Dazed Digital | Alias Open Road

Alias on the Road

@Port Eliot

The annual celebration of all things word-related, Port Eliot Festival in St Germans, Cornwall, has the balls-to-the-wall aesthetic of a hardcore music festival and the sophistication of a (slightly unorthodox) literary club! Revellers can spend three days congregating with writers, journalists and poets from around the world doing “something different with words” and witness wordsmiths Philip Marsden, Hanif Kureishi and Lauren Child work their literary magic. With music, fashion and its very own flower show in the grounds of one of the most stunning stately homes in England, Port Eliot draws a great crowd by maintaining a laidback approach, colourful atmosphere and friendly vibes.

Port Eliot attracted an older crowd than the previous festivals on the Alias Open Road Tour (created by jeweller Theo Fennell to find the new faces for the next Alias campaign), but the eccentric outfits and festival looks were equally as striking and eclectic.

With Hermes, Louise Gray, Anna Sui, Sarah Mower and Louise Wilson all having some part to play in this year's schedule of talks and workshops, the demographic was, as expected, pretty style conscious. From the collapsable yurts to the impeccably shiny wellies, the Port Eliot punters were a well turned-out bunch. We scouted for the most unusual looks at the festival, and among the celine cowboy boots and the rag and bone outfits, we captured some self-styled pirates and even a Russian train conductor... Move over Beyonce!

Text by Johanna Lacey
Photography by Retts Wood

Issue 209 | Is East London Dead?

Alias on the Road