Gucci showing in London is great — I wish top British fashion brands would too

Gucci showing here is all good and glossy PR for this city, but it does highlight something rather awkward for our homegrown style stars. Aside from Burberry, none of our other major British brands show in London any more. For its 40th anniversary London Fashion Week didn’t have Vivienne Westwood (now helmed by the late designer’s husband Andreas Kronthaler), Paul Smith, Alexander McQueen, Victoria Beckham or Stella McCartney, who have all decamped to Paris for its haute glitz and high-fashion positioning. Gucci has come here for cultural grit and cool; all our lot want is European polish (and customers).