A school caused quite the debate this week when a ‘straight A’ student was put into isolation for wearing wearing a Union Jack dress for her school’s culture day.
Courtney Wright, 12, wore a Spice Girls-esque dress to celebrate being British and wrote a speech about history as part of the celebrations at Bilton School in Rugby, Warwickshire.
However, the Year 7 pupil was told the dress was ‘unacceptable’ and was made to sit in reception until her ‘gobsmacked’ father Stuart Field, 47, collected her.
Despite the stir, Union Jacks certainly quite the fashion statement in popular culture, with a whole host of celebrities rocking the flag over the years.
Some A-listers have gone down in the history books for rocking Union Jack outfits, with Geri Halliwell for one becoming synonymous with her flag-themed mini dress.
And she is certainly not the only one, with American celebrities even jumping on the trend to show off their love for British culture.
A school caused quite the debate when ‘straight A’ student Courtney Wright (pictured) was put into isolation for wearing a Union Jack dress for her school’s culture day
Despite the stir, Union Jacks have proved themselves to be quite the fashion statement, with a whole host of celebrities rocking the flag – none more famous than Geri Halliwell
Geri Halliwell
Arguably the most famous Union Jack look, Geri, 52, stepped out at the 1997 BRIT Awards in a mini dress featuring the flag.
Joined by her Spice Girls bandmates Victoria Beckham, Mel B, Mel C and Emma Bunton, Geri certainly attracted attention in the daring look.
Geri revealed the iconic look was actually created by her very own hand as she stitched a tea towel on the front of a 50s style Gucci black mini dress.
It has gone down in pop culture history and the look has inspired many party costumes in the years since, with everyone wanting to channel Geri’s look.
The unforgettable outfit even holds the Guinness World Record for the most expensive piece of pop star clothing sold at an auction – after nabbing £41,320 in 1998.
Geri stepped out at the 1997 BRIT Awards in a mini dress featuring the flag and the dress holds the Guinness World Record for the most expensive piece of pop star clothing sold at an auction
Kate Moss
Supermodel Kate, 51, has sported Union Jack on many occasions over the years, serving endless ‘patriotic’ fashion moments.
Most recently, Kate wore a jacket featuring the flag to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022 – just months before Queen Elizabeth’s death in September of that year.
She wore the ensemble while joining Naomi Campbell, 52, on an open-top bus for the 1990s Times of Our Lives celebration, which rode down The Mall.
Kate wasn’t the only celebrity to jump on the trend for the Platinum Jubilee as Cliff Richard also sported a Union Jack blazer for the 2022 celebrations.
Fashion designer Jasmine Guinness also wore the flag while marking Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee ten years earlier in 2012.
It was not the first time Kate proudly sported the flag as she famously launched London Fashion Week in 1997 by wearing a Union Jack sweater.
In 2016, Kate also draped an actual Union Jack over her shoulders while posing for a Vogue photoshoot.
Supermodel Kate, 51, has sported Union Jack on many occasions over the years, most recently at The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022
The supermodel also famously launched London Fashion Week in 1997 by wearing a Union Jack sweater
Taylor Swift
Though she is American, Taylor, 35, has proved she is no stranger to a Union Jack and famously sported a head-to-toe Britannia ensemble on stage.
In 2013, Taylor kicked off her performance at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show wearing a Union flag-print mini-dress.
Her outfit was a surprising choice given the show took place in New York rather than London, but it has become one of her most memorable looks.
The Shake It Off hitmaker strutted her stuff in a blazer mini dress featuring the flag, which billowed out into a dramatic cape behind her.
She added to her look with matching peep-toe heels and a tiny top hat as she embraced all things British with the ensemble.
Though she is American, Taylor, 35, has proved she is no stranger to a Union Jack and famously sported a head-to-toe Britannia ensemble on stage
In 2013, Taylor kicked off her performance at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in New York wearing a Union flag-print mini-dress
Rita Ora
Following in Taylor’s footsteps, singer Rita, 34, also wore a flag-themed look while taking to the stage in New York just two years later.
Rita put on a very arty display as she stepped out in a distressed leather jacket painted with a Union Jack across it.
She made sure to turn heads as she performed at Fashion Rocks 2014 in Brooklyn, which was aptly presented by Three Lions Entertainment.
Around the same time, Rita also draped herself in an actual Union Flag in the music video for her 2015 track Body On Me.
In the video, she put on a racy display as she wore little else while draped in the flag and danced along to her sexy lyrics.
At the time, Rita described the music video as her ‘most intimate’ one yet as she teased the cheeky scenes.
Following in Taylor’s footsteps, singer Rita, 34, also wore a flag-themed look while taking to the stage in New York just two years later
She made sure to turn heads as she performed at Fashion Rocks 2014 in Brooklyn, which was aptly presented by Three Lions Entertainment
Dua Lipa
Joining the long list of pop stars jumping on the Union Jack trend, Dua, 29, also rocked a 1960s style ensemble during her notable BRIT Awards performance.
The Levitating hitmaker took to the stage at the 2021 ceremony at the O2 Arena in a Union Jack blazer mini dress.
She then stripped off the coat to reveal she was wearing a matching Union Jack mini skirt underneath, which gave a cheeky flash of her thong and stockings.
The singer entertained fans as she ran through a medley of some of her biggest hits at the star-studded ceremony.
Dua’s choice of ensemble appeared to be a nod to Geri’s headline-making dress, which she wore at very the same awards show some 24 years earlier.
Joining the long list of pop stars jumping on the Union Jack trend, Dua, 29, also rocked a 1960s style ensemble during her notable BRIT Awards performance
She then stripped off the coat to reveal she was wearing a matching Union Jack mini skirt underneath, which gave a cheeky flash of her thong and stockings
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