Fashion designer rapped by Amy Winehouse’s dad

The grieving father of Amy Winehouse has accused top fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier of cashing in on the late singer’s death by using her as the inspiration for his latest catwalk show.

Mitch Winehouse said the collection unveiled at the Paris Fashion Week on Wednesday was in bad taste after models were dressed in the star’s trademark style.

The former taxi driver, 60, said: “The family were upset to see those pictures, they were a total shock.

“We’re still grieving for her loss, and we’ve had a difficult week with the six-month anniversary of Amy’s death. To see her image lifted wholesale to sell clothes was a wrench we were not expecting or consulted on.”

During the showcase of Mr Gaultier’s spring-summer collection, models were given the Back to Black singer’s trademark beehive hairstyle, daubed in heavy eyeliner and smoked cigarettes.

They also took to the runway to a barbershop rendition of Ms Winehouse’s songs, with all models wearing black veils during the show’s finale.

Mr Gaultier confessed that although he had never met the star – who died at the age of 27 in her London home last year – their “styles had always been similar”.

Mr Winehouse, reportedly told the Sun newspaper in London that he was proud of his daughter’s influence on fashion, but accused Mr Gaultier of portraying a view of the singer when she was not at her best.

“We’re proud of her influence on fashion but find black veils on models, smoking cigarettes with a barbershop quartet singing her music in bad taste,” he added.

“It portrays a view of Amy when she was not at her best and glamorises some of the more upsetting times in her life. That’s upsetting for her family.”

The British singer battled with a drink and drugs problem during her life prompting Mr Winehouse to set up the Amy Winehouse Foundation to help vulnerable youngsters in her memory.

He added: “No one asked us for permission or offered to make a donation to the foundation.”