Wed, September 23, 2009
When they signed her up for their ad campaigns, Burberry might have wondered if it was a risk too far.
But as Harry Potter star Emma Watson arrived at London Fashion Week, she proved she is worth her weight in gold.
Wearing a stunning metallic Burberry minidress and towering black heels, the 19-year-old actress turned heads as she arrived at the Burberry show.
She even managed to upstage the perennially glamorous Victoria Beckham, who arrived in an understated black knee-length dress.
Emma wore dark eye make-up and styled her hair in a loose up-do, proving she was perfectly at ease among the fashion know-how.
‘Emma got the look just right,’ one eyewitness said. ‘It would have been a big mistake to try an over the top outfit. Her dress wowed the crowds but looked sophisticated at the same time.’
Other attendees included Slumdog Millionaire stars and off-screen lovers Freida Pinto and Dev Patel, who are now happily flaunting their relationship after a spell of camera-dodging.
Agyness Deyn turned up in a ruffled mint green dress and black stockings while actress Liv Tyler opted for black leggings.
Earlier in the evening, fashion giant Burberry announced it was 'thrilled to be back' in London as top industry names gathered tonight for one of the most eagerly-awaited catwalk shows of the year.
The brand switched its fashion show to London from Milan to help celebrate 25 years of fashion in Britain.
American Vogue editor Anna Wintour was among a host of leading fashionistas watching the show, which will help bring this year's event to a close.
Angela Ahrendts, Burberry's chief executive, said the company - which has enjoyed a surge in popularity over the past year - was doing good business at the show.
Of the decision to switch the brand's show to London, Ms Ahrendts told Sky News: 'You know it just felt like the right time for us. The city is celebrating 25 years of London fashion.
'It's been unbelievable the support we have had. We are thrilled to be back.
'A tremendous amount of business is done here. It is a halo for the brand.'
Burberry was founded in the mid 1800s when a 21-year-old draper's apprentice opened a small outfitter's shop in Basingstoke, Hampshire.
After shrugging of its links with 'chav' culture in the UK in recent years, the brand has regained its reputation as an elite brand, featuring in the Sex And The City film.
The eagerly-awaited spring/summer collection for Burberry Prorsum, designed by the Yorkshire-born Christopher Bailey, marked the first time that the global fashion brand has shown on the LFW catwalk since Mr Bailey became creative director.
Miss Watson, who plays witch Hermione Granger in the Potter films, took time out from university in the United States to attend the Burberry catwalk show.
The actress is studying at Brown University in Rhode Island, and started her English Literature course this month.
Although she is likely to have to get used to having a mini fan club on campus, she has said she hopes the novelty will wear off.
‘I do hope that it will only be a short time before I am known as “Emma Watson, the student from the UK” rather than “Emma Watson who starred in those Harry Potter films".'
It is unlikely, however, that her fellow students will be able to forget her rise to fame quite so soon.
Miss Watson will have to return to the studio during her university holidays to film the last two instalments in the Harry Potter series.
Miss Watson was unveiled as the new face of Burberry in June this year, joining a roster of past stars that includes Kate Moss, Rachel Weisz and Agyness Deyn.
She modelled their autumn/winter 2009 collection for an estimated six-figure fee.
Earlier this month Miss Watson and her Potter co-star Daniel Radcliffe were named as the highest-grossing actors of the decade after conjuring up billions of pounds each.
While Radcliffe, 20, made the studios an average of £537 million a film for the first five movies in the series, Miss Watson saw her average reach £544.88 million per film.
She earned more than her co-star following the success of animated hit Tale Of Despereaux, in which she voiced a main character.
The figures were revealed in the latest edition of the Guinness Book of World Records.
(Agencies)
