The grieving father of Amy Winehouse has accused a top fashion designer of cashing in on the late singer's death by using her as the inspiration for his latest catwalk show. Mitch Winehouse said the collection unveiled by Jean-Paul Gaultier at the Paris Fashion Week was "in bad taste" after models were dressed in the star's trademark style.The former taxi driver, 60, told The Sun: "The family were upset to see those pictures, they were a total shock.
"We're still grieving for her loss, and we've had a difficult week with the six month anniversary of Amy's death. To see her image lifted wholesale to sell clothes was a wrench we were not expecting or consulted on."During the presentation of the spring-summer collection models were given the Back to Black singer's trademark beehive hairstyle, daubed in heavy eyeliner and smoked cigarettes.They also took to the runway to a barbershop rendition of Amy's songs, with all models wearing black veils for the finale.The designer confessed although he had never met the star – who died at the age of 27 in her north London home last year – their "styles had always been similar".
Mr Winehouse said he was proud of his daughter's influence on fashion, but accused Gaultier of portraying a view of the singer when she was "not at her best"."We're proud of her influence on fashion but find black veils on models, smoking cigarettes with a barbershop quartet singing her music in bad taste," he added."It portrays a view of Amy when she was not at her best and glamorises some of the more upsetting times in her life. That's upsetting for her family."The British singer battled with a drink and drugs problem during her life prompting Mitch to set up the Amy Winehouse Foundation to help vulnerable youngsters in her memory. He added: "No one asked us for permission or offered to make a donation to the foundation."
