Publication: Vogue US May 2006
Title: No Rules Britannia
Models: Lily Donaldson, Lily Cole, Stella Tennant, Jacquetta Wheeler, Karen Elson
Photographer: Mario Testino
The juxtaposition of the cheap, wrinkled fabrics in the background against the couture handicrafts of Hussein Chalayan and Alexander McQueen in the foreground sets the tone for a Vogue US editorial. "No Rules Britannia" as the title reads, is as literal as it gets. The history of the English is captured through each image, from the Elizabethan era to the Vikings, to the modern monarchy to the British trench coat. And not surprisingly the designers featured are also from London: Vivienne Westwood, John Galliano, Hussein, McQueen, Burberry. Well, after all, this is the story told by Grace Coddington (who is English by the way), and not forgetting the other powerful English lady, Anna Wintour.
P.S. Strangely, I think that there's a Fred Perry logo on the dress to the right, worn by Lily Donaldson in the 4th photo. And I realised that even the models are English. Talk about fashion patriotism.