UK Fashion Icons

Sunday, February 19, 2012

SO continues our look at England's most influential fashion icons — those who directly impacted the world of fashion through their creations.

Mary Quant

This forward-thinking designer is hailed for pushing the fashion envelope of the heady '60s and influencing at the same time an entire generation. Quant is indeed hailed as the creator of the miniskirt and hot pants but her genius was in forcing established designers to rethink the youth demographic as both viable and lucrative. She would go on to create a self-named cosmetics empire, which today has over 200 shops in Japan.

Vivienne Westwood

The flame-haired Vivienne Westwood who operates five exclusively owned shops in London, Leeds and Milan as well as showrooms in Milan, Paris and Los Angeles is celebrated for her idiosyncratic punk and new wave designs. Fans of Westwood's fashion line include No Doubt's frontwoman Gwen Stefani.

Anna Wintour

There is perhaps no living female editor in the world more recognisable than American Vogue's Anna Wintour. Her fashion critiques make or break designers each fashion season, and Wintour's trademark style — oversized sunglasses and pageboy haircut — is its own fashion legend. While the United States is now home, Wintour is a British national whose father, Charles Wintour was once editor of the London Evening Standard.

Alexander McQueen

Famed fashion designer Alexander McQueen's rise to the top of the fashion echelon began when he replaced John Galliano as head of Givenchy haute couture in 1996 until 2001. He was named British designer of the Year in 1996 and would go on to win the award three more times. McQueen was also named International Designer of the Year in 2003. By the end of 2007, he had boutiques in London, New York, Los Angeles, Milan and Las Vegas. Celebrity patrons include the likes of Hollywood A-Listers Nicole Kidman, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sienna Miller, Cate Blanchett, Sandra Bullock, Ashley Olsen and Rihanna, as well as the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton. McQueen committed suicide in September last year, shortly after the passing of his mum whom he considered his best friend.

Sir Paul Smith

One of the most highly respected designers in the fashion industry, Paul Smith's reputation is founded upon his menswear. The designer has carved a unique look that unites the best of conventional English attire, often with unusual or witty prints. In the 1980s Smith put boxer shorts back on the fashion map and opened stores in New York and Paris. He boasts a staggering 300 shops in Japan, and also offers a range of womenswear, launched in 1994, as well as clothing for children. After three decades as a fashion icon Queen Elizabeth II knighted Smith in 2001.

John Galliano

Gibraltar-born designer John Galliano — who notwithstanding his recent conviction for racist and anti-Semitic remarks made in a French bar in 2011 — is among Britain's fashion heroes. Galliano's stylistic eclecticism and his love for dressing up became his signature. He succeeded Hubert de Givenchy as the head of Givenchy couture in 1995 and later Christian Dior in 1996. He has been named British Designer of the year four times: 1987, 1994, 1995 and shared it with Alexander McQueen in 1997. In 2001 Galliano was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his services to the Fashion Industry as a Fashion Designer.

Christopher Bailey

Christopher Bailey has become a household name and is credited with transforming the fortunes of Burberry. From 1994 to 1996 he was the womenswear Designer at Donna Karan and senior designer of womenswear at Gucci in Milan from 1996 to 2001. He was given the post of creative director at Burberry in 2001 and in 2009, appointed Chief Creative Director, responsible for the company's overall image including all advertising, corporate art direction, store design and visuals as well as the design of all Burberry collections and product lines. In 2009 he was awarded British Designer of the Year and was also appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire.

John Richmond

John Richmond designs are synonymous with rock music and the smell of leather. The music-loving designer worked as a freelance designer for Emporio Armani, Fiorucci and Joseph Tricot before forming his first label, Richmond-Cornejo. During his career Richmond has dressed pop icons such as Bryan Adams, David Bowie, Madonna, Mick Jagger and George Michael. Currently, his label comprises three clothing lines: John Richmond, Richmond X, and Richmond Denim, with eyewear and underwear collections also recently launched. Today, Richond has showrooms in Naples, Rome, Paris, Munich, Düsseldorf and New York.

Julien Macdonald

Known for his extensive use of fur, Welsh fashion designer Julien Macdonald — who now sits on the judge's panel of Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model — got his big break when he was recruited to work for Chanel as well as a freelance knitwear designer for Alexander McQueen. In 2000 he replaced Alexander McQueen as chief designer at Givenchy and was named British Fashion Designer of the year in 2001. Macdonald's designs have been worn by the likes of Joely Richardson, Dannii Minogue, Geri Halliwell, Dame Shirley Bassey, Carmen Electra, Naomi Campbell, Beyoncé Knowles, and Selena Gomez. In 2006 Macdonald was awarded an Order of the British Empire.

Philip Treacy

Irish Milliner Philip Treacy once said in an interview with UK newspaper The Guardian, "I like hats that make the heart beat faster". The man who claimed he hadn't slept for three days to create more than 30 hats for the Royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, had his career boost with the help of the late Isabella Blow, style editor of Tatler. Treacy has designed hats for Alexander McQueen's white Haute Couture collection at Givenchy in Paris, Chanel, Valentino, Ralph Lauren and Donna Karan. He was awarded the title of British Accessory Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards on five occasions during the early 1990s. In 2007 Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall awarded Treacy an Order of the British Empire for services to the British fashion industry.

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UK Fashion Icons