Dame Prue Leith has made a return to the London Fashion Week catwalk for design duo Vin + Omi, describing the experience as 'ludicrous' but enjoyable. The 86-year-old broadcaster and restaurateur modelled a pink ruffled shirt and orange suit made from holly clippings from the King's Sandringham Estate, part of the designers' ongoing collaboration with the monarch.
The show, titled JORD, also marked a new partnership between Vin + Omi and the British Heart Foundation (BHF), following designer Omi's recent heart attacks and heart disease diagnosis. For the first time in the brand's 24-year history, selected catwalk pieces will be sold to the public via the BHF's eBay store from 18 February, with all proceeds funding heart research.
Dame Prue admitted she did not know what she would wear until the show, having been told only that the fabric would be holly-based. 'I was surprised that you could turn willow bark into something like linen, and so I'm sure you could do the same with holly,' she said. Her trainers and floral headpiece added a theatrical touch as she walked alongside Evening Standard editor-in-chief Dylan Jones.
Reflecting on her age, Dame Prue said she feels 'much more cavalier' about public opinion than in her youth. Her decision to step away from The Great British Bake Off after nine years was influenced by this perspective. She added that she relies on her husband, a retired fashion designer, and Vin + Omi to choose her clothes, as she 'loathes shopping'.
