LONDON: Fashion celebrities wereenthralled with British designer Stella McCartney's mixture ofmagic and illusion, as she eschewed a formal catwalk show for aMatrix-style acrobatic display of models jumping from table totable and dancing on chairs.
Saturday marked McCartney's return to London Fashion Weekfor the Autumn-Winter 2012 season, and luminaries includingRihanna, Kate Moss, and American Vogue editor Anna Wintour wereon hand to offer their accolades.
"It was fab," Rihanna said, wearing a backless dark greendress and a golden necklace with her hair dyed blonde to match.
Stella McCartney's collection featured marbled patterns andbright peacock colours of deep blue, turquoise and orange, alongwith floral prints and gathered puffy skirts.
"It's London, it's Britain. It's celebrating everything thatis bold and irreverent about being a British brand," McCartneytold Reuters about her inspiration for the collection.
She said the collection was much funkier than what she haddone for the Olympics. "This is evening wear a lot differentfrom the Olympics," she said.
McCartney's night started seemingly traditional with a jazzband playing American standards in an elegant Mayfair halldecorated with globe lamps.
About 140 guests dined with McCartney on a vegetarian menuincluding farmhouse duck egg with Perigord black truffle,Saffron risotto, and Hyde Park sweet chestnut and Jerusalemartichoke veloute.
A packed house of journalists watched from a balconyoverlooking the main dining area until the plates were clearedaway for a quick magic show by Dutch illusionist Hans Klok.
Fashion editor Alexa Chung was drafted into the show, andlevitated on a series of swords which were peeled away one byone until only one remained.
After what seemed to be the evening's highlight, models whohad been seeded among guests leapt up and spontaneously dancedon tables and on the floor with ballet lifts and twirls.
Models continued to come out of the woodwork, tiptoeingacross the room over chairs as Rihanna clapped and swayed to themusic.
Later, the floor opened up to dancing as Chung, wearing ablack McCartney gown, and Descendants star Shailene Woodleystayed on with McCartney to dance the night away.
Despite austere times, McCartney's collection opted foropulence and excitement, pairing a British sense of humour witha "carry on" spirit.
Copyright Reuters, 2012
