One week in September
Peaches Geldof
Student
Wednesday, September 5 Two of my best friends are fashion designers. Actually, I don't know if you can call Phil and Rich "fashion designers": they are two old school chaps with a love of rock music, schmoozing, glamour and getting drunk, and the idea that, despite having no previous experience, they can create a superbrand: the Rodnik label.
Usually when a designer's clothes are installed in a store, that designer might do a photo call or some interviews. Rodnik decided this was too low-key and instead bought a kids' drum kit for Rich, a keyboard for my friend Fred, and two mics. I asked Phil why he had bought two mics and he explained, "Of course, my darling, you will be the other rock star." I told him the whole idea was ridiculous and yet I'm now about to get on a plane to New York to play an absurd guerrilla gig in Barneys.
Thursday I'm flying over with Fred, and Fred's flatmate, Anthony. The economy seats are horrible and mine has a loose spring. It is my first time in New York. We spend the night trying and failing to get into bars, and eating super-size McDonald's. We all end up sitting in the Jacuzzi in my hotel bathroom.
Friday After the previous night's festivities, am feeling decidedly worse for wear. We eat huge breakfasts: great mountains of pancakes covered in syrup with sides of eggs Benedict and enough bacon to feed an army. That night we attend the Prada party in high spirits. It's New York fashion week and the fashion pack mingle with the glitterati and stare at projections of Damien Hirst's diamond-encrusted skull while sipping dry Martini.
Saturday It is the day of the show. I arrive at Barneys late, and find the two of them nervous and excited. I change into a logo T-shirt and skyscraper patent leather stacked heels. We decide to sing live. It is all very Spinal Tap, Fred pretending to play his kiddies' keyboard wearing dark glasses, Rich pretending to be Ian Curtis while playing the logo-ed drums, Phil twirling a parasol and caterwauling his half-rapped vocals and me singing (badly) with unnerving zeal. The show ends and I smash up the mini drum in true rock'n'roll style. Rapturous applause fills the fifth floor of Barneys.
Monday Fred, Anth and I spend the next two days shopping in Williamsburg's vintage emporium and staring up at Trump Tower. I dance on the piano mat at FAO Schwarz and feel like Tom Hanks in Big.
Wednesday I leave New York having fallen in love with the place, and receive a message from Phil: "Remember that I am a conceptual genius, not a drunken idiot."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0,,2194110,00.html