Barometer! Leigh Bowery is London's hot muse, why is everything AI named so bizarrely?

What’s hot... and what’s not — keep up with Joe Bromley’s weekly barometer
Evening Standard
Joe Bromley, Fashion Editor
26 February 2025

Going up!

Leigh Bowery

Dave Swindells, Daisy Chain at the Fridge, Leigh & Nicola 1998
Dave Swindells / Tate

“Dress as though your life depends on it, or don’t bother,” was the club kid’s motto. It’s in this spirit we launched into fashion week — and prepare for Bowery’s Tate retrospective.

The Room Where It Happens

The Room Where It Happens

Cotton Candy grapes

M&S

These are flying off the shelves at M&S and Waitrose after Joanna Lumley’s passionate endorsement. NB: they really do taste like sweets.

‘You smell of vanilla, darling’

Byredo

Well, of course! It’s all anyone wants to give a whiff of this season. Byredo, Margiela, Valentino or Gucci: they all offer a signature scent so specific you’ll want to get baking.

Going down…

Gravy cocktails

Bisto

Should you wish to avoid the style set, Bisto has helpfully opened a floating Wallace & Gromit-themed Gravy Boat restaurant, with gravy sour cocktails. You will have no bother there.

Ciggie fines

Kate Moss
Kate Moss
Getty Images

Careful — fines for dropping a cigarette are being ramped up again. You can still steal as many as you can hold and get away scot-free, though.

AI/robot names

X Æ A-Xii sits on the shoulders of his father, Elon Musk
Getty Images

OK nerds, we concede. AI wins. Now, can you let us help name these things? From the pothole detection machine Robotiz3d to Elon Musk’s son X Æ A-Xii, it’s like you fell asleep on the keyboard.