 |
| Jenny Kee and pals |
 |
| inspiration? |
If one didn't know the London publicist
Lyn Franks, one could be forgiven for thinking that perhaps Australian/Chinese/Italian designer
Jenny Kee was an inspiration for
Edina Monsoon of
Ab Fab fame. Perhaps Kee was also a fashion influence for
Dame Edna Everage.
In between reminding us in the pages of
Woman's Day every five years or so that she once had an affair with
John Lennon (
"I turned him on to Asian girls") Kee has revived her original fashion label
Flamingo Park which she started many moons ago in the Strand Arcade after returning from a few years in London. The high point at Flamingo Park was presenting a riot coloured jumper bearing an embroidered Koala Bear to
Princess Diana which Diana wore to the Windsor Polo when she was pregnant with
Prince William.
 |
| watch out for spiders |
The last time we encountered Jenny was at the launch of her book
Jenny Kee-A Big Life at the Powerhouse Museum some years ago. The guests had to '
ommmm' for 2 minutes before speeches to raise the vibrations in the room.
The book is a pretty good read detailing Jenny's adventures over the years from an extremely beautiful teenage Kee hitching a ride with an amphetamine crazed trucker from Alice Springs to Darwin, her
Oz Magazine days in London with
Richard Neville and
Martin Sharp, a snub from Lennon and
Yoko Ono when they once came across Kee at her stall in the Chelsea Antique Market on Kings Road and an adventure involving the game-keeper's son at the grand Beaulieu estate in Hampshire where she glowered at her host
Lord Montague who perceived Jenny had designs on the young chap.
This many colours combined gives the
Shuttle a migraine-literally so are best viewed through sunnies but ordinary folk should be safe gazing on these kaleidoscope designs. Our favourite is the kaftan draped in gum leaves (above). The only thing missing from the outfit is one of those large Hunstman spiders that inhabit eucalyptus trees en masse. Dame Edna would have included one!.
If one didn't know the London publicist Lyn Franks, one could be forgiven for thinking that perhaps Australian/Chinese/Italian designer Jenny Kee was an inspiration for Edina Monsoon of Ab Fab fame. Perhaps Kee was also a fashion influence for Dame Edna Everage.
The last time we encountered Jenny was at the launch of her book Jenny Kee-A Big Life at the Powerhouse Museum some years ago. The guests had to 'ommmm' for 2 minutes before speeches to raise the vibrations in the room. 
