Last night the V&A hosted a private viewing of the new David Bowie exhibition, and I was lucky enough to be amongst the star studded guest! Freelancing as part of the VIP events team, I was in charge of signing in all press, photographers and radio teams, as well as greeting the stars and walking them down, in this case, orange carpet. It is the V&A’s fastest selling show in history as thousands of tickets were already snapped up, before it had even opened, for the next three months, making it one of the biggest events of the year. With Gucci as the main sponsors they pulled out all the stops, with goody bags filled with Gucci wallets and other fab gifts. Outside of the V&A was manic. The queue for the guests was around a mile long, going way past the Natural History Museum and, by 6pm (almost 2 hours before the opening), there were Paparazzi everywhere waiting to snap a photo of VIP’s including host, Tilda Swinton, Rosario Dawson, Tracy Emin and Pixie Geldof. Once everyone had been ushered inside, I finally had the opportunity to enjoy the event and view the exhibition. To the soundtrack of Bowie inspired music performed by 2manyDJs, Soulwax and Jerry Bouthier, I danced my way through the crowds towards the main information desk, which had been transformed in to a glitzy cocktail bar, where I grabbed a few yummy Apple Martinis and Lychee Mohitos. As expected, gorgeous waitresses – clad in what I were meant to be Bowiesque but actually came across as silver tinfoil dresses –  handed out mini canapés which went down a treat.

The exhibition space was rammed with everyone wanting to get a glimpse of everything that was on show. When I walked in I was handed an interactive headset, a bit wary at first as I have honestly always seen the head set idea as dated, but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. The head set follows you around the room rather than guiding you by providing a monologue that didn’t necessarily make sense, scattered with random music and quotes from Bowie, overall immersing you in a psychedelic world separating you from the swarming crowds. The exhibition consists of memorabilia from all of his persona’s, as well as some of his greatest costumes. Peep holes with short films, paintings and quotes mean there is something new and different everywhere you look. I strongly advise that you reserve a ticket to see the Exhibition as it was almost certainly the best I have ever seen at the V&A; it’s not completely sold out if you book now you still might be able to get one of the last few.

On a side note:

Gucci also organised a far more timid and respectable private dinner for the VIP’s of the VIP’s, they invited stars such as Bianca Jagger and Vivienne Westwood. Westwood in true style arrived on her bike, chained it up to the lamp post outside in the front of the venue, and then casually walked on to the ‘orange carpet’, wearing a fabulous scarlet dress, one of her own designs, and wooden platforms, AWESOME! Tilda Swinton on both nights wore Bowie inspired encrusted suits and Pam Hogg came in a metallic leather jacket and crazy hair as always.