‘I’m terribly worried about Catherine [Middleton], is she alright? It’s a bit scary. The whole royal thing could rock. You don’t realise how important it all is until you live in America,’ says 87-year-old Barbara Hulanicki, who wants updates on all things UK before leaving her Miami home to return to London this weekend. ‘I always loved the Evening Standard. It was so fabulous. So quick, in and out,’ she says, coming up for air between deliciously wicked chortles.
The fashion empress began her illustrious career with the Evening Standard in 1955, winning the swimwear design competition aged 19. ‘I got a phone call and they said, we want to let you know you’ve won the competition. I nearly died. If you’ve ever won anything, you’re in such shock. You go and eat a big cake.’ Almost 70 years later and her career has once again led her to us here at ES Magazine, this time on the eve of a major retrospective exhibition celebrating Hulanicki’s greatest achievement: Biba.
