THE fashion world welcomes fabulous eccentrics. Attention is vital for survival, so those who strike a dramatic, individual, colourful presence get media space and transform column inches into lucrative fashion roles.

It’s known as one of the most glamorous red carpets of the year, with movie stars, models, and even the occasional athlete putting on their most fashion-forward outfits for the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute gala.

Shock rocker Marilyn Manson will launch his own fragrance next year.