Out of fashion
Sir: As a fashion model I was forced to wear many hideous and badly made frocks, but I cannot agree with Paul Johnson (And another thing, 24 January) that the designs of Alexander McQueen and John Galliano fall into this category. Mr Johnson claims that no 'real women' want to wear their clothes. I beg to differ. If by real women he means ghastly old bats with more money than beauty, who no longer have any sensu- ality or femininity to flaunt, then he may be right. But I can assure him that I and my contemporaries would all kill to own just one garment by either of these men.
As to the charge that couture is no longer beautifully made, I think Mr John- son should inspect his seams before making wild and false claims. Both McQueen and Galliano are much respected for the impec- cable cut and craftsmanship of their wares. Galliano is particularly loved by us girls for his flattering dresses cut on the bias.
I can only conclude that Mr Johnson's opinions have been formed on the basis of the press photographs of McQueen's and Galliano's shows. What gets shown on the catwalk is an extreme and publicity- grabbing version of what's for sale in the shops. It's theatre, larger than life, to grab your attention and tempt you into the shop to take a proper look, something Mr John- son clearly has not done.
We have had enough veneration of the dinosaurs by dinosaurs. Hardy Amies in The Spectator (1 November 1997), Hubert de Givenchy in the Daily Telegraph and now Paul Johnson have all had their say. No one is denying the genius of Dior or Balenciaga, but I would expect Mr Johnson, as a histo- rian, to have a grasp of the importance of adapting to changing times, attitudes and ways of living. Allowing for the beauty of the present doesn't detract from the beauty of the past. Indeed you would be hard pushed to find any successful contemporary designer unwilling to acknowledge a huge debt to the past masters.
Go shopping with someone under 40 with a decent body and her face will light up when she dons a Galliano (as I suspect, Mr Johnson, will yours).
Kate Hatch
10 Kensington Place, London W8
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