
A warm welcome at Victoria Gate
The event itself was hosted at Boodles jewellery store inside Victoria Gate, and the setting couldn’t have been more fitting. We were welcomed with a glass of champagne and a delicious buffet all while chatting with a room full of inspiring women.
Style advice from the experts
Amanda and Jo shared a couple of their best style insights, and both were refreshingly honest.
Amanda explained that when she’s getting dressed for an event or meeting, she always thinks about how she wants to feel when she walks into the room. That feeling becomes her inspiration for what she wears.
Jo shared a story from earlier in her career, when an editor at ELLE told her she had great clothes — she simply needed more of them. The advice gave her permission to shop with confidence and build a wardrobe she truly loved.
What do you wear to meet a fashion designer?
Naturally, the big question for me beforehand was: what do you wear when you’re meeting a fashion designer?
I went for a slightly controversial double-denim look. Both from Mint Velvet, paired with a silk scarf from WYSE London.
Amanda, meanwhile, looked incredible. When someone asked what she was wearing, she humbly admitted both her blouse and trousers were vintage Wakeley pieces. And honestly, if you’re Amanda Wakeley, why wouldn’t you wear your own designs?
Exciting News from Amanda Wakeley
She also shared some exciting news: a capsule collection will be launching at John Lewis later this year, and she’s currently writing a book too.
All in all, it was a brilliant afternoon at Victoria Gate — full of inspiration, style tips and great conversation. I’m already looking forward to watching Friday Night Fashion when the Leeds episode goes live.
This was a PR Invite
