1.Yves Saint Laurent…

still a teenager – enters a ‘design a cocktail dress’ competition in Paris and wins one of the prizes. He is introduced to Christian Dior, who hires him on the spot. Three years later, he’s chief designer at Dior.

2.John Galliano…

brilliant but poor and struggling, makes a collection out of black silk – just 17 outfits, made in 15 days. He drives it to Paris in an old mini and shows it in an ancient mansion, with friends modelling as a favour. The collection is genius. Four years later, he’s chief designer at Dior …

3.Scarlett Johansson…

is visiting London and is caught in the rain while dodging paparazzi. She takes shelter in a little studio, which turns out to belong to a new designer called Roland Mouret. They make friends. She wears one of his beautiful, body-hugging dresses on the red carpet. He becomes a fashion sensation.

4.Matthew Williamson…

is trying to launch his first collection in London on a shoestring budget. He designs brightly coloured silk dresses with little cardigans and gets some of his mates (including Kate Moss and Jade Jagger) to model for him. He becomes a fashion sensation.

5.I don’t know if this is true, but it’s a popular fashion tale, and I like it! A New York socialite called Nan Kempner arrives at a posh restaurant wearing the latest thing, which is an Yves Saint Laurent trouser suit. She is told that unfortunately, ladies can’t wear trousers in the restaurant so … she removes them! She has a little silk slip on underneath and that will have to do. Soon afterwards, ladies are allowed to wear trousers in posh restaurants.