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Kylie's hotpants designer gets London Fashion Week show
Sri Carmichael, Consumer Affairs Reporter08.09.09
HIS most famous outfits have included tiny gold hotpants and a slinky white catsuit.
Now Kylie Minogue's creative director William Baker, who put the singer in such stunning creations, is to hold his first catwalk show for London Fashion Week.
Baker, who has also worked with Britney Spears on her recent comeback tour, Bjork and Jamiroquai, intends to show Londoners how to put together a stylish look using high street clothes.
And he said he has chosen the capital to host his first runway collection because Londoners are the “most exciting and bold” dressers in the world.
The show is taking place at the Westfield shopping centre in Sherperd Bush in the wake of London Fashion Week and Baker will pick all the clothes from stores in the centre.
Baker, 35 said: “Westfield London is a one-stop shop for stylists with a great mix of designers like Prada and Dior and cheaper chains such as Topshop and Zara.
“It's the modern way to bring fashion to people and I'll be trawling Westfield to create some key looks from their wide range of stores.
“I think fashion should be anti-elitist and I wanted to show that the high street is just as important as high-end designers nowadays in creating trends.
“Britain has the best high street fashion in the world and the high street doesn't follow designers anymore, it works side by side with them.
“They're merging into one, even more so during the recession when people want more affordable fashion. Places like Topshop are creating trends themselves.
“Very few people wear head to toe designer now, and everyone has their eye on a designer bag or pair of shoes.
“I love the way Londoners wear a mix things up with so much style and individuality.”
He said exciting young designers like Richard Nicoll, Gareth Pugh and Meadham Kirchhoff kept pulling the buyers back to London Fashion Week.
“London has always had a really vibrant youth fashion culture,” he added.
Baker will be blogging on Westfield London's website from the front row of London Fashion Week (18-23 September), giving shoppers his take on the next big trends.
His limited edition “look book” will be given out at the mall during his shows on 24 and 26 September and scouts will be searching for the best-dressed customer, who will win a photoshoot styled and shot by Baker.
Jill McCardle, head of marketing at Westfield, said: “London shoppers are savvy and they've long finessed the art of mixing designer brands with high street fashion.
“We're excited to be taking the fashion offering a step further, by showcasing William's hottest new looks, interpreting key trends for this season.”
The outfits Baker put together for Kylie during his 15 years as her right-hand man were showcased at an international exhibition which broke attendance records when it ran at the V&A in London.
In 2007, he made his duebut as a theatre director with a West End revival of Rent - Rent Remixed at the Duke of Yorks Theatre in London.
The year later he was awarded the Visionary' award at the Elle Style Awards.
Tickets for the shows can be booked from 15 September on www.westfield.com/london
