Burberry ditches Gen Z models for veteran actors at London Fashion Week

Everyone's seen Gen Z storming the runways of London Fashion Week, but Burberry yesterday put a different kind of model on the catwalk. It was UK film veterans who received the opportunity to exhibit the British heritage brand's latest designs to a full house of A-listers packed inside prestigious art gallery, Tate Britain.

The average age group of actors turned models appears to mark a 180-degree change in the brand's objectives compared to last year's London Fashion Week show in September, which aimed to appeal to a Gen Z audience. Last year, the focus was no longer on traditional knitwear and floor-length coats, and in their place was crop tops, cargo trousers, and going-out tops that one might expect to buy in a Gen Z-orientated high street shop.

It was a sign that the 168-year-old brand was attempting to catch up with the times after it dropped out of the FTSE 100 that same month, with a valuation of £2.23 billion, a 56 per cent decrease on what it was a year prior, according to the Guardian.

However, yesterday marked a shift from Burberry back to its roots, as creative director Daniel Lee geared his outputs towards a different age group, inviting prominent members of the film world in their sixties to debut timeless classic pieces. The Crown's Lesley Manville, 68, looked like royalty once again as she walked in head to toe Burberry.

Meanwhile, Richard E. Grant, 67, of Hudson Hawk, looked more model than an actor as he effortlessly marketed the label's mocha ensemble on the runway. Burberry reverted attention away from Gen Z models by inviting several famous actors, including Richard E. Grant (pictured), to walk its London Fashion Week Show yesterday.

The White Lotus star Jason Isaacs, 61, who is playing Timothy Ratliff in the current season, also stormed the runway draped in a oak coloured trademark Burberry trench coat. Downton Abbey's Elizabeth McGovern, 63, who hails from the US but has since relocated to London's leafy Chiswick, also featured, and took to the runway dressed in a statement leather trench.

The show did save a spot for one Gen Z model, however, Kate Moss's daughter Lila. While she flew the flag for the TikTok generation on the runway, the audience was filled with fellow nepo- baby peers of the same age. The offspring of celebrities from around the world sat front and centre, which brought a star-studded close to the end of London Fashion Week.

Selah Marley, the daughter of Lauryn Hill and the granddaughter of Bob Marley, made an appearance, as did Missy Albarn, daughter of Gorillaz and Blur frontman Damon Albarn and his ex-girlfriend Suzi Winstanle. Elsewhere, Burberry turned to the film industry's biggest names once again for its Summer 2025 campaign, It's Always Burberry Weather: London in Love.

Lesley Manville, who's known for her role in The Crown as Princess Margaret, was among the actors taking to the Burberry catwalk yesterday. White Lotus and Harry Potter star Jason Isaacs looked suave on the Burberry runway yesterday. Pictured: Elizabeth McGovern walking at the Burberry Autumn Winter show at Tate Britain, London.

Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet, 49, lent her star power to the British heritage brand's new advert, which was inspired by late Nineties and early Noughties rom-coms. Across a series of seven short films, actors Aimee Lou Wood, Chen Kun, Jodie Turner-Smith, Micheal Ward, Nicholas Hoult, Richard E. Grant, Son Sukku and models David Gandy and Liu Wen star in urban fairytales of love, life and the rain.

In one video, Kate donned Burberry's trademark trench coat as she walked down a street lined with pastel town houses, similar to the ones in Notting Hill and Love Actually. Paying homage to her legendary Christmas film, The Holiday, she is heard speaking on the phone to her partner, and contemplating a house swap holiday.

However, she'd loathe to leave London, admitting 'I'd miss the rain,' just as she opens her Burberry check umbrella to shelter from an unexpected downpour. Kate also features in a voiceover in another short, proclaiming that: 'Life isn't just about sunny days,' and 'True love only happens in the rain.'.

In Naomi Campbell's film, she is seen sheltering from the rain by slipping into the back of a black cab - driven by Richard E. Grant - where she is joined by a knight in shining armour. Richard also appears in another film, using a Burberry check umbrella to shield his little dog Thomas, named after the company's founder.

Daniel Lee, creative director at Burberry, debuted a new, Gen Z-orientated look for the 168-year-old brand at  London Fashion Week last year. Burberry seemingly ditched tradition in favour of Gen Z-inspired crop tops and cargo pants last year. Last year, Burberry appeared to ditch tradition in favour for edgier styles, including cropped jackets and cargo trousers.

While Richard enjoys time with his pet pooch, Aimee and Micheal enjoy a picnic, leaning in for a kiss before the rain interrupts their romantic moment. Another clip, featuring Jodie and Nicholas, sees the pair starring as lovers who run across a bridge in the rain to embrace each other.