Sheer daring and pure camp pageantry as British designer dazzles in NYC

BRITISH designer Christian Cowan offered pure camp pageantry as an antidote to Super Bowl fever which had taken over New York on Sunday night, the third evening of the city's fashion week.

- Joe Bromley

Some guests arrived at the Harmonie private members' club with NFL shirts under their suits, and the waft of chicken wings gave away the halftime party-goers celebrating one floor above. The 27-year-old is perhaps best known for dating singer Sam Smith, who made a spectacular entrance wearing a black taffeta full skirt and starprinted blouse from Cowan's new collection. "I feel like Calamity Jane," they said, before sitting front row.

Pre-show, the designer, who grew up on the sprawling Longstowe Hall estate (a humble 1,000 hectares) outside Cambridge, said he wanted to stripit all back for a collection "about the clothes". As you might imagine from someone raised eating their tea under 16th-century Flemish carved ceilings, this remained a far, far cry from sober viewing.