Oh, what a joy it was to get together with some of my lovely Substack community on Saturday for my very first meet-up.
I have to admit, I was nervous. I worried that no one would show up. And if they did, would everyone get on? Would we have enough in common? You know, the usual internal dialogue that starts when you’re feeling a little anxious about something.
But I needn’t have worried.
The women who came were wonderful. Warm, funny, open and interesting, with so many stories to tell. Within minutes, it felt as though we had known each other for much longer. I left feeling like something really special had been created.
We met at The Coral Room in Bloomsbury, which was the perfect place to relax, enjoy a cup of coffee and settle into a good chat. And chat we did. We talked about life, next steps, career changes, identity and, of course, fashion. I loved every minute of it and the two hours absolutely flew by.
What made me happiest was seeing the connections the women made with each other. It was so lovely watching conversations begin and friendships form. And when everyone left saying they were already looking forward to the next one, I have to admit, I was absolutely beaming.
I want these meet-ups to become more than just a coffee and a chat. Although there is nothing wrong with a coffee and a chat. I would love for us to go on little adventures together too. Perhaps an exhibition or a vintage market, followed by a drink or two. Or maybe a light lunch or brunch somewhere lovely.
The meet-ups will always be open to paid subscribers first and, if there are spaces left, I’ll open them up to all subscribers. So if you want first dibs on tickets, you can become a paid subscriber below.
And if there is enough interest from outside London, I would absolutely love to take the meet-ups on the road too.
The next one will be in October and this time I want to find out which dates work best for you. So, if you’re interested in coming, please vote below. Would you prefer a Saturday or a weekday?
Each guest also went home with the most amazing goodie bag, thanks to some incredibly generous brands.
Daisy London gifted everyone one of these gorgeous bracelets in either gold or silver. They are so lovely worn on their own, but would also look beautiful stacked with other bracelets.
Trinny London gave everyone the Miracle Blur Diffuser which is one of my favourite products. It creates a soft-focus blur around the face, eyes and lips and is brilliant when you want your skin to look a little more polished.
ByMatter gave this amazing Closet Guardian. A beautiful ceramic hanging medallion that acts as a closet freshener and moth repellent. It also comes with a handy recharge spray.
L’Occitane generously offered their famous Almond Shower Oil and Shea Hand Cream. Two gorgeous products for keeping your skin and hands beautifully nourished and smelling divine.
I’m honestly so blown away by the generosity of the brands involved. And I’ve already had other brands reach out wanting to offer gifts for the next meet-up, which is so lovely.
Most of all, though, I’m incredibly grateful to the women who took an afternoon out of their precious weekends to spend it with me.
We had women travel from Norwich, Brighton, South London, North London, Surrey and Hertfordshire. I left on an absolute high and I cannot wait to welcome everyone back, along with some new faces, to the next one.
Anna xx
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