Ep 7. Fashion

**Description:**

In the sixth series of QI, episode 7, titled “Fashion” takes a comedic delve into the world of fashion and its history. The episode is hosted by the hilarious and quick-witted Stephen Fry and features four celebrity guests who compete against each other, answering whimsical and obscure questions on the subject.

The show starts with the introduction of the guests. They include the famous British fashion designer, Dame Vivienne Westwood, the comedian and actor Ross Noble, the award-winning writer Sarah Millican, and Alan Davies, a regular cast member on the show.

At the beginning of the episode, Fry explains humorously that the "QI Elves" have been on the streets of London asking people which designer they would like to sit next to at a dinner party. The guests then have to guess which designer the majority of people chose. This is done in the first of many segments that poke fun at the pretentiousness of fashion.

Throughout the episode, the guests compete to answer a series of questions related to fashion, its history, and its influence. The questions are intentionally ambiguous and obscure, prompting the guests to give unusual answers and keeping the audience entertained.

One question prompts the guests to identify the incredible "scissors", which can cut through anything, that were invented in the 16th century. Another asks them to guess the price of a pair of socks made from the wool of the rare Golden Fleece. Fry’s delivery of the questions is a key part of what makes QI so entertaining and funny.

During the episode, the guests also try to identify fashion-related phrases that have fallen out of use. The guests must guess the meanings of these phrases, some of which are quite bizarre, such as "feather a dead bird," which refers to wearing a hat at an angle.

Another section of the episode explores the concept of fashion and its relationship to history and culture. The guests are asked to guess what a group of people from a particular culture or period in history might have worn, with hilarious results. For example, Fry shows them a picture of a group of ancient Romans, and the guests have to identify what kind of garments they wore.

The episode also touches upon the subject of fashion sustainability, and how the industry is addressing the issue of waste, a topical issue that resonates with many people. Fry and the guests talked about sustainable fashion and how it is perceived and practiced today.

As usual, throughout the episode the guests are awarded points for their answers, however, it often feels like an afterthought and is not the main focus of the show. The real fun, as with all QI episodes, is in the questions themselves and the hilarious anecdotes and banter between Fry and the guests.

Overall, season 6, episode 7 of QI titled “Fashion” is a delightful example of the show’s irreverent and funny approach to providing knowledge on seemingly mundane topics. The episode manages to inform and entertain at the same time, resulting in a delightful watch.