Campbell's catwalk show raises thousands

Pop stars, film stars, royalty and supermodels strutted down the catwalk to raise money for the victims of the UK floods – while supermodel Kate Moss donated £25,000 (€35,844) to the cause.

Naomi Campbell’s Fashion For Relief show attracted names ranging from Princess Beatrice and her mother Sarah Ferguson to footballer Rio Ferdinand.

Seven dresses sold after the event – the finale to London Fashion Week – raised a total of £176,000 (€252,345) following frenzied bidding from the audience.

Many of the supermodels who became world-famous at around the same time as Campbell – such as Moss, Claudia Schiffer and Elle Macpherson – refrained from walking down the runway themselves and instead watched the show from the front row along with names likes Jemima Goldsmith, Sting and his wife Trudie Styler.

Top Shop boss Philip Green said at the beginning of the evening that the flagship store had donated £50,000 (€71,693) while the billionaire and his wife were donating the same again from their personal wealth.

He then said of the supermodel sitting next to him: “My friend and new designer, who is one of the inspirations for this business, Kate Moss, is going to add another £25,000 (€35,841).”

The names who modelled for last night’s show at the Natural History Museum included Erin O’Connor, pop star Jamelia, X Factor winner Shayne Ward, opera singer Katherine Jenkins, socialite Tamara Beckwith, models and Rolling Stones’ daughters Lizzie Jagger and Liah Wood, Big Brother twins Sam and Amanda, actor Christian Slater, film producer David Furnish, former Blue star Simon Webbe, Boy George and Melanie Blatt.

The Duchess of York’s daughter grasped her mother’s hand as they sashayed down the catwalk in black.

Afterwards, Philip paid £10,000 (€14,336) for a Julien Macdonald dress worn by Jenkins after the Welsh opera star sang on the catwalk.

He also paid £35,000 for another frock in the auction, while two went for £5,000 (€7,167).

Philip joked beforehand: “When Naomi originally called me and told she was proposing to put together this evening, I asked her what it was about. She told me it was about the flood victims.

“As she’s used to being in deep water, I thought it was very appropriate.”

Styler, introducing the event, said of the victims of the summer flooding: “Their lives have been turned upside down and many are still struggling to get back to some semblance of normal life.

“We’re here to give those families a helping hand.”

Many of the celebrity onlookers, such as Moss and Goldsmith, disappeared from their front row seats before the auction began.

Despite the fact her daughter organised the show, Campbell’s own mother had to wait outside the gates of the Natural History Museum with the crowds attempting to get in before anyone let her through.

She said afterwards: “I didn’t mind. I was very proud of my daughter but it was a team that put this together.”

Front row tickets for the event, organised in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Great Britain, cost £750 (€1,074).

The Duchess of York ended the show by thanking Campbell, who she called a friend and said: “You stood your ground first and foremost.”

Campbell spent five days mopping floors in the New York sanitation department earlier this year after admitting assaulting her maid and has since been attempting to cultivate a new image.

Campbell’s voice cracked with emotion when she came on to the catwalk near the show’s finale, saying: “It’s been a great week. I can’t really speak. I’m a bit nervous.”