Step Up!

For so many of us in Britain, Russell & Bromley was a quiet constant in our wardrobes growing up—the shop our parents took us to for school shoes, the polished place where tasselled penny loafers became a rite of passage. A brand tied up with memory as much as style. Which is why it feels so right, almost inevitable, that the first face of the brand’s campaigns should be someone else we’ve grown up alongside: Billie Piper. From pop stardom to Doctor Who to my personal favourite I Hate Suzie, with her many fearless reinventions on stage and screen, Billie has always been part of the British cultural fabric. And now, as Russell & Bromley embraces a new chapter under Creative Director Daniel Beardsworth-Shaw, she steps into the role of muse with the same wit, energy, and unapologetic individuality that have defined her career.

It’s a significant debut for both the brand and its new creative direction. Choosing Billie feels less like a gamble and more like a full-circle moment—pairing an enduring British institution with a woman who embodies reinvention, resilience, and modern style. Both are touchstones for generations: Russell & Bromley in leather and shoes, Billie in the way she’s consistently reshaped herself while staying unmistakably, recognisably herself.

Shot by Brendan Freeman, the AW25 campaign unfolds across two theatrical acts. The first, Cobblers, launching in September, offers a surreal, larger-than-life spin on the craft of shoemaking. Inspired by the story of the woman who lived in a shoe, it places Billie inside an oversized hero boot, commanding the cobbler’s workshop with quiet authority by day, before the space transforms into something unexpected by night.

Then, in November, will come House of Fab. The cobbler’s shop evolves into a nightclub, a space of freedom, glamour, and self-expression where Billie reappears as the ultimate party host. Here the nostalgia of heritage shoemaking collides with the irreverence of British club culture—echoing the way Russell & Bromley itself is bridging past and future.

Importantly, this campaign is more than theatre—it’s a statement of intent. Drawing inspiration from British Mod, Punk, and Club Kid subcultures, the AW25 collection fuses rebellion with refinement. Shoes and accessories that once signified tradition are now reimagined with a fresh sense of personality and play, for the high street.

As Beardsworth-Shaw puts it, “Billie embodies the spirit of modern British style with such ease and individuality.” With her as its face, Russell & Bromley isn’t just revisiting our memories—it’s showing us how heritage can stride confidently into a new era. Much like Billie herself, who has grown up in the public eye while continually reinventing her place within it, Russell & Bromley proves that true icons evolve with us, staying relevant through every stage of life.