Nearly 1,000 A-list guests had packed the hall by 7.30, fully 35 minutes before the show commenced with an explosion of stunning style and innovation. The extravaganza featured supermodels clad in 48 different looks for women plus six more for men, parading along a dramatically designed catwalk.

Adding to the thrill of the setting was the music of the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra and an accompanying choir. They performed against a backdrop on which glorious imagery of the blue ocean beneath a full moon was projected. The soothing sound of waves could be heard throughout the hall.

The womenswear the Princess created for her Sirivannavari label evoked a goddess figure that she’s imagined in poetry and song, while her S’Homme men’s line was meant to bring to life the mortal male who becomes the goddess’ warm and sensitive lover.

The orchestra performed “Serenity”, a suite composed by the Princess in four parts – “Prelude”, “The Sound of His Voice”, “Her Desire” and “The End”. Its themes of attraction, romance, anticipation and the passage of time echoed those of collection, presented in segments during an engaging 90-minute-long aural and visual feast.

The tale concerns a memorable journey by sea and romance blossoming, only to end in tragedy beneath the shining moon and stars.

Princess Sirivannavari explained that last year she’d written the poem from which all this additional creativity “unexpectedly” stemmed.

“I found it quite astonishing to translate this poem into a fashion collection,” she said. “The details in the collection explain the whole story – the fluid and feminine silhouettes, the tailoring technique escalating the ultra-feminine touch, and the exquisite embroidery.

“My intent was to keep this collection simple, since simplicity is always tasteful and elegant. One can always find something interesting and sophisticated in simplicity, as can be seen from the asymmetrical draped Greek Goddess dress in silk jersey and the Japanese woodcut-printing technique I spent months creating.”

The all-white Greek Goddess halter dress was indeed the evening’s showstopper. Similar use of draping and impeccably embroidered on carefully chosen fabrics made other outfits stand out as well. Also amazing were a flared “flamingo” skirt and a biker jacket paired with a delicate tulle top and distressed biker jeans.

The magnificent embroidery work included crystal beads on a biker coat, a poem on a tulle top and the label’s embellished gold-thread peacock crest on another jacket.

Graphic prints enlivened other pieces, the patterns including waves, the moon and stars, marine life and the signs of the zodiac. The Princess spent months applying Japanese woodcut-style motifs, her favoured peacock among them.

For the men, the S’Homme line comprised luxe looks such as a three-piece mourning suit in wool with gold embroidery. This sat atop tapered trousers, while the embroidered peacock adorned slip-ons. Double-breasted jackets with zippers in the front panels were seen, along with a striped trench coat also in wool, nautical striped slip-ons and a clutch made of cotton canvas.

Both the men’s and women’s lines extend to the beachwear accessories including leather goods.

Of her inspiring poem and the song “Serenity” that derived from it, the Princess explained that the romance she imagined between a mortal and a goddess was natural enough in its origins, but at the same time “went against nature”.

“That’s why the poem has a tragic ending,” she said. “The gentleman dies of old age, whereas the goddess is immortal – and yet she is devastated by the loss and will suffer a broken heart eternally.”