Burberry September 2017
In the wake of Brexit, it's safe to say that Britain's national identity is in a state of flux – now more than ever. And amidst such a volatile political climate, one designer who isn't afraid to bring the country's diversity into focus is Christopher Bailey. If last season's Henry Moore show was an "exploration of sculpture and silhouette", Burberry's September 2017 collection took a more socio-political stance to reflect the varied, eclectic styles that make up the British Isles.
"An unexpected mix of textures, colours and silhouettes": that pretty much sums up the collection presented last weekend. Adwoa Aboah, Kaia Gerber, and a slew of other fresh-faced models strutted down the central staircase of Old Sessions House in familiar Burberry tropes: Aran and Fair Isle sweaters, argyle knits, sherling coats, and gabardine trenches – but executed in a fresh, new way with winter sorbet hues and larger-than-life accessories in the form of crystal chandelier earrings and brooches.
‘This collection finds the humour, and the beauty, and the pathos, and the sheer glorious eccentricity of the British way of dressing.’ – Christopher Bailey
And in case you didn't notice, Bailey brought back the classic Burberry check in a big way. Previously (and infamously) associated with chavs, the brand has finally reclaimed the print and parlayed it into a parade of plastic rain jackets, baseball caps, extra-long chunky-knit scarves, and oversized shopper totes. The high-low, prep-meets-street culture clash of a collection made for an exciting show, heralding a new era for both Burberry and Britain.
Watch the full show below.
