It was the fashion show to beat all fashion shows. Models with attitude strutted their stuff, dressed in Cyane Kingston creations.
Artist Patrick Scott and Dorothy Walker had ringside seats at "The Mouse Ran up her Trouser Leg" show in The Front Lounge on Parliament Street, Dublin. This was the first time Kingston had held a solo show to launch her designs. There was clapping, stomping and cheering. Maria Doyle sang Stars Above. Dara Kilkenny, daughter of Ossie Kilkenny, was the model with panache, and Teresa Carr was the funkiest. Corban Walker made a video of the show and Shirley Temple Bar kept the tempo going between clothes changes.
A number of the male models, who aren't models usually, were discovered in groovy city-centre places such as tattoo salons by guest designer Graham Cruz. They moved down the catwalk in cut jeans and chains, menacing and threatening, too thrilling to contemplate.
"My, my my," said Bar. "I saw more things there than I saw all week." We all did.
Also designer Pauric Sweeney, a native of Falcarragh, Co Donegal, flew in from London,where he's based, to show his spring/summer 2002 collection, which is "Estonian/Orthodox/Gypsy meets Flamenco" inspired, of course.
Kingston's parents, Richard Kingston RHA and Jennifer Kingston, both artists, and her brothers, actor Steven Kingston and Richard Kingston,were there. Her partner, architect Simon Walker, was one of the organisers, along with his sister, Ciannait Walker. For those who are members of Kingston's fiercely loyal clientele, a salon at her atelier at 68 Dame Street opens today and tomorrow. You'll know it by the funky beat.