Richard Quinn Ends LFW On A Romantic Note With His First Bridal Collection

Leave it to Richard Quinn to conclude London Fashion Week with the biggest surprise of the month so far. Taking over Bethnal Green’s leisure centre, York Hall, for his spring/summer 2020 show, the designer presented the sort of sartorial fantasy the world has come to expect from the first-ever winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design – with one irresistible twist. After what appeared to be the finale, model Tang He reappeared on the catwalk, followed by eight schoolgirls in marabou-feathered headdresses; floral-print gowns; and delicate ballet slippers.

Cue a curtain dropping to reveal a scene reminiscent of Rococo paintings: a stage covered in vast, empty gilt frames; bowers of roses; and a host of models in bridalwear that paid homage to the most spectacular Parisian couture. While many of the dresses nodded to the creations of Christian Dior’s ateliers – his legendary petal gown, in particular – others took the form of lavishly beaded Gatsby-esque looks and crystal-studded two-piece suits. Traditional wedding veils, meanwhile, were juxtaposed with dramatic Swarovski-lined headpieces.

Notably, however, the sense of escapism was tempered with one of responsibility. The ethos, as his production notes said, was one of “maximal extravagance and minimised waste”. Even as his international reputation (and, of course, demand for his pieces) continues to grow, all of Quinn’s prints continue to be made in-house at his studio under a railway arch in Peckham – with sustainability a central tenet of his practice. It’s hard to imagine a more fitting – and spectacular – end to LFW.