London Fashion Week gets the Royal seal of approval as the Queen makes a surprise visit to Richard Quinn's front row on the 20th February.
The Queen made an astonishing surprise appearance at designer Richard Quinn’s show on the last day of London Fashion Week. It was Her Majesty’s first-ever fashion show, and - unlike most novices - she sat next to none other than Dame Anna Wintour, the American Vogue editor-in-chief often referred to as the queen of the fashion world - and the show she took in was an homage to herself.
Quinn paid tribute to the monarch with a collection full of swing coats, silk headscarves and vibrant floral prints that he called "a tongue in cheek take on Balmoral, but done my way."
Wearing a duck-egg-blue Angela Kelly suit with crystal embellishment, the Queen could be seen making conversation with Dame Anna and reacting to the vibrantly attired models as they paraded past her front-row seat.
The ensembles on show included billowing, floral-printed foil capes, bi-print babydoll dresses and motocross-inspired jackets. Many looks featured clashing head-to-toe floral prints - occasionally even covering the models' faces, as in the looks that included floral-print morphsuits.
After the show, the Queen said it had been a "great pleasure" to attend the show and presented Quinn with the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design, honouring the innovative designer as the UK's brightest new fashion talent.
Taking to the catwalk to address the audience of awed showgoers, many of whom curtseyed upon Her Majesty's entrance, the Queen said: "It is a great pleasure to be here at London Fashion Week today.
"From the tweed of the Hebrides to Nottingham lace, and of course Carnaby Street, our fashion industry has been renowned for outstanding craftsmanship for many years, and continues to produce world-class textiles and cutting-edge, practical designs.
"As a tribute to the industry, and as my legacy to all those who have contributed to British fashion, I would like to present this award for new, young talent.
"I would like to thank the British Fashion Council for selecting the first winner - Richard Quinn."
Quinn is a relative LFW newcomer who has drawn acclaim for his striking original prints. After graduating from Central Saint Martins' MA fashion programme in 2016, he took the unorthodox step of opening a print works in Peckham, near the headquarters of his father's scaffolding company. He is committed to making the print works accessible for students and fellow emerging designers to use for their own projects - a rarity in the high-rent London fashion world.
Along with his runway collections, Quinn has created costumes for Lady Gaga’s world tour, won an H&M design award and completed print collaborations with Liberty.
"It's a bit surreal,” a visibly shaken Quinn told the Telegraph after the show, only his second at LFW. “We only found out a few days ago, so we added in a few Queen touches with the headscarves and the scarf patterns. We were already planning a few scarves but we really hammed it up.”
"She said that she was pleased that the award would support young designers…. I think she's definitely a fashion icon.”
Sarah Mower MBE, the fashion critic and BFC Ambassador for Emerging Talent, called the honour of the Queen's attendance "undreamt of" within the fashion industry.
"The Queen wanted to honour somebody who was representative of British strengths, and I thought - not just because of him being a designer, but because of him being representative of the future of British manufacturing by being community-spirited and setting up his print works - there could be no more perfect person than Richard."
Caroline Rush, chief executive of the British Fashion Council (BFC), also addressed the audience from the runway, saying: "Your Majesty, it is a true honour to have you here and to have your support for British fashion.
"Throughout your reign you have embraced fashion, using its power of diplomacy to communicate understanding between cultures and nations.
"Having visited the exhibition of your wardrobe at Buckingham Palace, we learnt that you had to challenge some of the norms, some of the dress codes that had been designed for men, making us in awe of how you have reflected the changes in our society.
"As our monarch you have worked with incredible designers, highlighted great crafts associated with our industry such as millinery, textiles and embroidery.
"Your Majesty, I know that you do not wish to be known as a fashion icon, but for all of us in this room, who have the utmost respect for you, and also for the hard work, diligence, cultural impact of our industry, we know that you undoubtedly are."
Later, Rush credited Kelly with driving the project within the Palace. "We said how wonderful it would be to get the Queen at London Fashion Week," she told the Telegraph. "I think Angela may have been the one to say that first."
The Queen made her first visit to London Fashion Week just a day after she invited fashion designers and artisans to Buckingham Palace for an event celebrating the Commonwealth.
The event, co-hosted by the Duchess of Cambridge and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, highlighted the power of fashion to unite the Commonwealth in new ways.
Today, the Queen honoured the industry in person. As she arrived at London Fashion Week, the Queen was offered a tour of showrooms by BFC CEO Rush. She viewed displays and met designers, including the "New Gen" group of emerging talent picked by BFC, a display of hats from Harvy Santos, which included a red leather studded headpiece based on Queen Victoria's travelling crown.
The award will now be presented each year by a member of the Royal Family, to a designer selected by the BFC in collaboration with the Royal Household.
Source: USA Today
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