It was a Thursday night and practically December. For me that was reason enough to drag Team Amelia out to the Carhartt V Illustrated Ape launch party (perhaps my logic is flawed, but with free drinks, a new line of t-shirts and the possibility of mince pies, who cares?) Anyway, the packed out Neal Street store was home to the launch of four new Illustrated Ape t-shirts designed by Bob London, Simon Peplow and Danny Sturgess. Not only did their illustrations adorn the limited edition t-shirts but the walls too. I mean they supplied artwork, not that they guerrilla graffittied the shop. Once we had checked out Carhartt’s winter stock featuring super-cool t-shirts and a huge range of men’s sweatshirts and jackets, we spent a good half hour trying on baseball caps. Jess rocked the camouflage Carhartt cap in a homage to GI Jane. While we were keeping ourselves amused, the kids at the Carhartt store had rustled up a celebratory whisky and ginger beer cocktail – a recipe I tried unsuccessfully to pickpocket. The night was a great start to the Christmas season, combining present ideas and alcohol, and we all ended up in Pizza Express. How festive.