George Lucas and the other unexpected fashion-show fans

New York Fashion Week comes to a close today and, as always, who sits front row at which show has been getting almost as much attention as the clothes themselves.

While the usual bevy of starlets, editors and socialites have been spotted, the biggest surprise show-goer must be George Lucas. The Star Wars director and his girlfriend, Mellody Hobson, joined actresses Dakota Fanning (pictured) and Natalie Portman to watch the Rodarte show.

While we can't really imagine that floor-scraping prairie coats and elegant evening gowns are his style, it's not the first time a somewhat unexpected personality has popped in to check out what's happening on the catwalk.

One fashion week saw tennis ace Roger Federer turn up at Jason Wu, Michelle Obama's favourite designer. Comedian Su Pollard has attended Giles Deacon's shows. Bob Geldof was once seen taking in Luella's feminine designs. Former James Bond, Roger Moore, has been spotted at couture shows. Even Shaun Williamson (that's Barry from EastEnders, obvs) was seen pondering Hussein Chalayan's collection one season.

There's usually a simple explanation for their appearance. Federer was accompanying his long-term admirer, Anna Wintour; Deacon is a big fan of Pollard; Geldof was watching his daughter, Pixie, model; Moore was accompanying his couture-mad wife; and Barry, sorry, Shaun, was researching a television show.

The unusual thing about Lucas's appearance is that he told the press that he came because he was a "big fan" of the label. As it designed all the outfits for ballet flick Black Swan, perhaps we'll see Rodarte designs in Lucas's next feature. I bet it does a lovely line in Jedi robes.