London Fashion Week: Daniel Lee reimagines Burberry with lightness and sensuality
On Monday, September 18th, it was Burberry’s turn to present its new collection at London Fashion Week. Designer Daniel Lee reinvented the brand’s summer fashion, reimagining the iconic trench coat and introducing fruity prints. The runway show attracted a multitude of celebrities, promising a new era of British elegance.
Daniel Lee, the English designer at the helm of Burberry since September 2022, unveiled his second Spring-Summer 2024 collection on Monday. Burberry, the iconic British brand founded in 1856, seemed to be the most anticipated highlight of London Fashion Week.
Under a tent set up in a park beneath the ever-changing London sky, the runway show offered a bold reinterpretation of Burberry’s codes, as the 37-year-old designer explained that his collection was ‘an exploration of lightness, sensuality, beauty, and elegance.’
Trench coat and fruity prints in the spotlight
The trench coat, an iconic piece for Burberry since 1912, was boldly reimagined by Daniel Lee. This season, it comes in an oversized, effortless version, in leather or sleeveless, with or without a belt. The designer even took the risk of exploring it in flashy or orange colors. This reinterpretation also aligns with the House’s commitment to an outdoor aesthetic, a recurring theme in this summer collection. Accessories, bags, and loafers were also given a modern twist.
But prints also took a central place in the collection, challenging Burberry’s traditional tartan. Jewelry and hardware are transformed into true hand-painted works of art, adorning fluid dresses and all-over printed pieces.
Cherries and strawberries enhance biker jacket/trouser sets, oversized tops, and dresses adorned with zippers. Daniel Lee drew inspiration from British fruits and English meadows to envision these creative patterns. Although the tartan is still present, it takes a more subdued role, sparingly used on knit sweaters.
Stars and Models in Attendance
The runway show brought together a galaxy of celebrities, including Kylie Minogue and Jason Statham in the front row, while supermodels like Adwoa Aboah, Mona Tougaard, and Alva Claire illuminated the verdant runway. Rappers Kano and Skepta were also in attendance, along with British actresses Jodie Comer and Rachel Weisz, British athlete and four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah, as well as Arsenal midfielder Bukayo Saka.
However, it was male model Kit Butler who left a memorable mark by closing the show, shirtless, wearing navy blue suit trousers and a wide black leather belt adorned with Burberry’s iconic Equestrian Knight.
New Burberry Spirit
Daniel Lee has successfully breathed new life into the Burberry brand while preserving its British heritage and reinventing it. To make a lasting impression, the runway show was preceded by a temporary transformation of Bond Street underground station into ‘Burberry Street.’ Following the show, guests gathered to celebrate the launch of Daniel Lee’s first collection, the one unveiled in February, at the boutique located on New Bond Street, which had reopened for the occasion.
This Summer 2024 collection reflects an evolution of Burberry’s codes while firmly asserting the enduring presence of the trench coat, the undeniable star of the House. As London Fashion Week draws to a close, it leaves in its wake the promise of a Summer 2024 season marked by creativity and English elegance. The next chapters of Burberry’s adventures await us in Milan and Paris.
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