Hey kittens! I know I’ve been overwhelming
y’all with my posts all about Vogue’s Fashion Night Out, so I’m gonna take it
back a week and blog about a charity ball I attended last weekend. One that I
was also fortunate enough to contribute towards…

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to a
ball at Handforth Hotel by a lovel many called Dan, who was planning a good
ole’ knees up in order to raise money for local charity, St Ann’s Hospice.
Having been part of various projects that have raised money for St Ann’s for
basically my whole life, I jumped at the chance to attend and offered to help
do my part too. Partying for a good cause… Like I NEEDED an excuse to go!

St Ann’s is a Manchester based charity
that helps around 3,000 patients and their families and carers every year who are affected by cancer and non-cancer life limiting illnesses – the hospice costs around £16,000 a day(!) to run. As a local organisation, it’s one that’s close to my home and heart, so
I wanted to contribute to the cause. Having created so many great contacts
through blogging, I thought it only right that I use these for a good cause,
and I am in such a fortunate position that I was sent so many wonderful prizes
for the night. In fact, I collected so many great bits and bobs that Dan
decided to auction them all off together as a “hamper prize” in the live
auction – exciting, hey?!

Of course, everyone loved the prize and I
am so delighted to say that it raised over £150 for St Ann’s – amazing! Thank
you so much to all the brands who were kind enough to send out gifts for the
hamper, you were so generous and I hugely appreciate it. The top prizes were
two VIP/unlimited tickets to Manchester Fashion Week 2014 (included backstage
access, goodie bags and front row seats to all shows!) and a half day personal
shopping and wardrobe consultation service by Louise at Let Me Love YourWardrobe.

All of the other items were equally
amazing, adding up to a fantastic fashion and beauty themed prize – I know I’d
have loved it. I’m trying to remember all the items included, so here goes…
Thank you to: New Look and Get The Label for their shop vouchers; Brit Stitch
for the beautiful Pint Size satchel in mint green; Jon Richard’s amazing
selection of jewelry sets; Virgin Atlantic for their great goodie bag full of
Rollasoles, Bumble and Bumble, CND Nails and other assorted beauty bits;
MissPap for the pashmina; Adorning Ava for the ring, earrings and store
voucher; By Caprice for the lingerie set; Aimee’s Skincare for the full set of
skincare items… And many more!

This post hasn’t so much been an event
post, as a thank you. Thanks to all those who donated and made such a great
auction prize possible! However, there’s always a little time for an Outfit of
the Day citing, and I have to say the dress I wore to the ball was really
something else.

Another beauty from my favourite dress
makers, Jones and Jones Fashion, this red Ceryn number is what I had originally
planned to wear to the Cosmo Blog Awards, but it didn’t come in time! However,
it turned out to be the perfect frock for the night – formal yet fashionable – so it was a blessing in disguise and I certainly stood out from the crowd of LBD’s! The top half of the dress is
sheer (a little risky for me!) with a sequined bandeu and full, frilly skirt;
absolutely beautiful and so striking! I’m forever happy with my Jones and Jones dresses and am now lusting after the Jade for the Christmas party season.

I paired it with my Mel heels from Cloggs
which I had also planned to wear to the Cosmo Blog Awards with this dress, but again, another blessing in disguise as the padding within them made them the ideal shoes for dancing all night. I’m
in love with these heels – they’re pretty high but still so cute with the heart
detail, and surprisingly comfortable for such skyscrapers. Plus, they smell
amazing! Melissa have to be my favourite shoe designer and I love that I can buy so many brands from Cloggs.