Where: Electric Cinema
Joanne Black Style: Black Prada dress (a recent sales purchase) and a YSL belt.

Joanne Black @ the In house screening of Time Bandits

It’s not every Monday you get to spend the evening in the Fortress of Darkness – containing Absolute Evil and a boy called Kevin – wearing Prada and surrounded by a whole host of stars. But earlier this week, at the Electric’s screening of the 1981 film Time Bandits, I did just that.

In the company of the film’s director and writer Terry Gilliam, who looked effortlessly stylish in jeans and a black jacket with rolled up sleeves, it would have been difficult not to have a fantastic evening. The film itself was great, and the Monty Python aspects reminded me of the time of I went to see Monty Python and the Holy Grail on Broadway with friend and producer Dany Wolf.

Joanne Black and Terry Gilliam

I remember it so well because I happened to be sitting under the Holy Grail and ended up being taken on stage to sing with the cast. It was very surreal.

It wasn’t only Terry, however, who put in a show-stopping off-screen performance. Lily Cole looked like Botticelli’s Venus in a cream figure-hugging lace dress; actor Mike Edmonds – who played Og in the movie – paired an interesting navy shirt covered in flowers with a beige jacket; GQ editor Dylan Jones opted for a sharp suit and Verne Troyer (aka Mini-Me from Austin Powers) wore a pinstripe waistcoat with a white shirt, hoop earring and diamond Rolex watch. Thankfully, I managed to escape unscathed from Absolute Evil’s lair, but I’m not sure Monday nights will ever be the same again!

Where: Browns (London Store), Opera Gallery, Maddox Club
Joanne Black Style: Lanvin top, Acne leather skirt, Alaia belt, python vintage Alexander McQueen bag, python Sharon Wauchob shoes and Wolford fishnet tights

If you believe an outfit shouldn’t be seen twice, I would advise you never to attend three events in one evening. There’s only way to survive a crowded social calendar – find one great outfit fit for two hours of fashion, two hours of the arts and a night filled with fabulous dance moves…

Joanne Black and Osman Yousefzada @ Pre-collection launch

Mariella Tandy, Retail Editor of Tatler and host of Osman’s launch, knows the way to a woman’s heart. Start with a late Champagne afternoon tea – complete with cucumber sandwiches, scones, elderflower cordial – and finish with a selection of fabulous pre-collection pieces.

Dressed in a stunning pink dress from the collection, Mariella looked the part – as did Browns’ Communications Director Zoe Kuipers in one of Osman’s cool cotton blue dresses. Surrounded by beautiful outfits, it didn’t take long before I had a wish list the length of my arm – ex city boy designer Osman really deserves his share of the fashion limelight right now.

Sadly, I couldn’t save you a scone but the following links should keep your inner fashionista entertained. You can check out the pre-collection for yourself at www.brownsfashion.com. Find out more about the man behind it all at www.osmanyousefzada.com.

Joanne Black @ Bernard Buffet and Salvador Dali private view

It wasn’t long before I was swapping great outfits for great masters at the Opera Gallery. Designed to celebrate the life and works of Salvador Dali and Bernard Buffet, the private view showcased 50 original and unique paintings, sculptures, watercolours from both artists.

After sipping champagne with the Gallery’s stylish director Jean-David Malat, I explored the works of art with friend Sandra Geilly. I have to confess, I was slightly distracted by her summery feminine Wunderkind dress, her sexy blue shoes – with a chain detail that complemented the blue in the dress – and trendy white Christian Louboutin bag. Fashion is, after all, an art form in itself.

Stephen Webster store opening after-party
Ok, so I said there were three events, but that does exclude a much-needed detour to Harry’s Bar to counter the effects of two champagne receptions.

After sampling the best risotto in town, it was on to Maddox nightclub for the opening of Stephen Webster’s new Mount Street store. All I can say is thank you Sharon Wauchob for creating comfy python shoes so I could dance the night away.

When: 16 June
Joanne Black Style: Sharon Wauchob dress with Jitrois belt, YSL silver tribune heels, YSL clutch and Philip Treacy pink hat.

Joanne Black @ Royal Ascot

Those who think Ascot is about horse racing and Champagne, obviously haven’t been to Ascot. This is an event that would perhaps be best described as a catwalk show in a car park. I say car park, because I seemed to spend most of my day in one.

