Lost in Beauty

Last night it was back to Primrose Hill concept beauty boutique ‘Lost in Beauty’ for a night of primping, pampering and vintage with the one and only Johnny Blueeyes. The London based stylist to the starlets of the music world and Creative Director behind the magical mystical House of Blueeyes… Johnny is no stranger to those of you who whisper regularly. For those of you who don’t yet know him yet, strap on the thigh highs and sprinkle on the glitter: it’s time to get Blue-eyed.

Lost in Beauty is a pretty great concept, half store, half salon, with an array of niche products and after hours Beauty Club. Take that as you will, but Lost in Beauty is the only place in London I’ve actually found my longtime trusty tried and true hair care brand: Bumble and Bumble.

Last night’s event, along with a smattering of manicures, threading and tarot sessions (pick your nail color after you chart the course of your love life for the next few weeks, will it be red and passionate or dark and dismal?), was a vintage feast, as Johnny, for one night only, unlocked the deepest recesses of his indubitably flabbergasting vintage treasure trove and sold off a few one-off gems. Sourced by the man himself over his travels in the last 20 years; the pieces ranged from to-die-for aubergine and gold tipped suede YSL platform Mary Janes to Victorian capes and enough python accessories to kick Harry Potter’s Parseltongue into high gear.

As I had already been to one blogger’s event and one studio sale that afternoon and in the midst frantic preparations for my first full blown editorial shoot for Connoisseur Magazine, I will admit, I arrived just as the threaders were packing up their needles for the evening and the manicurists their files and viles. But it was when I saw Johnny reach for a pair of chocolate python square heeled Miu Miu’s, shot through with just the perfect dash of teal and gesture towards the awaiting gaping suitcase, did I cry out “Noooooo!” My inner stylist, knackered though she may have been, refused to just let those vintage beauties get stuffed back into the suitcase and whisked away just as she had arrived avec photographer. I mean, there was still plenty of wine left, it can’t really be over?

So I pinched my unsuspecting friend Becks, enchanted her with the YSL’s, which instantly came to life the second they were strapped to her feet, in turn enchanting Johnny and the rest. Bribery is the best policy. Particularly when the bait is Rive Gauche. A mini-shoot in store soon ensued; beauty products were whipped out and hastily applied, Butters scooped up, the wine again uncorked and cameras started to flash. And an evening which could have been lost from beauty on account of my tardiness turned into precisely what just such an evening of purported manicures and cocktails should be: girls being girls, getting totally lost in beauty (and fashion) with Johnny Blueeyes.

Text: KRISTIN KNOX
Photographer: NEDIM NAZERALI