For some reason, it was Eva Longoria who was invited this year to open Harrods for its big-deal winter sale. She was chauffeured to Mohamed al Fayed’s Knightsbridge department store this morning in a green horse-drawn carriage, and stepped out wearing a Dolce & Gabbana black minidress and a white coat. There was a collective gasp from the throngs who had lined up in front of the department store beginning at 5AM to catch a glimpse of the TV star and to get their hands on some of the marked-down merch. They thrilled to Longoria’s arrival. (In previous years, they thrilled to Victoria Beckham and Kelly Brook, so it doesn’t take much.) Greeting Longoria outside the store was Princess Diana’s would-have-been father-in-law al Fayed, who wore a checked suit and garish shirt and handed Longoria two Pomeranians to hold for a photo shoot. Another collective gasp, but much smaller and not pleasant, was heard. Possibly thinking the Pom pups were to be skinned and made into a sporty couture item for the visiting American, a clutch of rabblerousers in the crowd began to shout “Shame on Harrod’s” in protest of the store’s continuing retailing of fur. Inside, a Scottish marching band followed Longoria, al Fayed, press, and the first 50 customers allowed in as they traipsed through the store’s various departments. All in all, it was a splendid morning.
