Stacy Gregg
Fashion writer-turned-children's fiction author Stacy Gregg knows the power of a good dress. Before publishing her internationally successful Pony Club Secrets series and trading fashion shows for pony rides, it was her job to cover and report on all things fashion. The chance of a one-to-one interview with Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld at the Dom Perignon ball in Los Angeles in 2006 saw her on the look out for a very special gown to wear - which she found at Zambesi.
"I had fallen in love with this deep pink silk floor-length gown that had been the star piece in Zambesi's fashion week show a few months beforehand.
"It was the 2006 winter collection at the St James theatre - it was a very rock 'n' roll runway show with Pluto playing as the models stalked onstage. When the pink gown came out it was such a standout - elegant but kind of punk at the same time - a very P.J Harvey look. I loved the dress, so I asked Liz Findlay if she'd make a similar dress for me to meet Karl," explains Gregg.
Borrowing pieces from a designer for a special event is something fashion insiders do every now and then, but this was the first and only time Gregg had a dress specially made for her.
"Liz is amazing to work with. She suggested we do a one-off version of the dress tailored to fit me but in a different colour. I remember being in her workroom as she pulled rolls and rolls of the most amazing fabrics off the shelves - we both loved the dark petrol blue silk straight away.
"She had to add a clasp at the bust because instead of a flat model's chest I have unfashionably large breasts that kept threatening to escape from the elegant gown. It's probably the most cleavage-exposing dress I own - I tend to wear big necklaces with it to cut back on the amount of skin I've got on show!"
The promised sit-down interview with Lagerfeld didn't end up happening, but Gregg still managed to get something out of him.
"It turned out that Karl had promised all these journalists that he would do interviews but of course he had no intention of doing so, and instead we had to chase him around the garden to get quotes like a Benny Hill skit.
"I remember racing after him across the sloping lawn in my floor-length gown and Sergio Rossi heels, trying to elbow a camera crew out of my way. I asked him how often he drank Champagne - and he told me he never drank it at all - he only drank diet Coke - which wasn't exactly supporting the sponsors product!"
Gregg has worn the dress since - to the launch party for her fashion website Runway Reporter in 2006 - and also lent it out a couple of times.
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