THE paying public and invited guests expect to be blown away in the event of an event.

And they were, quite literally, at the Private Lives show the night before the closing of Audi Fashion Festival Singapore.

Private Lives was a conceptual show featuring a single model on the runway, against a slide show of worldly statesmen and screen goddesses and Baker furniture.

The model was none other than local beauty icon Dr Georgia Lee. In four designs.

Georgia was born in stilettoes and can't wear flats.

'I would trip in flats.'

She is extraordinarily statuesque, with the porcelain skin of a Dresden china doll, and if you were to throw a ragged rug at her, she would still carry it off magnificently on the catwalk.

It was her first 'modelling job' but she was not nervous.

'She's had a personal trainer walk her through it,' said husband Dr Chris Ip.

Baker furniture began life as Cook & Baker more than 100 years ago in the USA, after the founder names.

You can see why one was dropped (one too many dropped by to ask for a doughnut).

You will find the old-world craftsmanship in the White House and many a star's home - Oprah Winfrey, Madonna and Meryl Streep, Tom Cruise and Naomi Campbell, well, if it can withstand her temper tantrums.....

In Singapore, Baker will appeal to new money desperate to be old money.

The night finished with an unexpected burst of a ton of white feathers in the marquee which took everyone by astonishment.

But all was combed out in time for the closure the next evening, Vivienne Westwood's Anglomania, which was a lot of fun.

The best bit was Brit fashion's doyenne's video-taped message to Singapore's young designers.

She urged our youth to immerse in culture and roots and history, only then can one design the present for the future.

Audi Fashion Festival 2009 was successfully well-attended despite the absence of Singapore Tourism Board, Tang's and Triumph, and Bollywood designers.

Amazing shows

Christian Lacroix opened and Vivienne Westwood closed and in between Britain's bad boy Gareth Pugh was amazing.

If a model had tripped she would have seriously injured herself with the pins and nails that are part of his sketchbook.

Heartland kid Ashley Isham, now a London favourite, created a capsule collection of bridal couture, and also designed for Coca-Cola light, did you take yours?

Raoul showed off a huge collection, how do the couple behind the label, Odile and Douglas Benjamin, find time for their three children?

Mango and Marc Jacobs embodied the spirit of urban youth, and regional designers from Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia did their stuff for charity.

Ten little red dresses by them were auctioned off by Dr Frank Cintamani, chairman of the AFF committee, and in 20 minutes he made 10 sales to benefit the Heart Foundation.

You have to know where your friends are sitting.

This article was first published in The New Paper