Britain's bright young things take to the Dolce and Gabbana catwalk for Harrods' first ever fashion show

Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce never do anything by halves. The Italian designers embraced their roles as ringmasters of the retail circus that is Christmastime at Harrods with an extravagant, all-Italian fashion show on Thursday night.

They called the show 'The Sun in a London Night', and it represented the climax of a full day of activity surrounding their Harrods takeover. The partnership also includes Sicilian puppetry-themed window displays, an Italian market (filled with key rings, t-shirts, iPhone covers and other branded stocking stuffers), a fine jewellery pop-up, light installations and plenty of exclusive menswear and womenswear. Oh, and the illuminated Christmas tree outside, of course.

Back in the food hall, young aristocrats, rock progeny and a galaxy of Instagram stars took to the ad-hoc catwalk. It was the first time Harrods had ever hosted a fashion show, but many of the cast members already seemed at home strutting between the fruit display (grapes: ￡16/kilo) and rotisserie counter. They included a Mountbatten (Lady Tatiana), a Spencer (Lady Amelia), a Le Bon (Amber) and even a Team GB hero (Tom Daley).

Some of the non-models looked petrified. Most, though, seemed to be having a lot more fun than their professional counterparts, with one woman even encouraging applause from her friends in the front row.

What’s that? The clothes? These slalomed through Dolce fashion history, alighting on early Madonna (black lace skirts, bra tops, logo belts), swooping back in time to My Fair Lady (rustling ballgowns with overblown floral prints), and zooming to decadence, 2017 style (metallic brocade trouser suits).

Every look came with a vivid floral headdress, tiara, “QUEEN” logo belt or novelty sunglasses. Some boasted all four.

Lady Kitty Spencer wore a black chiffon ball gown with a furry bolero and floral headpiece, while Lady Alice Manners walked in a body-con black dress with sparkly polka dots and a copper-paillette-covered jacket shrugged down onto her elbows.

Looks for men included leopard on leopard on leopard (slippers, pyjamas, dressing gown) and a silken bomber jacket printed with puppies.

Near the end of the show, one model appeared in a sweatshirt bearing the designers’ cartoon likenesses and the words, “D&G Loves London”. After tonight, for Harrods and the scores of potential shoppers taking selfies in front of the window displays outside, clearly the feeling is mutual.