Behind the scenes: Bally AW’14 Lookbook shoot

The Sommet bag, where sides that open out like petals

Supple nappa leather plimsolls

Each boot is formed with single piece of leather with a single-seam up the back leg curve

The ‘Gentlewoman’ bag, with corner indent

Who do I want to be when I grow up? Bally AW14. A fire-fighter too, but I’m allergic to cats and they seem to get stuck on trees a lot so sadly I think I’ll need to give up on that dream. This season Bally is a sister from another mister that I’d secretly have a massive girl crush on – the one that throws a suede bomber jacket over dishevelled bed hair when picking up morning coffee, wears tailored trousers and maintains blade-sharp line down the legs all day, and her sweater – cashmere, and not a bobble in sight. She’s also quick to laugh and loves karaoke – but I may be reading in too much on this one. I had the privilege to be a fly on the wall at the AW14 lookbook photoshoot two Saturdays ago, where I spent three hours buzzing from one room to another fondling this and that from the new collection, sneaking a peek in the mirror with one or two when I thought no one was looking. Particularly loved the detail of the box-shaped bag levelled on one corner (inspired by the ‘gentleman’s corner’, a levelled corner in the heels of men’s brogues started by Bally) a design feature which I later spotted on many other pieces including belt buckles and labels. How neatly sneaky. Sneakily neat?

The crew – nimble-footed and efficient – composed each look, followed by the studio lighting up in bursts of flash, and not five minutes later the next look was called. In the meantime, Tao Okamoto snoozed in a large sofa, and in the big hall the sun sunk behind the table of shoes; I left with reluctance just as Look 13 was wrapping up.

A big thank you to Bally for the wonderful experience!  Discover more at Bally.com.

Special thanks to the Bally Design Director Pablo Coppola, and his team; photographer Paul Wetherell; models: Emma Balfour, Kirsten Owens, Langley Fox Hemingway, Tao Okamoto, Harmony Boucher, Natasa Vojnovic, Amber Anderson and Spring Studios, London.