Show enjoys midas tough with golden knickers

Alistir Wood Tait Antique and Fine Jewellery Press releases

As many Fringe veterans will testify a Midas touch is extremely useful when putting on any sort of event in Edinburgh during the Festival.

So who better than renowned jeweller and Scottish gold expert Alistir Tait to ensure a bit of sparkle at showtime?

His shop, Alistir Wood Tait Antique and Fine Jewellery on Rose Street, played host to an August exhibition of work by six of Scotland’s hottest new jewellery design talents, all freshly graduated from Edinburgh College of Art.

Exhibits included several pairs of jewel-encrusted knickers by award-winner Breige Siegan-Smith, whose delicate handmade lingerie is adorned with gold-plated flowers.

The £600-a-time knickers were a particular hit with visitors intrigued by the concept of overpriced undergarments.

Alistir said: “One rather stout lady was particularly interested and I think she was considering having a pair commissioned. However, she realised the items on show were only a size 8 and said her husband’s budget probably wouldn’t stretch to the cost of producing the lingerie in size 16.

“I said she could ask the artist to label them as a size 12 and put any increased cost down to fluctuations on the gold market. I have to say she seemed rather pleased with that suggestion.”

With those kind of diplomacy skills Alistir’s success is, er, copper bottomed.

ENDS