Crossing the Chanel with Claudia Schiffer.

I hear a name. I write it down. Been doing it for years. Building a secret list. I move in different kinds of circles and if a name fits it makes the list. Specifically, I track those who were in care, fostered adopted or in children’s homes. They were indoctrinated to believe they were the only one.

**“Historic Photo” by Suki Dhanda: See the article to read who they are and what they do**

I called a national newspaper for a photo led story about my list. The reasons were two fold: To prove to the general public that we are many and to prove to the care experienced person that they are not the only one.

The Observer made it their cover story on 24th July 2022 and declare it an “historic portrait”. The photographer is Suki Dhanda and the venue is The Foundling Museum in Bloomsbury.

In the photo are pop stars, lawyers, writers, Bafta winning comedians, chefs, Olivier winning actors, TV presenters, puppeteers and fashionistas . They have one thing in common. They were all in care.

Group shots are difficult for photographers but precedence was set by A Great Day in Harlem in 1958.

There is a notable number of people in my photograph who work in fashion. Barrie Sharpe founder of fashion brand Duffer of St George, and Loo How, representative for photographer Misan Harriman, Philip Sinden, photographer for Vogue, Harpers Bazaar etc and Bruce Oldfield of Bruce Oldfield Couture . There are more who are not in the photo such as Olivier Rousteing and Baz Bamigboye.

Talking of “different circles” on Wednesday March 25 2026 on the 2nd floor of Chanel in Mayfair by invite of Leena Nair the charismatic CEO of Chanel I attended a Salon with a handful of others. I sat between Elif and Claudia Schiffer. I wore Wales Bonner as advised by my friend Liya Kebede a five times Vogue cover model and brilliant mind.

I also wore a hat. My sartorial mistake was that I didn’t take it off.

Ellen Von Unwerth — **Ellen von Unwerth fashion photographer**

It was a no cameras night. So there are no photos. At an earlier point in the memorable evening I shared my story with Claudia Schiffer. And Claudia recalled her friend, and early champion, the photographer Ellen Von Unwerth who spent her childhood in foster care. I took note. I came home after that beautiful evening and I searched for her at midnight.

**On my way home from Leo and Liesel’s I saw this leaflet on the pavement and took a shot.**

A few nights later on Sunday 29th March I had dinner at the home of Leo Burley and Liesel Evans by invitation of my friend and theirs, Angela Samata.

Liesel Evans is executive producer of ‘In Vogue’, an award winning series which features exclusive interviews with Anna Wintour, Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss and Claudia Schiffer.

I would call it a coincidence, as was seeing her photo on a flyer on the pavement on the rainy way home that night, but to the truly famous - which she is - ubiquity is normal and coincidence is rare and personal.

Leo Burley is a major force in documentary making. He’s also a wild swimmer. Who knows if it means one who swims in the wild or a wild one who swims? Maybe it’s both. He knew another wild swimmer: Philip Sinden: the photographer in the Observer photoshoot.

I assisted Philip to find his birth family about which he made a documentary called A Portrait of my Parents There are many more of us. The late Terry Jones of ID magazine sidled up to me once to introduce himself and to say that he was in care too.

Consider the fashion alumni and photographers who have been fostered adopted or in children’s homes. To name a few: Bruce Oldfield, Ellen Von Unwerth, Philip Sinden, Terry Jones, samantha morton, Barry Keogh, Olivier Rousteing, Lorraine Pascale, Marilyn Monroe, Loo How and Gabriel Bonheur Chanel herself. ‘ Coco Chanel’ was taken to an ‘orphanage’ at 12 and left at 18.

I also went into children’s homes at 12 and left at 18. One of the first chores Coco Chanel will have learned was one of the first I learned: How to make hospital corners. Those years will have stayed with her.

Claudia and I tried to swap numbers at the end of the evening because I wanted to know more and to even maybe contact Ellen, but our phones wouldn’t talk to each other. Never more have I wanted to revert to my iphone days. Ahhh well. Things happen as they should.

**In 2023 I visited Gabrielle Bonheur** "**Coco**" **Chanel’s home in Paris for a private tour - Nov 2023.**

Here is a photograph which I shot in November 2023 (with permission) on a private tour of Gabrielle Bonheur ‘Coco’ Chanel’s home in Paris. Can you see the Salvador Dali painting of a sheaf of wheat ear (1947). Look again, the room is filled with literature. Chapter after chapter after chapter of the written word. Definitely it would please Liya Kebede who has another life as a Liyabrarie.

**Uptown Yardie hat courtesy of Samson Soboye with my own Wales Bonner suite and shoes - Philip Sinden 2026**

The people who have a childhood in care, (fostered adopted or in childrens homes), face the same questions as everyone else: Who am I and where do I belong. But they face the questions earlier than most and whether they publicly announce it or not their childhoods are a defining experience throughout their adult lives, something they would only admit in their quietest moments.

Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel and Norma Jeane knew that fashion is a state of dramatic intimacy and intimate distance. If you see Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel and Norma Jeane from this perspective you may find a new and informative way to understand them.

I write my blog in lieu of family as a digital and familial bookmark for future reference. Most of my blogposts are not publicly visible. I have no editor so please forgive all grammatical terrors and spelling mistakes.