How London Fashion Week paid tribute to the Queen

The spring/summer 2023 season saw a London Fashion Week like no other, as it fell during the official period of national mourning following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. While many of the designers were still able to go ahead, they did so without the fuss and fanfare typically associated with the event (all dinners and parties were cancelled, and street style photographers discouraged), and any shows scheduled on the day of the funeral (Monday 19 September) had to be hastily rearranged.

Some of the biggest names on the schedule – including Burberry and Raf Simons – announced the cancellations of their shows within 24 hours of the Queen's passing, out of respect for the Queen, while Roksanda was also unable to go ahead, due to her show location being in a royal park.

The British Fashion Council released a statement calling for fashion press and buyers to continue to support the London Fashion Week designers, many of whom had invested huge amounts of time and money into their shows, and those who did go ahead found unique ways to pay tribute to Britain's longest-serving monarch.

Here's how the designers, from Harris Reed to Erdem, honoured Her Majesty:

Richard Quinn dedicated his spring/summer 2023 collection to Her Majesty the Queen, saying that "she touched him among so many others with her grace and kindness". The show opened with an entirely black series of regal, heavily embellished gowns, paired with veils and crowns, as vintage footage of the Queen played on screens in the centre of the catwalk.

Erdem also dedicated his whole spring/summer 2023 show to Her Majesty the Queen, sharing one of her most famous quotes: "Grief is the price we pay for love". The show opened and closed with models wearing black veils.

The closing look at JW Anderson was a black satin T-shirt dress that read: "Her Majesty The Queen, 1926-2022, Thank you".

In the haunting opening to the Halpern show, a model did a lap of the catwalk in complete silence, wearing a regal cape and headscarf, in vivid block colours, in a nod to Her Majesty.

"This singular look is a way for me to show my gratitude to the Queen for encouraging designers like myself to express in the only way we know how: through the power of fashion and optimism," said Michael Halpern. "It has always been my ethos that, in times of darkness, I look to the fantasy of fashion for its optimism and strength. This particular instance is exactly that."

Harris Reed sent his finale bride (Lily McMenamy) down the runway holding a bouquet of Her Majesty's favourite flowers, Lily of the Valley, as Adam Lambert sang 'Who Wants To Live Forever?'

Nensi Dojaka also chose to pay tribute by using the Queen's favourite flower, sending each of the models down the catwalk during the finale (lead by Emily Ratajkowski) carrying Lily of the Valley.

As part of a multitude of influences for his spring/summer 2023 show, Christopher Kane took inspiration from a young Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret roaming the grounds of Balmoral. Look 40 (pictured) was a nod to the Queen's last official photograph taken in Scotland, in which Her Majesty was wearing a grey knit and skirt.

The S.S. Daley show opened with a sombre candlelight vigil, as models wearing black and white walked the runway to a soundtrack of ringing church bells.

Guests including Ramla Ali had black ribbon pins waiting for them on their designated seats at the Bora Aksu show, to wear in memory of the Queen.

Daniel W.Fletcher opened London Fashion Week by holding a minute's silence in honour of the Queen, before revealing his opening look: a model wearing a black morning suit with a singular armband in a solemn tribute.