Designer Macdonald has the fur flying for fashion week

CONTROVERSIAL designer Julien Macdonald produced a festival of fur at the start of London Fashion Week, with mink, and chinchilla jackets and coats with wide waistbands of flashing sequins or crystal fringes.

Using star models including Naomi Campbell and Elizabeth Jagger, he revealed strict and sexy suits, with longer skirts cut to cling to the backside and then flip out in ruffles below the knee, worn over soft print chiffon blouses.

Macdonald usually chooses a far-flung venue and an evening slot for his shows, but this time chose the more clinical official marquee at lunchtime.

He said afterwards: "I really believe in London fashion, it’s my base and I want to show my support for it."

When London Fashion Week opened yesterday it found itself in unfamiliar territory - in a leafy, new location in Battersea Park, and has attracted around 800 foreign and British store buyers.

An upbeat first day, which attracted a number of celebrities, also included shows by Juliette Lewis and Tracey Emin.