John Richmond

For lovers of Clara you can see her H E R E

The show is John Richmond Milan 2004 and Clara
appears at 1.39 - 5.55 - 10.24 and 14.08
Thanks to the Fashion Channel

My interest in fashion is engrained into my DNA. Had I not chosen to become an architect instead, I would certainly have become a fashion designer. I was given a place at St Martins only to turn it down in favour of building my own architectural practice. I had been invited to the fashion college following a recommendation from Helen Storey the London fashion designer. It was a very difficult decision and one I regretted. Although I spent every waking hour it seemed at the architectural practice, I did continue to follow fashion and for a good time was subscribed to Elle and Vogue and when Fashion TV came along I pretty much recorded each daily offerings. I have over 200 video tapes of none stop fashion shows. Although I did tinker with making my fashion designs, I eventually had to give in to the fact that I was never going to make a success of it. I continued to design and have a massive portfolio. At some point in 2003 I must have viewed the stunning Clara Veiga strutting her stuff. I certainly remember the scanty dress that she wore for the John Richmond show in Milan in 2004. However, I did not realise just how much of an impact Clara had on me until I started to write a book in 2011. I doubt I had ever given her any further thought in truth. So when I penned my first draft of my story about nothing, I was a little bewildered as to why her image popped into my head as I wrote those words. And yet she appeared to me as clear as day and soon she was the main character in the story, who I renamed as ClarVaga. In the story she dies in an arena in the first chapter having failed to kill the love of my life who had been taken prisoner. She was despatched by the villain of the tale and that should have been that. However she was reincarnate as the demon temptation that beguiles the main character and eventually becomes the most significant character in the books. And that is where she sits today. I cannot draft a story in the series of 'BOD' without her being present. And so when I scan my endless fashion videos as I eat breakfast or sit for a cuppa, if I come across a Clara catwalk I pop it onto DVD. The catalogue of Clara Veiga videos has grown quite large. Her time on the catwalks was relatively short lived. That is the way of most models. Why she became so important to me I know not. I have grown to know her character so well. I just wish I could have captured more of her talking and discussing her life. I believe that she set up business in Japan and got married and had children. I trust she is well and is enjoying her life. I like to think all folk have happy endings. Just that she features so many time in endings of stories I write that she is forever the supermodel from 2003 and never grows old. As for the Amiga, well I guess I always liked the idea of the computer as being a friend and a girl friend. So computers tend to get female names. So when I turn over a machine and read the label I am always pleasantly reminded of the faces of females that have drifted across my keyboard at some time. Clara has become the face of my retro interest. Be aware that whilst I love my computers it is not all that I focus my attentions on. I am a bit of a nutter and enjoy many many things. I also collect so much. And so my life for now is a joyous celebration of all those things that I have gathered over the years. I so wanted time to break from work before the nights got dark. I am not sure how many books featuring Clara I will write, but with such a wonderful subject to adventure with I feel there are still a number of volumes left. I do hope so. By the way I don't expect anyone to understand my world. I have been most fortunate to have enjoyed every second of my life. Always busy and always creating something from nothing. The joy of a powerful imagination. Happy days.