Last week, I touched upon the importance of the Frow.
This week, London Fashion Week took place, and the Queen was right there in the FROW. No, not Vogue editor Anna Wintour – the ACTUAL Queen of England.
Anna adorned her shades as she sat next to Elizabeth II to watch the Richard Quinn runway show. QE2 looked genuinely delighted to be there.
Super loud punk music deafened the room, as Queen Elizabeth sat there probably trying to make sense of what the hell was going on, whilst crash helmet-adorned models strutted on by. No forced smiles and no yawns, I think QE2 was genuinely captivated. Random, I know.
Her Majesty was the surprise guest at the runway show, her first ever visit to London Fashion Week. It only took 65 years. It was a huge coup for designer Richard Quinn, and his LFW show.
Quinn showcased his colourful prints and headscarves – not a million miles away from the Queen’s own personal style. Anna Wintour failed to remove her trademark sunglasses, despite being seated next to the Queen. A bold statement of lack of deference.
Later in the fashion extravaganza, QE2 presented the Queen Elizabeth II Award from British Design to Quinn, cementing his place as one of the hottest new talents in the industry.
The award was created by the Queen’s personal designer, Angela Kelly, at the monarch’s request. It is awarded to designers who “show exceptional talent and originality, whilst demonstrating value to the community and/or strong sustainable policies.”
The Queen’s visit to London Fashion Week comes just a day after fashion designers and artists accepted an invitation to Buckingham Palace to celebrate the Commonwealth. Yet another acknowledgement by the establishment of the importance of the British fashion industry.
