It may have been a ceremony to turn on the Christmas lights at her exclusive London store, but Stella McCartney was firmly overshadowed.
It was the new Lady McCartney's first appearance since her wedding to the designer's father Sir Paul. Two months after tying the knot, Nancy Shevell was still glowing with happiness.
Meanwhile, Edina Monsoon, aka comedienne Jennifer Saunders, kept the celebrity audience - including Kate Moss and Emma Bunton - in stitches with a monologue inspired by her Absolutely Fabulous character. In her skit, Edina, the neurotic Ab Fab PR, turned her ire on the festive season. She asked: "What is Christmas? I don't understand Christmas. Oh, where are we going to eat? You've got to make it yourself. "Oh, who's going to get me a present? No! You’ve got to give presents! I don't like it," she said. Then, Jennifer turned to cover girl Kate and said: "Darling, you can't compete with the fetuses they are throwing down the runway anymore. "You can't cope with the prepubescents they are putting in Prada. You're going to need some PR."
Jokes aside, there was also a more professional agenda on the night. Three new episodes of Absolutely Fabulous will be back on our screens in December and – and the Beatle’s daughter has agreed to do a star turn alongside top names such as Emma Bunton. Speaking to the Telegraph, Stella revealed her jitters about the project: "It's not exactly my idea of fun, but it's Ab Fab, and how can you say no to Ab Fab ?" she said. "I'm sure it'll be terrifying." No doubt the designer will have plenty of friends to turn to for advice on her comedy turn. Every year she invites her favourite comedians to perform at her Christmas lights ceremony. Past guests include Catherine Tate, Peter Kay and comedy collective, The Mighty Boosh.
