Clerkenwell Design Week

Yesterday, I hit the press preview of Clerkenwell Design Week on St John Street to see what London’s creatives have been working on.

Clerkenwell was a sea of coffee and pastries as each design venue held an open-house for visitors to see their pieces.

There was so much to get through, but highlights for me were the Be A Pin Up installation by Lulu Guinness, the Step Inside Bar at Clerkenwell Garage, Dezeen Watch Store, Lee Broom is deadgood, the super-slick Jaguar cars, floor tile art at forbo and Camira.

If you’re going to Clerkenwell Design Week, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to dining. I can personally recommend breakfast at Bistro Bruno Loubet, a lunchtime pint and burger at Fox & Anchor, steak from the Josper grill at Bistro du Vin Clerkenwell, a locally-sourced dinner at The Brasserie at The London Mal and evening cocktails at The Zetter Townhouse Bar.

Clerkenwell Design Week is on from 24th May to 26th May 2011. For more info, visit: www.clerkenwelldesignweek.com

This morning, Lulu Guinness hosted a breakfast for a small group of fashion bloggers at Bistro Bruno Loubet at The Zetter Hotel to introduce her one-off commission for Clerkenwell Design Week.

Over coffee and croissants (a staple of Clerkenwell Design Week), Lulu talked through her inspiration for her debut piece, Be A Pin Up, and gave us a sneak preview of the stunning Clerkenwell Lips Clutch – a limited edition tribute to more fleeting installation. Lulu’s Autumn/Winter 2011-12 collection continues the pinhead theme with a large studded leather bow handbag.

Be A Pin Up references the iconic office toy with a life-size pin art installation – an imposing pop up under the stunning arches at St John’s Gate. We had a lot of fun squishing ourselve up to the pins and visitors to CDW can get involved and make their own full body portraits.

The ever glamorous and charming Lulu also got stuck in and showed us how it was done…

Strike some serious poses if you manage to visit Lulu’s Be A Pin Up installation and your creativity will be rewarded! Lulu Guinness will be creating a gallery, of all the pin impressions sent in from visitors, on the Lulu Guinness Facebook page and the one with the most ‘likes’ will win The Clerkenwell Lips Clutch, worth £450!

To enter, send your best Be A Pin Up impressions to facebook@luluguinness.com.

Be A Pin Up will be at Clerkenwell Design Week until 26th May.

All photos by Chérie City.

What’s on at Clerkenwell Design Week 2011

Lulu Guinness at Clerkenwell Design Week