London Fashion Week: Lady Gaga at Philip Treacy, plus shows from Vivienne Westwood and Alice Temperley

Monday, September 17, 2012
9:24 AM

Dame Vivienne Westwood stole the show when she appeared on the catwalk at London Fashion Week (LFW) wrapped in a banner bearing the words “climate revolution”.

U.S singer Lady Gaga opens the Philip Treacy Spring/Summer 2013 collection during London Fashion Week. Picture: AP Photo/Jonathan Short

The British fashion designer showcased the spring/summer 2013 line for Red Label, while other much-anticipated shows on day three were that of Scottish designer Jonathan Saunders at the Tate Modern and milliner Philip Treacy, who made a return to showing at LFW after more than a decade away.

His catwalk show at the Royal Courts of Justice on The Strand boasted Lady Gaga among its guests.

The singer, who is famous for her flamboyant sense of fashion, is known to be a big fan of his hats, and was wearing an elaborate floral creation by the designer that circled her face.

The Red Label show saw models in straw boater hats and ladylike twinsets in pastel colours with a “royal gardens” theme.

A model wears a design from the Philip Treacy Spring/Summer 2013 collection during London Fashion Week. Picture:AP Photo/Jonathan Short

They contrasted with the edgier and elegant evening wear which came next, made up of monochrome cocktail dresses and jumpsuits.

Models had their entire faces painted in bright colours while many had grey hair styled like the wigs of Georgian gentlemen.

Speaking ahead of the show Westwood insisted showing her clothes simply provided her with a platform to talk about climate change.

She said: “It’s my job and it gives me an excuse. Before we’ve had class war, we’ve had rich against poor, do you know what the division is now? It’s idiots against eco-warriors. That’s it.”

A model on the catwalk during the Vivienne Westwood Red Label spring/summer 2013 London Fashion Week show. Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire

Dame Westwood, who wore a T-shirt and shorts with tights pulled up over them after unravelling herself from the banner at the end of her show, said the main thing she wanted to talk about was hot to save the planet. She said: “I want to use this to talk about climate change, which is an incredible danger because in one generation there could be mass extinction. It’s already started so I have started the climate revolution.”

The designer also offered her opinion on the topless photos of the Duchess of Cambridge. She said: “They have to protect their privacy somehow because if they don’t do it now, then it’s a total free-for-all.

“They probably don’t care at all really.

“Once I got an OBE and I didn’t have any knickers, and the Queen loved it.

Jo Wood attending the Vivienne Westwood Red Label spring/summer 2013 London Fashion Week show. Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire

“Somebody who worked with her said it was one of their best investitures for giving people medals. They loved it.”

Jo Wood, who was in the front row of the show, said afterwards: “I love all the looks - housewifey, ‘50s - great. There was a beautiful dress, there were lots of things I liked, and the scarves around their necks, and the pearl necklace.”

Meanwhile pop star Pixie Lott was a guest at the Temperley London show at a venue near Covent Garden. The label is a favourite of the Duchess of Cambridge, who wore a blue lace dress by the designer when she visited Kuala Lumpur just a few days ago.

Temperley’s spring/summer 2013 collection showcased the Somerset-bred designer’s typical understated elegance with feminine full dresses and 50s shapes.

The Temperley London Fashion Show. Picture: Lewis Whyld/PA

Lott said: “It was amazing, all of it.

“I loved the white lacy Marilyn Monroe gloves. I always come to the shows, I always wear the dresses and I was really impressed today. I love British fashion.”

Another highlight of the day was Topshop with its Unique label show, which amassed the largest ever online audience with a live streamed show, according to the company.

It said that by 4.45pm more than 2million people had tuned in from more than 100 countries.

A model on the catwalk during the Temperley London show, part of London Fashion Week. Picture: Lewis Whyld/PA

Among the famous guests was young Hollywood actress Elle Fanning who said she was a big fan of the brand.

She said: “I’ve been in London for a while now, I’m shooting a movie and my hotel is right next to the big Topshop so I’m there basically. All my free time is spent in Topshop, wandering around. I love it.”

Model Daisy Lowe was also in the audience along with Girls Aloud singer Nicola Roberts.

Lowe said: “What’s amazing is that it’s accessible to everyone, but it’s also really brilliantly made.

Pixie Geldof attending the Jonathan Saunders spring/summer 2013 London Fashion Week show. Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire

“The Unique collection’s just been getting more and more exciting, especially since Kate Phelan started so I can’t wait to see what’s in store today.”

Roberts added: “I’m a massive fan of Topshop, I think it’s really admirable for a high street brand to be so relevant at Fashion Week.”

The Topshow show was one of 40 that are being live streamed online during fashion week, with this season’s event being the first to stream outside the main catwalk venues.

Other shows included Jonathan Saunders, Acne and Mary Katrantzou.