Firstly, I had to act my way into the car park reserved for jockeys and trainers by pretending to be a jockey’s wife. (I think the BMW Z4 green sports convertible I was

driving played an important part.) And then, after doing my turn on the racing catwalk, I was straight back to another car park for the after-party – where I met legendary Irish folk singer Paddy Reilly, the man behind The Fields of Athenry.
Thankfully, I did manage to leave the tarmac behind temporarily and find my way to Paddy Power’s private box. It was the perfect place to soak up the racing style scene, catch up with friend Kelley and the Bourke family – who had invited me for the day – and see my horse come in last (so much for the luck of the Irish!).

Joanne Black with friends

Paddy’s wife Sabena Power – dressed in a white Armani suit, Philip Treacy hat, Chloé shoes and great bag by Zagliani – was a charming hostess. Daughter Tessa Power wore a beautiful navy blue dress by Marc Jacobs; Kelley’s mother Mary opted for a stunning pink suit, Philip Treacy hat and vintage diamond necklace, and regular racegoer Chanelle McCoy – wife of champion jockey Anthony McCoy – looked elegant in a white fitted Amanda Wakeley suit, with a red satin Luella bag and patent LK Bennett shoes. Her hat was a fabulous red and white Robin Hood inspired creation, complete with pearls.

I did pick up a useful racing fashion tip on my day out – always remember to check the dress code before you decide what to wear. My Sharon Wauchob number was a little on the short side for the Royal Enclosure and left my shoulders exposed (two rules broken). Losing the belt and borrowing Kelley’s fur, however, transformed me into a respectable race-goer fit for a Queen!

Joanne Black and Mikhail Gorbachev

When: 6 June
Joanne Black Style: Amanda Wakeley hourglass black full-length gown with YSL white tux jacket and diamond and emerald earrings by H Stern.
Pic: En route to the gala with the new look.
Pic: Meeting Mr Gorbachev

I believe a great new haircut should never go to waste. That’s why I like to arrange an evening out after a cut and colour, to make the most of my ‘just stepped out of the salon’ look.

The Raisa Gorbachev Foundation Gala in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace proved the perfect event to put my new look through its paces – a look created by Lupo and Fred Geilly of Geilly Green. It wasn’t long before I was joking with Mr Gorbachev himself about our mutual love of Whiskey and Vodka and swapping Irish tales with Jonathan Rhys Meyers.

I have to say, it wasn’t a night designed for strapless dresses and short skirts – my white tux certainly kept me warm when the great British weather finally did its worst. But that didn’t stop some people from making a stylish entrance. Sophie Dahl looked wonderful in a see-through black knee-length dress; Natalia Vodianova wore a beautiful short fitted cream satin dress and Vanessa Redgrave complemented her elegant sky blue silk matching blouse and skirt with a lovely pink ethnic-inspired shawl.

The men also put on a good show. Jonathan Rhys Meyers wore a progressive fitted tux, waistcoat and unbuttoned shirt that worked well with his goatee; Jefferson Hack also opted for a trendy tux with a Jim Morrison inspired ruffled shirt and my good friend Mr Gilbert Costes from Costes Hotel Paris looked great in his shiny progressive Dior suit and skinny tie. In fact, I think the only people feeling the cold were the synchronised swimmers – how they still managed to pull off a fantastic performance I’ll never know.

The temperature did start to go up, however, when I started to bid for a holiday to Mozambique. It was a great idea at the time – raising money for Marie Curie Cancer Care and some Russian charities in the process – until I remembered how much mosquitoes like to feast on me. Don’t expect any fashionable holiday pics, that’s for sure!!!

When: 13-24 May 2009

Joanne Black...Yes We Cannes!

Cannes is the ultimate playground for serious fashionistas. To survive the glamour, back-to-back parties and beautiful sunshine, you need enough dresses, shoes, bags and jewellery to clothe a small nation – and lots of stamina.

The Carlton Hotel, close to the Bay of Cannes, provided the perfect setting for soaking up the style scene and the bumping into a few well-known faces – Quentin Tarantino, Pedro Almodovar and Martin Scorsese to name but a few (I even got a Bonsoir from Eric Cantona). But, when I think back to those wonderful weeks mingling with the world’s acting elite, it’s the parties that stick in my mind. And what parties they were!