Joanne Black @ the Raisa Gorbachev Foundation Gala

Where: Hampton Court
Joanne Black Style: White dress with scooped neckline from Osman Spring/Summer 2010 white collection, YSL bag, shoes and jewellery

Walk the red carpet with a fashion designer and you’ll never want to walk it alone again. Arriving at the Raisa Gorbachev Foundation Gala on the Osman’s arm was a moment I will never forget. Sporting a red sash, he looked like a fabulous picador, and was certainly the best dressed man there. He described me as his muse for the night – and wearing a beautiful modern geisha-style creation from his spring/summer collection, I was definitely dressed for the part.

Hosting a table at the fifth annual Gala – a night dedicated to raising money for the Foundation and Marie Curie Cancer Care – gave me the perfect opportunity to both surround myself in fashionable people, and do a bit of style spotting. Among the highlights was Hugh Grant, the humorous commentator for the night. He looked effortlessly cool and ruggedly handsome in a suit with an open neck shirt. Anjelica Huston (who I consider to be a bit of an inspiration for everything she’s packed into her life) wore a lovely black and white dress and Tracey Emin put in a stylish appearance in Vivienne Westwood. And businesswoman Helen Davison went creative with a skirt crafted out of a Matthew Williamson dress and a handmade black lace top (I reckon she’ll be a designer to watch in future). But the coolest look of the night came from the ever-youthful Yasmin Le Bon, who stepped out in a trendy, dramatic fan-detail structured cocktail dress.

Raising nearly £2m for charity, the Gala was a huge success. I left Hampton Court that night a little lighter – having secured a three day apprenticeship with photographer Tony McGee and danced the night away to the sound of Bryan Ferry – and feeling better than ever. The dress was a huge hit and saw me receive more compliments than I ever thought possible. At a fitting with Osman (where I tried on three dresses from his white collection) he said the full-length number would be a winner with well-matched accessories – and he was right! Being told I had the best look of the night was great, but hearing that I’d managed to secure Osman a new following (and an order or two) by promoting his fabulous designs, was even better.