Now, the fashion veil is back – and not just for mournful moments. It all started, as many fabulous things do, in London. Fashion Week stalwart, Richard Quinn, whose AW18 collection saw the designer get the royal seal of approval in the form of the late Queen Elizabeth II – still full of vigour at 91 years – perched upon the front row, presented his quintessential avant-glamour with a line of debutante-ready ballgowns and outré silhouettes. The perfect accoutrement to said feather-plumed frocks? A black veil, adding an undeniably regal refinement.
The following week, it was Dolce & Gabbana’s turn to debut a new season of Italian elegance. The collection, aptly dubbed ‘Tuxedo’ played upon that sumptuous sex appeal the duo know how to create most endearingly. Complimenting that enigmatic androgyny oh-so effortlessly, black veils were as much a part of the line as the tailoring. In fact, not one look was without one. Whether sprouting from beneath silk flat caps, or a continuation of full-body fishnet catsuits, the Dolce & Gabbana veil was all about the va-va-voom.
Then, it was off to Paris, where Louis Vuitton took the lead on lace-adorned faces. Ever the modernistic master of future-proof style, Creative Director Nicolas Ghesquèire proved his pioneering panache with a steady stream of sports-inspired cuts juxtaposed with decorous eveningwear for his latest collection – the 10th anniversary since he took the helm of the heritage house back in 2014. For Ghesquière, the veil was not as Diana-adjacent as the previous iterations, but instead a Space Age-esque strip of fishnet bedecked in square beads imbuing the ultimate alienistic edge.
On the red carpet, the veil beckons too. Back in January, Saltburn siren, Rosamund Pike, looked to millinery marvel, Philip Treacy, to concoct the perfect lace ‘shield’ to accompany her Dior Haute Couture look at the Golden Globes. Glamorous? Of course. But the actress confessed the reason she donned the piece was actually due to a skiing accident that led to some poorly-timed bruising for Awards Season.
