Susanna Barron : London Fashion Week 1997
The fashion designer Lainey Keogh struck a blow for real women at London Fashion Week this week when she sent models of all shapes and ages down the runway at her Spring Summer 1998 show.
The 1960s singer Marianne Faithfull, the curvy Sophie Dahl and the teenage model Devon joined Kate Moss and Helena Christensen on the catwalk to show Keoghs sexy knitwear can suit all.
Faithfull opened the show swaying regally down the runway in a long delicately knitted gold jacket with metallic false eyelashes to match. Later she wore a long sea-blue figure-hugging dress, and acknowledged the audience with a megawatt smile.
Sophie Dahl was strutting generously on the catwalk for Keogh for the second time in her short career. It was Keogh who effectively launched the healthy Dahl last season when the voluptuous model made her debut at Keoghs Autumn Winter 1997 show.
Keoghs decision to include non- conventional models met with approval.