Kate Moss flies out for Topshop NY

More details have come in of the plans for today's grand opening of Topshop USA in New York which, as The First Post reported on Monday, has Manhattan's fashionistas salivating and retail analysts crossing their fingers for the feisty rag-trade king, Sir Philip Green.

The action began last night with a pre-launch party attended by Green, his wife Tina, and his supermodel/designer/ambassadress Kate Moss (pictured together with the singer Marc Anthony). Others attending included Anthony's wife J-Lo, American Vogue editor Anna Wintour, New York designer Marc Jacobs and Blondie's Debbie Harry. Celebrations will continue today with the "opening moment" - at 478 Broadway - at 11am local time.

Central to the unveiling of the 30,000sq ft store will be the launch of Kate Moss's ninth collection for Topshop, which will happen simultaneously in Manhattan and the Oxford Street headquarters. The Moss collection includes lingerie for the first time, as well as a "capsule range" in revamped Art Nouveau Liberty prints.

The New York store will also feature specially commissioned ranges from ultra-cool British designers Preen, Jonathan Saunders and Richard Nicoll. New York PR consultant Kelly Cutrone told the Daily Telegraph: "All the girls in NYC will trample and grind to get into that store; they live for girls like Agyness Deyn and Kate Moss."

Even Anna Wintour - more Chanel than Topshop in her taste - has entered the spirit. "Young women all over New York are very excited for Topshop's opening," she said.

Our earlier report on Monday was right to pinpoint the bistro Balthazar in the meatpacking district as Green's restaurant of choice for a private party: now it transpires he's booked for two nights in succession. Does he know something about the retail crunch we don't? ·