Danny Boyle brought Britain's rock n' roll to the Olympics opening ceremonies. Last night however, creative director Kim Gavin and production designer Es Devlin will be famous for bringing British fashion to the Olympics closing ceremonies.
The industry most memorably showcased in the closing was fashion. Famed photographer Nick Knight had his photos of Britain's supermodels, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Stella Tennant, Lily Cole among others blown up and driven around the stadium. The photos lifted to reveal the actual models themselves who then strutted the spokes of the Union Jack on the world's biggest runway. The models wore British designers Alexander McQueen, Christopher Kane, Erdem, Vivienne Westwood, Victoria Beckham, Jonathan Saunders and Burberry.
The Pet Shop Boys made an avant-garde entrance in bright orange prism-shaped carts dressed in dramatic Gareth Pugh. Annie Lennox made a gorgeous Gothic style presentation in a corseted red gown. She descended into a chorus of Goth-clad dancers in romantic ballgowns and frock coats.
Style I didn't care for as much? Jessie J's barnacle-crusted nude bodysuit. I"m sorry, did I miss something? Was this an homage to oyster fishing in the British Isles?
I was excited to see the Spice Girls all looking so sexy and chic. Geri Halliwell (aka Ginger Spice) looked fantastic in a shapely red dress with a nod to her signature British flag mini with a bustle made with the Union Jack.
While I enjoy seeing fashion designers being honored at non-fashion events, I don't know if I really needed to see so much screen time devoted to models clomping down the stadium. With an arena full of the most extraordinary athletes around the world, I found it almost an insult to celebrate models who are much more famous and better paid for merely walking. I would have loved to see some of the Olympic athletes be the ones wearing British fashion designers. Showing the artistry in the fashion with all of their muscle and showing the clothes in motion would have been truly impressive. Imagine, a gymnast tumbling across the stadium in a flurry of satin, a runner racing through while sparking in a beaded body suit?
Is that too much to ask?
PHotos from Phil Noble, Just Jared, Getty, Reuters
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