By Hilary Alexander, Fashion Director Last Updated: 11:30AM GMT 27 Feb 2009  • Chris Eubank, resplendent in a long, black, tailored coat and trousers at the Jaeger show, was missing his favourite accessory – his silver-topped cane. “I didn’t want to take attention away from the clothes and the models”, he said modestly.  • Sir Bob Geldof, just back from Rome, where daughter Pixie was being feted for her Italian Vogue cover – “it’s all over town,” he said – was playing proud father again at the Luella show, with daughter Peaches sitting next to him and Pixie on the catwalk. As soon as the show was over he was whisking Pixie off to school.  • Francesca Versace, Donatella’s Central Saint Martins-graduate niece, has been doing the Topshop New Generation rounds at the underground catwalk at the University of Westminster in Marylebone. She is very excited about her new venture, to revamp and relaunch the traditional Italian menswear line, Verri Uomo. The launch is due for the next menswear season in Milan in June.  • Another front row regular has been hip-hop singer Kanye West and his new girlfriend, shaven-headed, Amber Rose. “I love seeing fashion on the runway, seeing what the most creative people can do. It’s not always just about the clothes; often it’s art. Like Giles Deacon, for instance. That’s my favourite so far.”  • Bumped into Vicky Beamon, owner and creative director of the fabulous jewellers, Erickson Beamon. She is very excited about a new project – to go to Afghanistan to work with local crafts people in Kabul and help kick-start a more contemporary approach to jewellery for European and American markets.  • Designer, Neil Barrett, a graduate of both Central Saint Martins and the Royal College of Art, in London, is now the proud part-owner of his very own factory in Tuscany. Barrett, originally from the Devon fishing village of Noss Mayo, has his own women’s and menswear labels based in Milan, and sells to Harrods and Matches in London, as well as an extensive list abroad.  “We did 57 million Euros at retail last year,” he told me proudly at the British Fashion Council party at The Collection, last night. ”And I’ve built the brand up entirely without any PR or advertising.” That’s all about to change, as Barrett has just signed with Karla Otto public relations.
Hilary Alexander brings us all the latest gossip from the front row at London    Fashion Week...