From the moment in 1997 when Kate Moss, Helena Christensen and Jade Jagger floated down a catwalk in the butterfly-print silks of his London fashion week debut Matthew Williamson's position as the designer of choice for young fashionistas was assured.
This week a new generation of boho princesses, led by Sienna Miller, were eager to get an exclusive glimpse of the talented Mancunian's collaboration with high street chain H&M. Checking out the new designs while sipping bubbly, celebrity browsers such as Mischa Barton, Jaime Winston and Pixie Geldof seemed in seventh heaven.
Matthew's empire includes a London flagship store and a 4,000-square-foot boutique recently opened in New York's Meat Packing District next to Alexander McQueen. There are also two more stores in the pipeline for Dubai and Kuwait.
Making his style available to ordinary shoppers appealed to the down-to-earth designer, though. "The idea this time is that every girl who walks into an H&M, whether she's in Kuala Lumpur or Croydon, can go 'I can buy this'."
Included in the capsule collection, which goes on sale across the country at 9am on Thursday, are a feather-motif, fuchsia cardigan based on the one Kate wore in that first catwalk show, and a royal-blue, peacock-feather shift, both of which come in at under £50.
Photo: Rex
Photo: Rex
