If there’s one thing that Burberry Prorsum can do, it’s know how to put on a REAL catwalk show that usurps all others in the celebrity, pre-hype, social media strategy and pre-order sales areas.
When Christopher Bailey took over (from Angela Ahrendts) as C.E.O as well as Chief Creative Officer of the brand in 2014, some wondered if the duality of the roles would fit. Would there be a loss of focus? Bailey, instead, takes it in his low-key stride and has delivered what surely must be one of the collections of his career in a Burberry AW’15 collection that is so on-the-money, it’s guaranteed to create global trends that will drive the profits of the high street as well as the turnover at Burberry.
This was a show heavy on evocation with singer Clare Maguire belting out rock versions of Carole King’s ‘Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow’, morphing into the simply stellar version of ‘George Harrison’s ‘My Sweet Lord’ at the finale that had Mossy, Testino and Campbell singing along from their #FROW seats to the emotional gospel rendition.
Though the show was (and always is) heavy on celeb appearances, all bedecked in Burberry (natch), the focus is always on delivery. And whoa did Bailey deliver!
From the first model stride wearing the new Burberry poncho – this time fringed and Navaho patterned, the electricity grew as *this* was a new direction. Appealing to all those with a penchant for 1970s California, Stevie Nicks, yesteryear floaty Chloe, old Ossie and a cooler-than-thou vibe. There then came must-have, thigh-high, suede patchwork boots paired with short patterned trenches. Then came hippie style Indian motif dresses, velvet and fringed capes (the KEY piece of the collection), plunge-neck hippie trail slips and fringing (oh, the fringing!) on patchwork suede Burberry Macs, bucket bags (at £1750 a pop) and the hottest ankle boots ever. The swish is back.
This is rich hippie personified. Less Coachella, more original Woodstock but with better skin, make-up and nails and a hot boyfriend.
Patterned Indian quilt jackets, hints of leopard print, see-through floaty chiffon lace and Indian mirrored detailing all showed up in a collection that was dreamy, wearable and thank-God-for-the-high-street, copyable in (fringed) buckets.
Expect rock chicks and fashion eds everywhere to implode with desire. Burberry just created a ‘yee ha’ fashion moment.
