Earl of Bedlam - an unfolding fashion story (with knife-edge pleating)

The "S" in our post code is important to us - Mark is Catford's own living landmark and I grew up in Dulwich. We wear our South London loyalty on our sleeves and it makes our temporary accommodation even sweeter that we can just maintain it. But yesterday we crossed the demarcation line of Piccadilly into W1 to visit our accountant, Colin Young, he of saintly patience with his roster of creative clients. We wanted to go through money stuff with him - the least enjoyable but utterly crucial component. If you can't deal with it, find a man who will. Colin imparted a sense of can-handle calm. He can register the company for us - which takes about three days, and get a VAT # - up to three weeks. I said to hold off a few days while we try to muster the money to cover the admin costs and his fee. He said something that I found very wise, that experiencing failure is an important part of the process and that no one should enter into a creative venture, from which ever side of the table, expecting a straight trajectory. Corners are part of the journey.

On the way "home" we went into Liberty, #1 best store if London in Time Out magazine's list of said. I wanted to visit haberdashery (# 6 in my personal Top Ten list of words) on Third but we were both in a bit of a daze - talking about money has that effect on us - and didn't figure that the man already in the lift had made his selection already and stepped out like lemmings on Lower Ground with him. But that was a happy accident as I could ask for the contact details of the Menswear Buyer. He wasn't in attendance as Wednesday was fellas' day at Fashion Week. Yesterday, after our meeting with Mr Dell, we presented ourselves to the friendly Menswear Buyer at Browns on South Molton Street. Immaculate in grey CdG waistcoat he said the store was as committed as ever to supporting new designers. Mark said - afterwards, to me - that an order from Browns would make him prouder than any other. He first dream-shopped there when he was fourteen and it has always remained his favourite. I won't put the buyers names as you have to do a little bit of work yourselves.

We wandered on in the sunshine - I tried to take a turn at carrying the portfolio. It's very big, and our artist mate Big David Taborn (www.davidtaborn.com) was heap big kind to lend it to us. But the moment I put it down for a rest, Mark took it back even though his fingers were blistered from carrying it. As we made our way down Savile Row, male models were coming out of Ozwald Boateng's shop to board a coach. Meanwhile, a completely fabulous cream dream of a cruiser was waiting to ferry someone worthy of such fabulousness to their event in Leceister Square (I imagine). I have never seen a car like it so could not tell you what it was and neither could Mark. "Shall we get one of those some day?" I asked him. "Deffo," said Mark. "But oh no!" I had spotted an existential roadblock, "We won't know what to ask for!" So maybe I can ask Ozwald, whenever our paths cross again. I got to know him many years ago when I was running club nights in the West End, most (in)famously in the VIP bar of Heaven. We gave a stage to musicians and singers. Some were famous, most were not, some were very good, and some were very, very bad - but those traits can be equally entertaining as X-Factor auditions demonstrate today. Anyway, Ozwald would show up to watch sometimes and one afternoon he even came to tea at my parent's house. My mate James Greenfield would later give him the Givenchy gig at LVMH. But James I know through my old school pal and honorary sister, Carolyn Randolfi. She graduated from the RCA and after working for Hugo Boss, Falke, Chanel, Lagerfeld and more, is now Knitwear Supremo at Kenzo. There, the current Artistic Director is Sardinian designer - Antonio Marras.

I told you our stories have corners. So, on the corner of Old Burlington Street and Burlington Gardens is our "works canteen" - Cecconi's. We take a table outside so that members of our focus group - Harriet, Jane, Andrea and assorted special guests - can smoke. Mark is trying really hard to give up smoking, in that, he is totally committed to wanting to, but this is kind of a super stressy time to be kicking away a crutch. At one point last week it seemed he was covered in patches, sucking on the gross lozenges the doctor prescribed and chain smoking at the same time. Anyway, the drinks ain't exactly pub prices here, but we have done enough pit stop research and figure that when you factor in the free fat olives and nuts - ie "free" dinner - and the priceless pavement show that passes by, you come out ahead. Only trouble is, the octopus is so good (and the courgette flowers) (and the bruschetta) (and, aaargh, dammit, just about everything on the menu) that we generally do order little plates of food too. So we have to make a success of ourselves to continue coming here. Also priceless are the waiters, who are always really nice to us, and tonight I asked one of them what part of Italy he is from. "Alghero," he said, which is where Antonio lives. Naturally I exclaimed, "No way! I don't suppose you know..." and he just about fell to his knees and genuflected at the name. When Carlo could speak again, he explained that Antonio is a hero in the town, the only person from there to achieve artistic recognition and an inspiration to them all. I said well, crumbs, next time he's in London, I shall bring him straight here for a drink (and LVMH can buy the crispy calamari rings! Whoo-hoo!).

Who and what you know matters - some will be famous, most will not, but when you make connections, not just in a naff networking way, I mean proper, human connections, it can reward the effort ten fold. Seeing Carlo's admiration for Antonio's achievements was really touching and inspiring, because it showed again that if you persevere with your dream, and succeed, other people are proud of you and emboldened for themselves.

But more prosaically, get people's names, take cards, don't lose them, follow up, maintain contacts and especially take the trouble to find out the marque of any completely fabulous cream dream cruisers you see cos you never know when you may be in a position to acquire one.