HARPER SEVEN SITTING ON FATHER DAVID BECKHAM’S LAP WHILE ANNA WINTOUR LOOKS ON.
Front row and center at her Mommy’s show, bouncing on daddy David’s lap, Harper Seven Beckham made almost as many headlines as her mother, Victoria, as she smiled playfully at American Vogue Editor in Chief, Anna Wintour. Backstage at Reem Acra, the Lebanese designer’s young niece smiled shyly at the camera while her mother lay a protective arm around her shoulders. The day prior, Alexander Wang’s niece made the front page of Style.com as she walked to her uncle’s show in a made-to-measure shirt from the yet-to-be unveiled collection.
“Kids are perhaps the greatest ‘accessory’ in fashion. They are so cute and offer so many adorable styling occasions…” mused Style.com/Arabia’s Senior Editor, Sofia Guellaty, while contemplating the increasing number of children present during fashion weeks. Come to think of it, stylist, Rachel Zoe, is so frequently pictured with her son, Skyler, that when she recently became pregnant with her second child, she issued an open letter akin to an official release.
But within the fashion industry, “taking the kids to work” signifies a little more than simply showing off one’s offspring. We are one big family, after all. Fashion is a twenty-four hour business, especially during fashion weeks, and if anything, a designer who invites his or her younger family members to a show presents an opportunity to set an example of accomplishment after months of laboring late nights.
But if we’re to take the educational route, with fashion now being a global affair and editors and buyers obliged to hit the full four-stop circuit, it must be stated what a pity it is that fashion students, who used to enjoy attendance based on invites granted via their schools, are increasingly being pushed out from the shows. Meanwhile, editors and buyers are showered with invitations and become increasingly strained and, dare we say, almost blasé from attending dozens of shows per city. Ours is an industry that thrives on youthful energy, creativity, and innovation—and is also one of the few industries that can offer equal grades of respect to young designers as to older ones.
But while audience demographics at fashion shows relates to a larger logistical conundrum, we can still contend with taking a few seconds to coo at the sight of a mini, wide-eyed fashion baby which offers a moment of respite from an otherwise seemingly endless schedule of must-see events.
Although, personally speaking, I’m happy to see those adorable little tots squirming on someone else’s lap—and preferably David’s.
