Everything has had to be kept top-secret about Gok Wan’s underwear collection until now - and I’ve been dying to tell everyone all about the glittering launch party I managed to get myself invited to - so I think it’s time I spilled the beans! I’d like to say that I go to that kind of thing all the time and play it cool but really I was uber-excited – and deciding what to wear was a total nightmare! Anyway, enough about me, let’s get down to the juicy details…
The event was held in an exclusive underground location in London we were greeted by a champagne reception. As we came down the steps we saw the club had been festooned with feathers and jewels and the first things we saw were funky mannequins modelling the gorgeous lingerie. Journalists and media-types were already milling around in the champagne bar, which had been decorated with fabulous blown-up shots of our model in the underwear. There was definitely a sense of anticipation in the air as everyone wondered: ‘When would Gok Wan get here?’ Meanwhile I sipped on my champers and tried to look like I did this sort of thing every day of the week.
As the champagne bar filled up we were led through to a decadent black ballroom with the biggest bunch of red roses on the bar I have ever seen. (Sadly they weren’t a gift for me from Gok but you can’t have everything!) The bar was lined up with delicious looking cocktails, and, well, it would have been rude not to partake wouldn’t it? Still no sign of Gok.
I got chatting to a couple of fabulous drag queens who were a total riot. And then, before anyone knew what was going on, Gok was there and he was on the stage! Microphone in hand, he naturally extolled the virtues of the underwear: ‘It is great. It does work. Which means you can all go out and eat more kebabs and drink more beer!’ Typical Gok! J Then the party really got started. The music was pumping, the cocktails and the conversation were flowing and the entertainment was definitely entertaining! In the next room, glamorous powder puff girls in sexy pink retro outfits and pill-box hats were offering manicures and make-up touch ups, the drag queens were working it and then… the burlesque dancer came on.
I was a little unsure what to expect from a burlesque dancer but it wasn’t at all seedy, although admittedly the men did take quite an interest. With immaculately coiffed forties style hair and fabulous feather fans, ‘Marianne Cheesecake’ performed a classic burlesque striptease, graceful to the very end of her glittery little nipple tassels!
As the night went on I have to confess things got a little blurry. There were definitely lots more cocktails, lots more dancing and a brilliant balloon bursting routine from Ms Cheesecake. Gok even climbed into the DJ booth for a spot of MC’ing. (I think that’s what you call ‘Gokking the mic’?) One thing I do remember quite clearly though was receiving a big smooch on the cheek from Gok Wan himself at the end of the night. Well, what girl could possibly forget that?
