ELIZABETH EMMANUEL is relaunching her label, Art of Being, during London Fashion Week.
"Everyone knows me as the person who created Diana's dresses and while designing for the Princess was fantastic, there is so much more I can do," Emanuel tells us. "It's been my big dream for such a long time to get back onto the catwalk. I do feel nervous - I want to create something brilliant. I would be stressed if I wasn't so excited."
Only two weeks ago, Emanuel received investment funds and is now frantically putting together her first capsule ready-to-wear collection and a line called Special Pieces.
"The ready-to-wear line is based on the idea of iconic little black dresses but redesigned in an edgy, contemporary way," she says. "I'm using a lot of these Italian soft crepe fabrics and creating looks in beautiful shapes. The Special Pieces line will include a lot of boned bodices and embroidery - it'll have the same feeling as my ready-to-wear but there will just be a little more work involved. There will be lots of separates too - I like making things out of nothing."
Her career highlight so far?
"Dressing Princess Diana was incredible but doing this show is pretty exciting too," she says. "Diana was just how you would expect her to be. We knew her in the Eighties when she was really developing her sense of style. She used to drive us back and forwards in her car to the Palace. She had no airs and graces - I remember her making me coffee in her room - she could have been anyone."
Is there anyone she has her eye on dressing?
"I'd love to design for Angelina Jolie," she says, "or for Keira Knightley - I think she's beautiful."
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