I Walked The Runway At London Fashion Week Wearing A Piece Of Vogue History

Fast forward to 2024. After at least three years of hunting (I’m not kidding), I finally secured a banana-print jersey dress from Chloé’s spring/summer 2004 runway from eBay this summer. Ripe for a revival, its first outing was for a shoot in British Vogue’s September 2024 issue (which is on newsstands now), where it was photographed by Otto Masters outside a fruit and veg shop in Clapton, east London, a few days before I pulled it on for my birthday party (a karaoke van, thank you for asking).

Julia with Bay Garnett.

courtesy of Julia Hobbs

The casting for the show.

courtesy of Julia Hobbs

I interviewed Garnett for the accompanying written feature. “This is the definition of full-circle circularity, isn’t it?” she said via Zoom, holding up the original banana T-shirt that inspired it all. “Jewels, I’m organising a fashion show with Oxfam at London Fashion Week, will you walk in it?”

“Wearing it?” I said, pointing to the holy T-shirt.

“Yeah.”

That’s how I found myself in a backstage lineup sandwiched between Swinging Sixties icon Penelope Tree and political activist and fashion designer, Katharine Hamnett. Two of my personal heroes, both dressed in clothes that were sourced and styled by Garnett. “It feels like a challenge, but in a really good way,” the stylist said backstage. “When you’re working with second-hand clothes, you have all these ideas just popping out at you.”

The writer’s dress – from the collection inspired by that original thrifted tee – as seen in British Vogue.

Otto Masters

My look – we added a pair of faded, well-worn bell bottoms and my own stacked YSL tribute sandals – needed something… Garnett swiped a brown woven leather belt off model Jacquetta Wheeler as she exited the runway and wound it around my hips.

“There,” she said. “You’re good to go. I’m watching you though, Jewels… Don’t go anywhere with my banana top.”

All the items featured on Oxfam’s Style for Change runway (bar the banana top and my Tribute sandals) are available to purchase on Vinted now.