Burberry noose scandal overshadows all the style from London Fashion Week 2019
London Fashion Week ended on a controversial note when high-end house Burberry – a favourite of the Duchess of Cambridge, Rihanna, Madonna and Barack Obama – was forced to apologise after parading a hoodie featuring a ‘noose’ draw string.
Model Liz Kennedy, who was walking in the exclusive show, condemned the British designer in a long social media post that sparked global backlash against Burberry.
“Suicide is not fashion. It is not glamorous nor edgy,” wrote Kennedy, calling out creative director Riccardo Tisci and “everyone” at Burberry.
“It is beyond me how you could let a look resembling a noose hanging from a neck out on the runway.
“How could anyone … think it would be okay to do this, especially in a line dedicated to young girls and youth?”
Backtracking immediately, the brand removed the noose from its autumn/winter 2019 collection after the outcry following Sunday’s show. It also removed all images featuring the look.
I am a big fan of Burberry, but this is unbelievable. How do people not THINK. Huge props to Liz Kennedy, a model in the same show (so an even braver decision) for calling this out. It is not ok. https://t.co/DuKTpKxSQU pic.twitter.com/u6GqjQXBct
— Hannah Jane Parkinson (@ladyhaja) February 19, 2019
Marco Gobbetti, the brand’s CEO, said Burberry is “deeply sorry for the distress” caused by the top. Tisci also apologised: “While the design was inspired by a nautical theme, I realise that it was insensitive.”
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Besides the noose controversy, the most notable things about London Fashion Week were the fabulous street looks, the Duchess of Cornwall as a front-row viewer and a seven-year-old style twinning with Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.
Perched on her father David’s knee at her mother Victoria Beckham’s eponymous show at the Tate on February 17, Harper Beckham’s new fringed bob was matchy match with her seat mate’s signature blowout.
Victoria followed her show with a star-studded party for the launch of her YouTube channel. Guests included Chris Rock, Luke Wilson and the designer’s son Brooklyn, with model girlfriend Hana Cross (who was a London Fashion Week breakout star – cool accessories.)
Victoria wore a severe pantsuit with print silk shirt to her bash at Mark’s Club. Her bloke: Trusty cap, camel overcoat, jazzy socks.
Leaving her hotel to walk in the headline-making Burberry show, model Gigi Hadid showcased her personal tastes in a pale double denim look with high animal-print boots and a brown poloneck.
Serial fashion week attendee Olivia Palermo proved she’s mastered layering, leaving the Victoria Beckham show in a masterful display of textures and autumn tones. Leather is very now, people.
On February 18, model and designer Alexa Chung changed clothes more often than Celine Dion at a Vegas show.
She wore an oversized beige suit with black knit and flat Chanel sandals to the Erdem show, and leather culottes with a statement belt and kitten-heel Mary Janes to Christopher Kane. At night, Chung went for a slimline denim boiler suit with heels for a Net-a-Porter dinner.
Actor Lizzy Caplan (Masters of Sex, Mean Girls) was front row at Christopher Kane in a print maxi, sequinned top and statement shoe.
Peaky Blinders’ Helen McCrory (in brocade skirt and embellished top) and Homeland star husband Damian Lewis (in a 2016 suit that now needs to be hung away for 10 years) hung out with Dame Anna (leather, florals) at Erdem.
Is the world starting to catch up with famous eclectic Helena Bonham Carter? Her tartan, costume jewellery and fake fur now look very now.
Pixie Geldof flew the flag for kooky at the Shrimp show on February 19, in creased satin and go-go boots.
Model Natalia Vodianova was at the opposite end of the spectrum at the Fabulous Fund Fair charity event: Texas pageant hair and a Grecian dress that looked like an Oscar crossed with a perfume bottle.
And then there’s model Jourdan Dunn. Heading into Christopher Kane, she was sleek perfection in a fringed mini and two-tone high mules.
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