LONDON: London Fashion Week (LFW) opened Friday on a somber note, as Kanye West and Victoria Beckham joined some of the leading lights of the British industry at a memorial to inspirational tutor Louise Wilson.

In honor of Wilson’s passion for riding, a model wearing a black top hat, veil, jacket and trailing skirt by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen stood guard on a horse outside St. Paul’s Cathedral as 1,300 guests mourned inside.

The catwalk schedule was suspended for the morning to remember the straight-talking 52-year-old, who was director of the fashion course Central Saint Martins (CSM) college for 12 years until her death last May.

Wilson’s alumni read like a roll call of London’s most talented designers, from the late McQueen to Stella McCartney, and many joined the family and friends in paying tribute.

Former students Christopher Kane, Louise Goldin, Simone Rocha and Roksanda Illincic all spoke at the ceremony, which was also attended by designer Roland Mouret, milliner Stephen Jones and Net-a-Porter founder Natalie Massenet.

Beckham, the former Spice Girl turned fashion designer, was among the guests as was West, the US rapper and Wilson’s friend who wore a white jacket over black jeans.


As well as those who launched their own labels, countless other Wilson graduates went on to staff the studios of the world’s big fashion houses.

Alber Elbaz, the creative director of Lanvin who said the students Wilson sent him were “always the best,” gave an address at the service.

“The wonderful thing about Louise was her ability to pick people and to train them,” Suzy Menkes, international editor of Vogue, told AFP.

“She was tough, she wasn’t an easy person, but the designers now say they were so pleased that she brought them out and made them themselves.”

In the evening many of the guests will head to the graduate show by current Central Saint Martins students.

“These are the last we’ll ever see that have been picked by Louise Wilson herself so I think that will also be a very emotional moment,” Menkes said.