lifestyle TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014

Fashion

Cara Delevingne models The Collection created by Mulberry at London Fashion Week Autumn/ Winter 2014 on Sunday at Claridges in London. — AP/AFP photos London Fashion Week Day 3:

Cara, Kate lead pack

he rain and gale force winds have subsided, at least and her friends, but ignored journalists’ pleas for a quick for now, and that’s good for preening and people- word about the clothes, the weather, or anything at all. All Twatching at London Fashion Week, which hit Day 3 she would do is say - through a spokeswoman- that her Sunday. Models Cara Delevingne and Kate Moss, who khaki green boiler suit, worn with a vintage shaggy black showed up as a VIP, were the center of media attention at a jacket, came from . The was happy, flurry of shows, including Topshop Unique, Vivienne though, to pose for pictures with her half-sister, Lottie Westwood, Temperley and Preen. London was more glam- Moss. The 16-year-old, who is just starting out in - orous than usual, even by usual fashion week standards, as ling, sat with Kate, Green and American Vogue editor Anna the twice-yearly style event coincided with the award cere- Wintour, who has taken in several shows since fashion mony for BAFTA, or the British Academy for Film and week started Friday morning. Television Arts. Some of Sunday’s highlights and low moments follow: But Joely Richardson has plenty to say The movie and TV star, who is part of the Redgrave act- Cara Delevingne designs for Mulberry ing dynasty, has a message for designers: Be nice. She says Mulberry didn’t have a catwalk show this season, but she is drawn to Alice Temperley not only because of her that’s probably OK. They have model of the moment Cara designs - Richardson calls them “beautiful, romantic, ultra- Delevingne. The British luxury label enlisted Delevingne to feminine, sexy” - but because of the designer’s unusually design and model a range of handbags for them, and the kind personality. “The clothes are No. 1, but she’s very fami- mini collection, which can be worn as backpacks, on the ly oriented, very kind and very, very inspired,” Richardson shoulder air or handheld, was unveiled Sunday at London said moments before Temperley’s catwalk show started luxury hotel Claridge’s. Delevingne wore a simple white Sunday. “When you go into her shop, she has a few pieces and went barefoot to model the bags, appearing that are just there for inspiration. I love that mentality. I’m on a swing in a ballroom transformed into a misty forest just starting to wear some of her pieces, and when I work scene. She twirled and walked around for a bit, accompa- with someone, I really like it if they’re nice as well.” She was nied by two male models and a few dogs, and the whole wearing black toreador pants topped with a striking fuch- show was over in less than five minutes. It was a little sia jacket (by Temperley) and spent the minutes before the underwhelming even given Delevingne’s star power, but show chatting with model Yasmin Le Bon. The show was an Mulberry got the publicity it wanted. The brand needs all ambitious blend of monochromatic outfits, brightly-col- the help it can get, after the recent departure of creative ored ensembles, including many with semi-sheer tops and director Emma Hill and disappointing sales over Christmas. some with floral themes, and short dresses or tops set off with thigh-high leather boots. Every outfit had a finished, promotes anti-fracking well-executed feel. “I thought it was really beautiful,” said Never mind the fashion: Vivienne Westwood has it socialite Peaches Geldof, who was wearing an elegant full- down to a T. More importantly, the veteran designer wants length sleeveless dress that revealed her tattoos. “I love all to talk about fracking and the floods wreaking havoc in her stuff. It’s so recognizable, so ‘20s influenced, very Britain. The grand dame’s show notes urged guests to join romantic.” a rally against fracking, a technique the energy industry uses to extract oil and gas from rock by injecting high-pres- The force is strong at Preen sure mixtures of water, sand or gravel and chemicals. She The designers behind Preen have three words for their also told reporters backstage that climate change must be new collection: Hot sci-fi geek. Annie Hall met Darth Vader addressed to stop the damage caused by extreme weather on the label’s catwalk, a showcase inspired by 1970s fash- conditions. Environmental concerns aside, the designer ion and popular culture. There were Diane Keaton-inspired showcased a collection that was signature Westwood, with loose printed dresses and high-waisted, wide leg pants, tartan, expertly nipped in blazers, and perfectly draped but the designers took kooky cool to another level by tak- dresses. “I really wanted to emphasize, to epitomize, my ing inspiration from Star Wars fans and their parkas. “We English look,” she said. “This show was very easy. Even really wanted this geeky girl, a hot geek,” said co-designer before I did it, I knew it well myself.” Singer and songwriter Justin Thornton backstage, as two Storm Troopers goofed Jessie J, who wore an orange Westwood jumpsuit paired around nearby. The extreme winter climates this year with a turban made from a Burberry scarf, was a fan. “She helped inspire the many warm coats, furry hooded jackets pushes me as an artist,” she said, adding: “I could wear this and fluffy fur stoles, though Thornton said they have a 10 years on, and it’d still be fashionable.” minor movie character to thank for the trapper hats the models wore. “That’s from Annie’s brother, the lunatic who Kate won’t talk drives the car in the dark,” he said. — AP London Fashion Week wouldn’t be complete without an appearance by Britain’s most famous model. Just don’t expect Kate Moss to stop and shoot the breeze with reporters. Moss stirred a brief commotion as she arrived as a front row guest at Topshop’s runway show, causing every- one to put down their champagne and canapes and raise their smartphone cameras. But Moss, who has long sup- ported the brand, was as cool and unapproachable as ever. She chatted and laughed with Topshop boss Philip Green

British businessman Sir Philip Green and British model British businessman Sir Philip Green and British model Kate Moss attend the Topshop Unique collection dur- Kate Moss attend the Topshop Unique collection during ing London Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2014. London Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2014. Preen by Thornton Bregazzi