Prue Leith, 85, Turns Royal Trash Into Runway Treasure at London Fashion Week
Dame Prue Leith flew straight from Western Australia to London for a birthday week to remember. The British-South African chef celebrated turning 85 on February 18 at the Royal Perth Yacht Club. She posted photos of crystal clear waters and sunny skies, then headed to chilly London for Fashion Week. Leith participated in a wild, wacky runway show rather than sitting in the front row. See The Great British Baking Show judge prove that age is just a number.
Prue Leith is a runway model at 85 years old
London Fashion Week Autumn/Winter runs from February 20-24, 2025. The showcase takes place at 180 The Strand in the heart of London’s creative community as well as various locations across the city. Prue Leith has been a significant figure in London’s culinary scene. In more recent years, however, she’s become much more involved in the fashion community. On February 20, Leith helped kick off London Fashion Week by walking in the VIN + OMI show.
Fans know VIN + OMI for its avant-garde, sustainable, and eco-conscious designs. Founded by designers Vin and Omi, the British fashion label pushes style boundaries by using innovative materials made from recycled plastic, repurposed waste, and organic plant-based textiles. VIN + OMI’s most famous collaboration involves Prince Charles’ estate, which allows the label to upcycle waste from Sandringham.
Leith, who was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2021, agreed to do the show on the condition that she wouldn’t have to walk up any stairs and get “left behind” the “long-legged models.”
Going for a decidedly ’80s punk look, the cookbook author donned a pink satin dress made from milk cartons, black walnut, oak, and beetroot madder. The recycled print looked like black brushstrokes all over the coat dress. Leith called it an “incredibly elegant, beautifully structured, amazingly well-made dress,” according to the Daily Mail.
Prue Leith added her own famous jewelry to her VIN + OMI look
The mother of two also told the publication that she “grinned like a Cheshire cat the whole time.” Leith continued, “I was just trying to keep up, not fall over.” As she beamed down the catwalk, the broadcaster also wore red lipstick, black statement sunglasses, and rubber flip-flops, styling her short gray hair into a spiked, voluminous ‘do. The jewelry enthusiast did wear her own earrings for the VIN + OMI show.
Leith’s ongoing jewelry collaboration, PRUE by ZSISKA, features vibrant hues and bold designs. She often showcases her pieces on The Great British Baking Show via her colorful outfits. Leith’s FLORA collection is an artful interpretation of flowers. The FLORA earrings, worn by the Dame during her VIN + OMI debut, come in several colors. The Cape Town native donned the bright red variation in a glass, paint-inspired design.
Leith explained her love of jewelry on her website, “Growing up in South Africa, I’ve always been used to strong, bold colours, and I’ve never been one to shy away from adornment. A bit of a show-off really.”
