Fashion at the Olympics Closing Ceremony

The Olympics Closing Ceremony last night was one of the best spectacles I have ever seen with an all star cast of singers, athletes, incredible lighting, a fabulously designed union jack stage and of course, supermodels and fashion.

Nine of Britain's most famous models arrived inside of moving billboards shot by Nick Knight that were torn down to reveal the models themselves. They then walked the Union Jack designed catwalk and met in the middle. They were followed by foot soldiers dressed in black who formed the symbolic skull that the brand Alexander McQueen is best known for.

Photograph by Alastair Grant/AP at www.gardian.co.uk

I won't pretend to understand why there were supermodels who embody everything the Olympics is against (anorexia, drugs, smoking, unhealthy lifestyles, and in one particular model's case a history of aggression) at the Closing Ceremony but I assume they were there to represent the best of everything British. Of course, one of the most important things the British do well is Fashion! According to Alexandra Shulman's editors letter in the September issue of British Vogue, the fashion segment of the Closing Ceremony was "intended to demonstrate Britain's cultural versatility and excellence."

Each Supermodel was wearing a dress custom tailored for her by a headline-making British designer in gold, probably to symbolize gold medals.  British Vogue was in charge of choosing the models and commissioning the outfits to be worn. Here is a closer look of the chosen outfits which are interestingly very different but quite similar at the same time (all pictures are taken from www.vogue.co.uk):

Kate Moss wore dress and shoes by Alexander McQueen

Naomi Campbell wore dress and shoes by Alexander McQueen

Jourdan Dunn wore a dress by Jonathan Sanders, a headpiece by milliner Stephen Jones and shoes by Christian Louboutin
David Gandy wore a suit by Paul Smith 

Lily Donaldson wore a dress by Vivienne Westwood and shoes by Sergio Rossi

Stella Tenant wore a trouser suit by Christopher Kane and boots by Christian Louboutin

Lily Cole wore a dress by Erdem and shoes by Charlotte Olympia

Karen Elson wore a dress by Burberry and shoes by Jimmy Choo

Gerogia May Jagger wore a dress by Victoria Beckham and shoes by Giuseppe Zanotti Design

Besides the supermodels, I especially loved the outfits of the four female musicians who played while Russell Brand performed. They were wearing Pucci body suits, white sheer capes and played really cool looking red instruments

Jessie J also looked fabulous first in a sheer bodysuit with silver sequins that showed off her perfect figure and later in a gold sequined jumpsuit with only one arm and one leg

Finally, a post about British Fashion could not be complete without a nod to Kate Middleton's choice of always-safe, usually inexpensive and re-worn flawless fashion choice. This time it was a £150 Whistles dress that she wore at at the Diamond Jubilee Concert:

Photograph by Getty Images at www.elleuk.com