FASHION

Every show by John Galliano feels like a celebration - and, on the tenth anniversary of his appointment as creative director at the house of Christian Dior, which also coincides with the 60th anniversary of the house itself, the bar was certainly high as A-list fans including Juliette Binoche, Monica Bellucci, Sophia Coppola, Marisa Berenson and Kate Hudson flocked to the Versailles Orangerie to see just how so many momentous moments would be translated onto the Couture catwalk. Galliano does not do disappointment. His collection was not, as expected, an homage to Dior's groundbreaking New Look of 1947, but rather referenced the legendary designer's art-world influences. Guests were treated to a visual onslaught of the most lavish creations, modelled by names only a designer of Galliano's stature can command - Helena Christensen, Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell, Gisele, Amber Valetta, Stella Tennant and Karen Mulder amongst them - as Caravaggio, El Greco, Monet, Renoir and Cocteau were reimagined in bustles, silks, embroidery, feathers and devastatingly elegant black velvet. The show, which was dedicated to Galliano's right-hand man, Steven Robinson, who died earlier this year, has certainly raised the stakes in Paris as Chanel, Christian Lacroix and Givenchy prepare to take to the runways today - the front row no doubt recuperating quietly after last night's blow-out black tie Dior party.

Clearly it's not just us Brits who like a bit of celebrity-as-fashion-designer action. Last week, Sarah Jessica Parker unveiled her hotly-anticipated clothing collaboration with US high-street brand Bitten. But then Sarah Jessica Parker isn't just any old celebrity. Like Kate Moss did for Topshop, SJP has used her fashion-icon status to foist her style know-how upon an eagerly fawning public. The recently launched, hilariously irreverent online fashion magazine Jezebel, wrote the following about the the launch in New York, at which SJP signed autographs. 'The woman is impossible to hate, and in turn, so is her clothing line. Also, $8 for a bathing suit?

GUCCI's cult Jackie bag - created by Jackie Kennedy in the Fifties and the Holy Grail for collectors of vintage - is just one of the pieces YOOX.COM is selling this month in an exclusive online tribute to the house. The incredible collection includes handbags, scarves and dresses from the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies - meaning cyber-savvy fashionistas can tap into this summer's retro trend in rare and original pieces. Among the treasures on sale is a pure silk "foulard" scarf in Gucci's famed Flora print, which was designed by Rodolpho Gucci and Italian artist Accornero especially for Grace Kelly, signed by Accornero himself. Yoox worked in collaboration with Cavalli and Nastri, two renowned Milanese vintage stores, as well as private collectors to collate the tribute.

Born in 1969, Bowie Wong was intrigued by fashion from a very young age. As the son of a Chinese Opera singer, his fascination developed from the elaborate costumes by which he was surrounded. The visual feast of the operatic world fed his hunger for fashion. Bowie still treasures two of his mother's costumes, within his personal collections from which he gathers inspiration. Ironically however, it was the intensity of opera that led Bowie to leave home at the tender age of 11-years-old. “I was a difficult child, perhaps because I was so curious. My parents were always busy with the opera, so they decided that it would be best for all if I lived with my cousin. It was then that I became exposed to popular music and western culture.” Having developed his creative mind and experienced modern culture, Bowie decided to pursue his passions further a field and fled to Japan to study a degree in ‘Pure Art and Design’, aged 17. By 1989 Bowie returned to his roots, studying degrees in ‘Theatre and Drama’ and then ‘Stage & Costume Design’ in Canada. Passionate and now educated, the next few years saw Bowie’s life become pure theatrics. Bowie worked on ‘Phantom of the Opera’ in Canada, for Paul McCartney on his world tour, and for Madonna on her European ‘Girlie show’. “Watching her work from such close proximity was intriguing. The relentless desire for perfection and the need to reinvent herself time and again was a great lesson for me.” The hype continued with Bowie returning to his native Hong Kong, in a multitude of creative roles that were increasingly fashion influenced. Bowie worked as a TV producer on HKTVB, image designer for Joyce boutique and creative enhancer for HKTDC fashion show, for the likes of Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, Trussardi and Calvin Klein. “At this point I felt destined to work in fashion. I was creating shows for these great designers and I was more and more drawn into the world of fashion.” The lure proved too much for the self-confessed fashion fiend. Keen to adapt his skills Bowie moved to Australia, where he enrolled to study fashion design at East Sydney TAFE. Whilst the project was intended to direct and broaden his talent, Bowie found the course stifling and restrictive. Bowie therefore immersed himself into the fashion industry, where his hands on experience combined with his extensive knowledge of design (gained whilst obtaining three degrees), proved to better training than any course or teaching could provide. The result is the increasingly innovative and original label of Bowie Wong. Bowie Wong the label, not the person was launched in 1999 and represented Australia in 2000 at Hong Kong Fashion Week. The Wong was dropped with Bowie Women and Bowie Men launched later on in 2004.