Talk ’90s to me Catwalk Britain, Absolutely Fabulous and shopping in the ’90s – with Mary Portas, darling!
Dec 1, 2025
Mary Portas, the 'Queen of Shops' and author, dives into the 90s retail revolution. She shares thrilling stories of transforming Harvey Nichols into a fashion hotspot, creating catwalks out of shop floors, and the wild antics behind iconic fashion shows. Mary discusses how celebrities like Naomi Campbell influenced trends and the role of Absolutely Fabulous in reshaping retail perceptions. Plus, she reflects on the nostalgia for tactile shopping experiences and the impact of digital retail on local communities.
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How The Book Began
- Mary Portas decided to write her Harvey Nichols years after walking through a Design Museum retrospective and reliving those launch moments.
- She rang her agent the next day and committed to writing the book and pitching it as a TV series.
The Ab Fab Send-Up Show
- Mary recounts staging a send-up fashion show with Jennifer Saunders and Naomi Campbell in a wedding dress, which made headlines.
- The stunt mixed comedy and couture to laugh at the industry while drawing massive attention to Harvey Nichols.
Topshop: Windows As Theatre
- Mary loved being Topshop's display manager because she was the customer and controlled music, mannequins and windows.
- She treated windows as multisensory theatre but still had to deliver sales or see big sale posters plastered over her work.
