At 8.45 this morning, shoppers were out in force for the Harrods sale. However bargains weren't the only things getting the crowd excited - the atmosphere was feverish with anticipation for today's very special guest.

Words: Georgina Langford

The first musician to ever perform at the Harrods Sale, Florence Welch arrived via a vintage Harrods Routemaster bus wearing head-to-toe Chanel, including a ruffled grey cape, sheer black gown with lace sleeves and pin-thin black stiletto courts. Her nails were long and pointed, immaculately painted with Chanel Rouge Noir.

She stepped up to the pagoda stage to sing and declared the sale open to an explosion of ticker tape. After performing What the Water Gave Me and Shake it Out with just an acoustic guitar accompaniment, Florence was swept to the Harrods penthouse where Stylist managed to grab her for a post-Christmas catch up.

Looking delicate but bright-eyed, Florence said she had spent Christmas "in a semi-coma. I've decided that as long as I'm wearing lots of costume jewellery, then I'm dressed, so I spent the whole time in lavish, brightly patterned pyjamas, masses of costume jewels and my paper crown." It was a relaxing one for the pop superstar, at home with her family, including her stepbrother's new puppy (who she may or may not be allergic to). It's good to know she is human: Florence "cried over the emotional bit at the end of Doctor Who", just like the rest of us!

Stylist talks to Florence Welch