I fear I may have jinxed the launch of Kate Moss's much ballyhooed clothing
line in London. Moss, the supermodel turned fashion designer, agreed to pose
as a mannequin in the window of Topshop in Oxford Street.

The London-based retail chain that paid Moss millions of dollars to create outfits to her liking for the masses, was determined to have Moss appear in a full-length chiffon number from her clothing line in the store's marquee.

Only a pane of glass and a red velvet curtain separated the supermodel from the hundreds of fans who lined up outside the store see her.

"I hope you guys tested the curtain," I whispered to a Topshop maintenance
worker. We were out of earshot of the pack of journalists following Moss to
the backside of the marquee inside the store.

"Don't worry - it has been sorted," he assured, as I pointed out a white
rope seemingly misplaced and hanging from the curtain top.

So you know what happened next. Topshop boss Philip Green leads the New Year's Eve-style countdown to the curtain pull ... and for the big moment - the unveiling of Kate Moss with her collection - the curtain doesn't pull.

A very annoyed Green chomped his gum as various Topshop men and women jumped to the store window to tug at the red velvet curtain ropes. Cussing ensued. An initially frazzled Ms. Moss eventually laughed the gaffe off.

After what may have been the longest three minutes known to a Topshop storefront designer, the curtains were fixed. The red velvet was raised to reveal Ms. Moss to the masses. And then Kate Moss did what she does best ... she worked the cameras.

Albeit only for about 30 seconds before she scampered off the stage. For her cell-phone-totting fans who see the model as a fashion icon who can do no wrong, a half-a-minute was long enough.

From Alphonso Van Marsh, CNN International Correspondent