The line for the Pam Hogg show outside Freemasons' Hall is always a heady mix of suspense and excitement, heightening into a frenzy as her loyal fans of the glitterati arrive, each one looking more spectacular than the previous. It’s Friday night, the end of the first day of LFW, and we are ready to let our hair down.
You can’t help but feel that you’ve accidentally stumbled into the midst of a legendary party as you take your seat the ornate vestibule. Members of Duran Duran chat to All Saints while Pandemonia sits across from Jaime Winstone, and everyone seems to know each other. Finally the lights dim, but that doesn’t calm the crowd – as soon as the show starts, people are dancing, singing and whooping their appreciation for the clothes and the woman we are all here for.
What follows is a riot of seventies-inspired brilliance. Catsuits lead the way, skintight and covered in abstract coloured shapes that creep onto models’ faces, ranging in colour from head-to-toe silver to reveal-all nude.
Suddenly Anita Pallenberg, Italian pin-up and muse of the Rolling Stones, appears on the catwalk, brandishing a cane and sporting a draped gold lurex top and trouser combo that shines almost as brightly as she does, followed by sultry dresses that ooze over the models’ bodies.
Longtime Pam Hogg fave Alice Dellal brings up the rear, donning the first of a series of structured dresses in metallic shades with huge underskirts, covered in more of the motifs that run through the collection.
Boots are thigh-high beauties that even Kim K might be afraid of, hair is either big and in rollers or short and choppy in colour pop shades. Make-up, too, doesn’t shy away from the limelight – huge sweeps of bright colour, from pink to blue, cover eyes and well beyond.
As the final walk commences, there’s certainly no smattered applause here – for the first time in all my years at fashion week, I see people discarding their adored phones to stand up and welcome the legendary Pam Hogg onto the stage amidst her merry band of superstar models. Pam has once again managed to put the P into party with her loud and totally proud collection – the clothes and the models were just as rock and roll as the guests and everyone had a blast. We already can’t wait until next time.
Words: Katharine Bennett | Fashion Week Press | @misskatebennett
Images: Eloise Peachey | Fashion Week Press | @eloisepeachey
