Where: Electric Cinema
Joanne Black Style: Black Prada dress (a recent sales purchase) and a YSL belt.

Joanne Black @ the In house screening of Time Bandits

It’s not every Monday you get to spend the evening in the Fortress of Darkness – containing Absolute Evil and a boy called Kevin – wearing Prada and surrounded by a whole host of stars. But earlier this week, at the Electric’s screening of the 1981 film Time Bandits, I did just that.

In the company of the film’s director and writer Terry Gilliam, who looked effortlessly stylish in jeans and a black jacket with rolled up sleeves, it would have been difficult not to have a fantastic evening. The film itself was great, and the Monty Python aspects reminded me of the time of I went to see Monty Python and the Holy Grail on Broadway with friend and producer Dany Wolf.

Joanne Black and Terry Gilliam

I remember it so well because I happened to be sitting under the Holy Grail and ended up being taken on stage to sing with the cast. It was very surreal.

It wasn’t only Terry, however, who put in a show-stopping off-screen performance. Lily Cole looked like Botticelli’s Venus in a cream figure-hugging lace dress; actor Mike Edmonds – who played Og in the movie – paired an interesting navy shirt covered in flowers with a beige jacket; GQ editor Dylan Jones opted for a sharp suit and Verne Troyer (aka Mini-Me from Austin Powers) wore a pinstripe waistcoat with a white shirt, hoop earring and diamond Rolex watch. Thankfully, I managed to escape unscathed from Absolute Evil’s lair, but I’m not sure Monday nights will ever be the same again!

Fabulous party @ Club Baoli

Where: Club Baoli
Pic: The high life at Baoli Beach

Quentin Tarantino is famous the world over for his superb writing and directing skills – backed up by the private screening I attended earlier that evening. Having seen him on the dance floor, however, I think he may have missed his vocation. Wearing a sparkly short blue number I’d picked up from local designer Peps (great for sexy dresses), with Lanvin sandals and my reliable Sergio Rossi clutch, I did my best to keep up with him. It wasn’t long though before I decided my best move would involve sipping my favourite festival drink – Champagne with ice in a white wine glass (called Piscine).

I certainly learned a lot that night between drinks. My friend Logan Maggio is a wonderful host; Angelina Jolie looks great in nude (Versace Atelier that is), Christopher Waltz (Col Hans Landa) is an incredible actor, and I really need to start a list of ‘stars in need of styling’ (one I can’t divulge obviously). I also picked up a useful fashionista top tip – if you’re going to get air-lifted under the best sign in town, make sure you’re not wearing Lanvins (and you like heights)!

Joanne Black @ Charles Finch Quarterly Review Party

Where: Hotel Du Cap
Pic: Shop talk with the Finch team
Pic credit:Stéphane Feugere

What Charles Finch doesn’t know about fabulous parties and dressing to impress, just isn’t worth knowing. Described as the ‘Cannes-do guy’ by the New York Times, Charles is a great host with a great guestlist – including Mick Jagger, Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz – not to mention an intimate understanding of the good life.

Bellini cocktails and beautiful scenery aside, the Finch Quarterly Review party became, for me, an evening dedicated to fashion. Dressed in Bottega Veneta, with a YSL clutch, mix of necklaces from Bottega Veneta, Yara and Portobello Market, and Links’ NSPCC bracelets, I admired both the looks and the good-looking. Sidney Finch wore a fantastic white L’Wren Scott dress and L’Wren Scott herself donned one of her own white figure-hugging designs – with Mick Jagger sporting a rather striking striper blazer.

When I wasn’t spotting fashion, I was talking about it. First it was men’s styling with GQ Magazine’s Bill Prince. And I even ended up sharing my love of YSL clothes with French-speaking designer Michael Barnes. Thankfully, Michael’s friend and interpreter Pascale was on hand to keep the conversation flowing – otherwise I’m not sure we would have got much further than a ‘bonsoir’ and ‘bon nuit’.