A model wears an anti-war T-shirt by British designer Katherine Hamnett during her autumn/winter 2003 show at London Fashion Week, February 18, 2003. One of Britain‘s best known, award winning designers, Hamnett has never stopped challenging the status quo and has a long standing, high profile track record of concern for environmental and other issues. PHOTO - REUTERS
LONDON – Flesh, fur and fantasy mixed in a sex-fuelled collection from Julien Macdonald late on Wednesday in a show where even anti-fur protesters storming the stage were welcomed into the party. Macdonald‘s celebrity-packed show was the highlight of London Fashion Week with the diminutive Welsh designer turning out a raunchy Winter 2003/2004 collection that made heavy use of leather and fur with plenty of bare flesh. The show was fittingly called „Temptation“. Anti-fur protesters stormed the catwalk during the show, earning the cheers and applause of the audience that included U.S singing stars Christina Aguilera and Pink. But Macdonald laughed off the interruption, saying his fur jackets and coats were all rabbit and by-products of the meat industry.
Macdonald sent his models striding down the catwalk in searingly sexy tight black or white leather pantsuits teamed with black, white or brown fur bombers and coats. „The palette is very plain in black and off-white, in a complete contrast to last season when I had a lot of neon brights,“ Macdonald said. Welsh singing stars Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey and Charlotte Church were also among the celebrities packing out Macdonald‘s front row. The show started almost two hours late — but in fashion land, that was practically early.
Macdonald‘s show, staged in a completely round theatre in north London, was among the last of 50 catwalk shows in London‘s twice-yearly fashion event, and was undoubtedly the social and fashion event of the week. His clothes are beloved by celebrities for their red-carpet allure.
Earlier in the day, British fashion veterans Paul Smith and Jasper Conran set out to prove that age is no barrier to beauty with sophisticated and stylish collections. Smith, the 55-year-old father of British fashion, drew on the diverse influences of modern art and the Russian revolution for an elegant collection that mixed muted palettes of grey and beige with flashes of orange and turquoise. Conran used beige, rose and cream teamed with black knee-length pencil skirts to flatter and accentuate the figure without revealing too much flesh.Macdonald, who also designs for French couture house Givenchy, said London‘s fashion industry was alive and well, despite those keen to write its obituary because of the exodus of big names like Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen. And for those looking for that must-have tip for next winter‘s fashions, Macdonald has only one answer. „Off-white is the new black,“ he concluded.
Reuters
