Читать книгу We’re British, Innit: An Irreverent A to Z of All Things British - Iain Aitch - Страница 48

Inspired by the resurgence of British music and fashion, as well as the changing mood of the country in the run-up to the 1997 Labour Party General election win, Cool Britannia was a handy media tag that encompassed anything that was on the up in the UK at that time. US magazine Vanity Fair summed up the time with the Carnaby Street-inspired headline ‘London Swings Again!’, naming designers such as Alexander McQueen and artist Damien Hirst as prime examples of what was cool about Britain. The cover of the magazine featured celebrity incubator Patsy Kensit sprawled on a Union Flag bedspread with Liam Gallagher. Cool Britannia even made Geri Halliwell look good, with a million middle-aged men committing to memory the image of her in that Union Jack dress. Sadly, the sham fad lasted for less time than the average Kensit marriage and was over by the time Tony Blair was breaking manifesto promises.