silk

It has become fashionable for young people to dress up in Qing dynasty costumes although their long silk robes often fail to hide the other big trend – chunky white trainers.

“This silk vest I have had for as long as I can remember in my adult life. It was given to me by my auntie,” says Snell.

The tradition has carried on ever since, though the silk has been consigned to history.

Bragging that she’d mingled with Il Duce’s fascist forces, she tells her rapt students that on the occasion, “I wore my silk dress with red poppies, which is right for my coloring.”

Fayed was next to her bed wearing just a silk dressing gown.