Lauren Santo Domingo, co-founder of e-tailer Moda Operandi gives us the insider low down from London Fashion Week spring/summer 2015.
The EW Insider: Lauren Santo Domingo, co-founder of e-tailer Moda Operandi (modaoperandi.com)
DAY ONE
9.00pm
London! I always stay at Claridge’s in Mayfair. It’s insanely elegant and completely charming. I’d always prefer to be at home with my family and my heavy, hardcover books, but staying at Claridge’s helps me achieve a certain level of comfort that’s imperative to my well-being.
DAY TWO
8.00am
Breakfast at the hotel; a cappuccino and a croissant.
9.00am
I check my e-mails that came in from New York overnight and take a conference call with the team. There’s an assumption that, working in this industry, your days are full of glamour; photoshoots, reviewing lookbooks, designer lunches; but I see far more numbers, analytics and spreadsheets than one would assume, myself previously included.
11.00am
I meet our interior designer for the first official walkthrough of our private shopping salon, Moda Operandi London. The space is even better than I dreamed. I can’t wait to open another location. Hong Kong? Dubai? My afternoon is back-to-back walkthroughs, interviews and preparations for tomorrow’s events. We have five…
3.00pm
A welcome cappuccino break at L’eto.
8.00pm
Early dinner at La Petite Maison with my team.
11.45pm
Every time I go to a hotel I miss my bed. Tonight I’m too tired to notice.
DAY THREE
10am
I host Fashion for Breakfast with my dear friend, Gianluca Longo at the Electric in West London.
12.00pm
Back to the Mews to meet our Social Media Manager. She’s hosting a blogger’s event with Harley Viera Newton.
6.00pm
Time to toast Moda Operandi London! For the evening’s outfit I select Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda.
8.15pm
I arrive at Hotel Café Royal for dinner. Guests are lead upstairs to the terrace by French maids with cheetahs before seeing the table. I prefer there to be a reveal.
After dinner, it was downstairs to the Oscar Wilde Bar for the after party. The Moda girls were on New York time so it was a fun night.
2.30am
Back at the hotel after a private disco at a friend’s. A hostess never reveals too many details, but I think everyone had a good time.
DAY FOUR
7am
Cappuccino in the room, 7:15am I order a second.
11.00am
Rush to the Emilia Wickstead show with Caroline Sieber. I love Emilia, she is as talented as she is charming. As the show closes, I pop backstage to congratulate her. After a quick catch-up, we end up scheduling a playdate for our daughters.
12.30pm
It’s no secret I’m fond of art so I blocked off time between shows to see the Robert Mapplethorpe exhibit at the Tate Modern. Hamish Bowles and Dakota Johnson join me.
DAY FIVE
6.00pm
Arrive just in time to the Old Fire Brigade Rear Workshop after encountering ridiculous traffic from a bike race. Fitting for a Sunday were the echos of “hail Mary” after the Mary Katrantzou show.
9.00pm
Each show has been better than the next. Heading to dinner with Harley Viera Newton, Lily Donaldson, Derek Blasberg, and Poppy Delevigne at the Wolseley to discuss.
DAY SIX
11.45am
Coffee with Cara Delevingne, I may have made her late for her next show.
1.00pm
Burberry at Kensington Gardens, seated front row and wearing Adam Lippes.
2.00pm
Moda Operandi London is officially open for business! I had a true ‘pinch me’ moment. Emilia Wickstead and her
Spring/summer 2015 collection were in the space, literally straight from the runway. Our trunkshows offer every color, every size, and every look from a designer’s collection.
It’s something we provide for clients that we truly value.
3.00pm
My last show is Christopher Kane before the Business of Fashion #BOF500 launch party at the London Edition hotel. I’ve got an early photoshoot in the morning and then head straight to Paris!
