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<< London Fashion Week September 2008 Menu
Multiply an unseasonably warm September day by a factor of Jagger, divide by a member of The Charlatans whose party caused minor chaos at Vendome, and you’ll get the first day of London Fashion Week, plus or minus a Geldof. In your face, Leicester Square premiere of Righteous Kill. Who needs DeNiro and Pacino when there are Ossie Clark dresses to admire and glasses of Moet to be sipped?
The day started, as it has for a fashion eternity, with designer Paul Costelloe’s runway show. Ignoring the superstition that the first to go will be doomed, the silver-haired Irishman showed a collection of safari-meets-military, which also played to the feminine side with ruffles and pink lace print.
Moving on to Caroline Charles, who managed to transition from floor-length tropical maxi dresses to pinstriped, sleeveless pimp suits to sequined, cap-sleeved 1920s dresses all in 10 minutes. Her party/wedding/Ibiza theme could explain why her models sported hair that could best be described as Amy-Winehouse-hits-the-beach.
Speaking of celebrities known for their eyeliner, Alexa Chung was on hand for the Ossie Clark show and looked lovely in a floral-print hippie dress. She seemed the exact opposite of the Hebrides-inspired flowing white numbers at Graeme Black, shown earlier in the afternoon.
Jade Jagger also turned up for a crowd-pleasing Ossie Clark catwalk display – the second revival season for the iconic brand taken over by designer Avsh Alom Gur. There were more maxi dresses, loads of silk georgette, and sheer fabric panels galore. Some styles were reminiscent of Chloe from a few seasons back, when designer Phoebe Philo (now with the brand Celine) made the brand’s popularity explode.
Alexa stuck around for PPQ, which, besides featuring 36 ultra-gorgeous runway looks, was a paparazzi dream. PPQ collaborator Peaches Geldof showed up and wondered aloud, “Where’s Pixie?”, while partner-in-crime designer Henry Holland distributed kisses. Kimberly Stewart dropped in, sans an always-entertaining Rhys Ifans (scheduled to perform with his band The Peth at a party tonight). As for the runway, Peaches watched loads of peach- and sorbet-coloured, 50s-style goodies parade down the runway, along with ladylike hats and hatboxes.
With or without Sienna Miller’s ex, Sunday night had a packed party of its own. Check our London style blog to find out more.
– Jill Hilbrenner
