Ghost of a flea: London Fashion Week

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February 15, 2006

London Fashion Week

When the Flea was registered as a foreign correspondent with the British Fashion Council in the mid-1990s, London Fashion Week was dominated by recent Central Saint Martins and Royal College of Art graduates with Lloyds Bank the most obvious corporate sponsor. Frankly, I enjoyed the cosiness of the event and the opportunity to bump into interesting people like Owen Gaster or Alex McQueen (Vivienne Westwood was showing in Paris at the time). Even so, it is good to learn the show is attracting more attention.

International buyers and fashion journalists used to largely ignore it, but this year they will be taking notice of what has become a sparkling, multinational event. This week�s multicultural mix of designers seeking fame and fortune includes Manish Arora from India, Roksanda Ilincic from Serbia and Aganovitch and Yung, the Danish-Yugoslavian-Chinese duo based in Hong Kong.

With London Fashion Week underway the Flea turns to designers, stylists and models for clues to their favourite shops, cafes and bars. The Telegraph also thoughtfully includes some tips for enjoying the event without the trouble of becoming a fashion editor. London Fashion Weekend sounds the best bet. I gather the stars are not out for the catwalk shows in any event; choosing to save their energy for parties instead. Unless, of course, you are Paris Hilton in which case, and provided you can locate London, you are on the catwalk for Julien MacDonald.

Small sidebar on that Vogue parties link: for reasons that are a bit convoluted to get into, Patrick Cox is an ongoing source of personal irritation to me. I take no small pleasure to learn Elizabeth Hurley is not only representing his shoes but the American Dairy Council. That right there is what we call brand stretching.

People for the ethical treatment of heiresses Update: PeTA pelt Paris re. pelts! Flea issues fatwa against PeTA! Dirka dirka dirka! Bill Ardolino torn between loathing of PeTA and loathing of Paris Hilton! American Diva SondraK sides with Paris!

Designer Julien Macdonald and heiress Paris Hilton were pelted with flour by anti-fur protesters after his show at London Fashion Week. They were attacked by campaigners from PETA -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals -- after a catwalk show which featured a series of models dressed in fur. Macdonald was covered from head to toe in flour as he posed for pictures with Hilton, who escaped with a sprinkling on her shoulder.

Posted by Ghost of a flea at February 15, 2006 09:53 AM

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Comments

Twenty years ago at this very moment in day and time I was in Paris and an unsober youth and saw fancy folks in fur getting floured and I was told it was some sort of cultural thing. Lying bastards. Little did I know that I was in the presence of stars and celebrities like the Flea might be able to identify. I curse my ignorance once again.

Posted by: Alan McLeod at February 15, 2006 04:32 PM