LONDON, England –The Supremes singer Mary Wilson opened her storage chest to unveil some dresses the group wore during their amazing career. Cute, you might think.

CNN correspondent Alphonso Van Marsh interviews Mary Wilson, member of girl group The Supremes, in London.

But as I learned – when we got an exclusive first peek at the exhibition at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum last weekend – there’s more to this story than meets the eye.

“The Supremes from the Mary Wilson Collection” exhibit is more than just dresses on display. What’s interesting about this museum exhibition is the context in which these performance costumes are placed.

The Supremes remain one of the most successful vocal groups in American history. And they were at their most popular at the height of the American civil rights period: a time when African Americans were struggling to be treated as equal in the country that enslaved their ancestors.

Between the dresses, there are equally visual stunning details about the crossover appeal of The Supremes. About the respect these young women commanded. About the aspirations they represented. About why these young women were a tremendous source of pride for many African Americans then, and today.

So it was with a bit of awe that I met and interviewed one of the original Supremes. I’ll even admit to taking a picture with Wilson — quite a tacky move for a journalist. But I didn’t care.

LONDON, England – It has been days since the last model worked the catwalk at London Fashion Week, but we’re still getting jitters over our extraordinary backstage access at the Julien Macdonald show - for many the culmination of this fashion season.

Alphonso Van Marsh, right, interviews
Julien Macdonald, center, and Egyptian jewelry designer Azza Fahmy.

I’m working a story about Azzy Fahmy, an Egyptian jewelry designer who very ingeniously teamed up with the famed fashion guru to get her work on London catwalks.

The collaboration, one part of Fahmy’s strategy to build her design brand internationally. His clothes. Her accessories. In a phrase: Designer Bling Bling.

We met Fahmy at her design center in Cairo as she meticulously watched over the construction of each curve and clasp of her necklaces, bracelets and rings.

I met up with her again at London Fashion Week as she and Macdonald put the finishing touches on their designs.

The energy backstage was insane: Almost like that TV show “Project Runway” brought to life. Models must be matched to Polaroid pictures displaying hair, make-up and clothes.

A statuesque human coat hanger in a gold dress who easily had three inches on me — and I’m six feet tall — strikes an almost pharaonic pose… turns out she’s just catching her balance on mammoth heels. Fahmy catches our eye as she gives a resounding “OK” sign after a scantily clad model slips into a beaded black outfit — and puts on a sparkling, hand-cut ring necklace Fahmy designed. Breathtaking.

In another room, across from the buffet table with nothing but diet cola, bottled water and vegetarian sandwiches, a hair stylist catches me looking aghast. He’s pressing a hot comb through a model’s hair - and the smoke is wafting upward.

“Its steam! Not smoke,” he says with a wink of the eye. The smell tells me otherwise.

And through all the madness, we had a chance for an interview with Fahmy and Macdonald together, reunited backstage. It was a fun moment. And the show — well, if you missed it, check out our profile on Azza Fahmy on CNN’s Marketplace Middle East, scheduled to air March 24.

LONDON, England – If the public following the inquest into the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and her lover expected a showdown in Court 73 from Mohamed Al Fayed , they certainly got one.

The billionaire father of Dodi Al Fayed, who died in a car crash with Diana, was testifying in the inquest into the couple’s death. And within minutes, the teary-eyed Egyptian called the August 1997 crash “hot murder.”

“I will not rest until I die. If I lose everything to find the truth,” Al Fayed told the court.

Al Fayed repeated his allegations that the royal ramily was responsible for the crash, that Diana was pregnant and that the couple was about to announced their engagement. Allegations a string of other witnesses have denied.

When an inquest lawyer challenged Al Fayed as to why he didn’t tell everybody as soon as he knew about Diana and Dodi”s alleged engagment, Al Fayed tersely replied, “it was one hour before they were murdered. Am I going to announce it after they were dead?”

He also added his allegation that Prince Philip — the husband of the Queen — couldn’t bear to have a Muslim be stepfather to the future king of England.

Al Fayed then let out a torrent of claims and exhortations: That members of the Royal family were racist and that he deserved a fair hearing in court because he had brought so much business into the UK.

Some of his curt answers actually drew laughter from members of the public watching the testimony via video in an adjourning room.

“Diana suffered for 20 years from this Dracula family,” Al Fayed said, to chuckles inside and outside the court.

Some of the exchanges would be funny, were it not so clear that Al Fayed is still grieving for his son — and is clearly disturbed by suggestions his version of events are “hallucinations.”

The inquest continues…