What I learnt in New York

Three valuable lessons.

1. American fashion is commercially cut throat. Driven by sales and sales only, creative whimsy is given short shrift, as demonstrated by the retail oriented questions the Parson's students were asked during their presentations. Also demonstrated by the student's incredulity that a designer like Gareth Pugh even exists, let alone thrives, in London.

2.You always need a business card. The Americans i met all seemed suprised that i didn't have a business card. It was a bit like...who's this chump without one? The importance implaced on this tiny piece of self promotion has not diminished, despite Bret Easton Ellis' best efforts.

3.New York is not a friendly city. The British deride Richard Curtis films for presenting a ridiculously twee picture of England where everyone lives on the South Bank or in sweet little cottages deep in the countryside. It never occured to me that the Americans i met would be anything less than charmed by my British accent as demonstrated in the movies. That was pretty soon knocked out of me after run ins with uninterested shop assistants, members of the general public bordering on psychotic and anyone who wasn't looking for a tip. It comes to something when you're missing London's 'friendly' atmosphere.