Twas Gay Pride 1997 in London & I was returning from the Parade  feeling displaced as the music policy left me wondering how the committee could have got it sooooo wrong???  I was walking back to my flat when who lit up HOXTON  street but my long lost adorable friend from NYC, Mr. Pearl…shim designed a spectacular butterfly costume for me a few years earlier. Twas a bronze, pink , and melon bejewelled & corseted work of queeenious. At the time I could not understand why a costume would take so long …and then I saw it. At that moment ,i understood the definition of Couture. The inside , where no one else would see , was lined with copper shiny leather & every bead & sequin was stitched in place as if mother nature herself had designed a new flower petal swirl design. I had known Mr. Pearl  had been responsible for stitching the creations of Leah Bowery, House of Mugler , and countless other legendary artistes but I was not prepared for my fog to be cleared by herm’s  bright rays of sunshine and master crafts.  Once reconnected , London suddenly breathed a new decadence & eccentricity . We went swimming,had tea, went to the theatre…and then as soon as he flew back into my life and landed on a petal, shim flew away & dissappeared again… this time to Paris…and London was a little more grey…a little more rainy…but just knowing Mr. Pearl walks the planet…I know there is glitter, sparkle, and shine….for he is a living diamond- Lady miss Kier