Joanne Black & Olivia Cole @ the Cannes DSquared Party

Where: The Monaco Billionaire Club

Joanne Black Style: LGB jeans and shirt, Sergio Rossi shoes and Wunderkind jacket

It’s one thing to arrive fashionably late to a party, but it’s quite another to be in danger of not arriving at all! That was the dilemma facing my friends and I after our clutch died on a drive to Monaco for the fabulous DSquared bash. Thankfully though, with five miles to go, it was downhill all the way to Monaco, so we were still able to make a grand entrance!

After wowing the festival with their eyewear launch party last year, DSquared brothers Dean and Dan were in great form as hosts at Flavio Briatore’s club. Once recovered from our ordeal, my friend Olivia Cole and I decided to treat ourselves to a little style spotting. I’d opted for jeans, but Olivia looked stunning in a short LBD – she certainly has the legs for it.

Special style mentions have to go to Flavio Briatore’s wife Elisabetta, who wore a delightful strapless black dress; Boris Becker and his beautiful wife who looked every bit the star couple and Lady Victoria Hervey who stepped out in DSquared.

Joanne Black @ the premiere of The Leopard

Where: Palais des Festivals
Joanne Black Style: Jitrois studded leather dress and Prada shoes

What better way is there to start the 63^rd annual Cannes Film Festival than with a fabulous premiere – the restored Luchino Visconti classic The Leopard / Il gattopardo – and a fashion-filled red carpet?

Dressed in my studded leather dress I was ready to take one of the world’s most famous red carpets. I felt like a movie star posing for the photographers, and it was great being stopped by French TV – they were keen to ask me all about my star style!

There were some wonderful dresses – and glamourous owners – doing a turn on the carpet. Gucci’s Creative Director Frida Giannini stole the show in a Gucci Première full-length, silver strapless gown with draped back detail and embroidered with sliver lace and micro palettes. Salma Hayek looked fab in a silk georgette Gucci Première scarlet one-shoulder gown with a sweeping drape across the waist. And Claudia Cardinale, who starred in the 1963 film gave a graceful performance in a long black Fendi dress and black shawl, which she accessorised with beautiful red diamonds.

If this premiere is anything to go by, us fashionistas are in for a visual feast at the festival this year.

Tracey Emin and Vivienne Westwood © Jon Furniss

Where: Koko Club, Camden
Joanne Black Style: David Szeto print dress, Lanvin belt, YSL heels and an Alexander McQueen clutch

With a line-up including Lulu and the legendary Bryan Ferry, you’d think that the ICA’s annual gathering to raise funds for emerging artists would be a night all about the music. And in many ways it was – dancing away to a selection of hit songs is always time well spent. But, for me, it will always be remembered as the night when the best style came from the tablecloths.

This would usually be hard to believe, but when I tell you that Vivienne Westwood was behind the styling, you’ll understand why. With everything from the table line to the flower arrangements designed by Westwood – who looked chic in black with her trademark orange hair –  the Camden nightclub had never looked so good.

Joanne Black and friends @ the ICA Gala © Jon Furniss

Of course, talk of fashion didn’t stop at the tableware. My table was hosted by Mira Anafina of Damiani jewellers, and included tailor Luca Rubinacci who discussed suits – and gave me the opportunity to add in a few of my usual style points. But with guest of honour Charles Finch encouraging us all to buy tablecloths, it wasn’t long before we were back thinking about Westwood’s wonderful prints once more. I purchased a signed cloth in the night’s silent auction, and I can tell you it won’t be going anywhere near the dinner table!

Paula Laschera and Joanne Black

Lanvin Autumn/Winter 2011

Where: Espace Ephémère Paris

Joanne Black style: Jitrois leggings, Wolford jumper and Lanvin heels

When people talk about the Autumn/Winter collections, their minds are usually fixed on the latest LBD, the use of colour or masterful cuts on display. But when I think back to the fabulous Lanvin show – my last at Paris Fashion Week – I have to start by mentioning the runway. And what a runway it was! Any model that can navigate a Hollywood-style staircase while trying to look glamorous is to be admired.

It wasn’t just the runway that kept me entertained at this show. With chocolate lollipops and bubbly on tap, it was a treat just turning up. Then we have the collection itself, which unusually contained a lot of black. Gone were the candy colours of 2009 and in came models with black wigs, short dresses with edgy heels and fur-trimmed boots. Shoulders were often accentuated with oversized outfits, such as a khaki coat and double-breasted red coat. Alber Elbaz was in top form.

Strangely for a fan of all things black, I had my eye on a short hot burgundy number and a grey long sleeved sexy dress. I also could have easily left wrapped in one of the fab furs – especially a black and white piece that looked like it was going to take flight as was paraded along the runway.

With all eyes on the catwalk, it was hard to take in the crowd, but I did manage to spot Jade Jagger posing for the photographers in one of my Oscars dresses. Nice choice Jade.

Joanne Black @ Balmain show

Golden piece by Balmain

Location: Le Grand Hotel Paris
Joanne Black style: black BCBG top, Zadig & Voltaire jeans and Ash boots

Designer Christophe Decarnin gave Paris Fashion Week the royal treatment with his combination of regal purples and glittering gold pieces – not to mention the ‘Prince’ soundtrack!

The Balmain A/W ready-to-wear collection had everything for the fun-loving party girl and Oscars attendee. If it wasn’t glittering with gold, it didn’t make it down the runway. With a gold leather dress – slashed to the navel and covered in beads and sequins – beautiful belts, and jackets, skin-tight pantsuits and spray-on leggings, there wasn’t an understated outfit in sight!

Funnily enough, it wasn’t so much the gold that caught my eye. I did quite fancy a pair of the sassy red leather trousers on show. I also loved Carine Roitfeld’s Balmain boots with gold buttons, which she displayed proudly from her front row seat. Carine’s both a Balmain fan and a trendsetter, so it looks like we’ll all be golden girls later this year.