London Fashion Week: Guirado Designs & Coco De Mer Parties

Hilary Alexander & Joe Alvarez © Joe Alvarez

Catalina Guirado was born to internationally acclaimed Spanish surrealist- essentialist artist father “Juan Antonio Guirado”, and English mother “Audrey Ballard”, as a child she was an extremely talented violinist performing at the Royal Festival and London’s Royal Albert Hall by the time she was 11. At 12, she played a transcription of the first violin solo of the Bach double violin concerto in D minor as part of the School’s Proms at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall. She went on to attend the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Discovered by British Vogue’s booking editor, Catalina started modelling at 15. She went on to walk runway shows for designers such as Vivienne Westwood, Scott Henshall, Michiko Koshino, and Rifat Ozbek. She also appeared on the covers of and featured in magazines including Vogue, Elle, Cosmopolitan, FHM, Maxim, and Loaded. She has appeared in campaigns for Wella, Charro Jeans, Toni & Guy, L’Oréal, and Lynx men’s body spray.

Guirado first appeared on television in TFI Friday when she became a household name and London “it girl”. She is most famous for appearing in the reality TV shows I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! and Back to Reality. Guirado has also appeared on Celebrity Stars in Their Eyes, Celebrities Under Pressure, and Bo’ Selecta!, hosted Catalina’s Clips and VH1’s Spice, and was a guest on This Morning, Celebdaq, Celebrity Weakest Link, Ready Steady Cook, as well as many others. She also acted in the independent movies Blue Sombrero and in 2005’s Private Moments.

She was voted one of FHM’s 100 sexiest women in 1997, 1998, 2003, and 2004, and one of Maxim’s 10 sexiest British Women in 2002. She has been a lads’ mag and tabloid favorite and had her wedding covered in OK! magazine: She married Matt Cheadle of the band i-94 at The Inn on the Green in Cookham Dean, Berkshire on 5 August 2007.

“Guirado Design” was established in 2013 with Catalina launching her first collection of luxury silk scarves, fabrics and bespoke wallpapers using HD prints of chosen enlightening works of Guirado’s, creating wearable art. Finally making full use of her textiles and art qualifications, her collection of silk scarves takes the original artwork of “Juan Antonio Guirado” to new dimensions in style and colour.

The party was lively indeed and I particularly enjoyed the champers session -no surprise there- as well as catching up with my dear friend designer Arina Pritch.

Coco-De-Mer London Fashion Week Party

Fashionistas headed in droves to the Coco_De_Mer London Fashion Week party. With a LFW featured window, resident milliner Victoria Grant -whose hats grace the head of Coco favourite Paloma Faith amongst others- was in attendance to greet us all. We were also treated to an amazing burlesque show with complimentary champagne and cocktails on tap all night. Goodie bags galore afterwards.

Very good night to say the least, and even better as I also caught up with fashion writer guru Hilary Alexander. Trebles all round.