WARNING: there is a lot of Cara Delevingne involved...
When I say Burberry, you say trench coats, right? Well, you’re only half right.
Because the British mega-brand is now one of the most recognisable fashion forces in the world, known for its sleek silhouettes, razor-sharp tailoring and heritage prints and embroideries. So long gone are the days of the chav check.
While the Burberry Prorsum trench coat and its many reinventions are still staples at the brand’s biannual London Fashion Week shows, its hot-ticket events have also become known for their celebrity-packed FROWs, musical performances and a parade of the of-the-moment models.
Ahead of Christopher Bailey’s AW16 show in London next week, we take a look at some of our favourite catwalk moments from the brand…
Spring/Summer 2004 After taking a three-year break from the catwalk, Kate Moss returned to lead the Burberry show for her old friend, creative director Christopher Bailey. Having just celebrated the first birthday of her daughter, Lila Grace, the model insisted that her return to LFW would be a one-off as she was planning on having another baby.
Spring/Summer 2011 After making her debut appearance in the brand’s SS11 campaign opposite the now-Oscar winning Eddie Redmayne, Cara Delevingne took to the catwalk for the first time for the brand. Yes, honestly, we promise that's her under that hat.
Autumn/Winter 2012 As weird combinations go, the Burberry AW12 FROW certainly had one of the weirdest. Songstress Ellie Goulding, rapper/designer/angry tweeter Kanye West and actress Sienna Miller were all sat next to each other for the show and all we can think about when we see the picture is: what were they chatting about…? Like, seriously?
Spring/Summer 2013 Quality Street wrapper coloured silk trench coats made their way down the SS13 Burberry catwalk in one of their most glam finales ever. We still want them all!
Autumn/Winter 2013 If not for their trenches, the Burberry show is known for its performances and the AW13 show was not one to disappoint. After picking up the BRITs Critic Choice award, newcomer Tom Odell performed his haunting hit ‘Hold Me’ live at the show, while models wearing leather tailored dresses and sunglasses made their way down the catwalk.
Spring/Summer 2014 Possibly their prettiest collection to date, the mastermind that is Christopher Bailey sent Cara and co down the catwalk in pastels, embellishments and Perspex. Dreamy.
Autumn/Winter 2014 After Tom Odell came Paloma Faith. who stretched her vocal chords in front of a star-studded FROW while singing her hit ‘Only Love Can Hurt Like This’ clad in all Burberry (natch) while accompanied by a string set.
The AW14 show also saw Bradley Cooper sit next to the fashion elite on the front row, watching his then-girlfriend Suki Waterhouse make her way down the catwalk.
To top it off, the AW14 models were sent down the catwalk wearing coloured and monogrammed capes which then became a cult buy for the fash-pack.
Spring/Summer 2015 SS15 saw another bloody brilliant musical performance at the most-talked about show of the season, with James Bay (aka James BAE) taking to the stage this time. While he might have been a relative unknown at the time, the hat wearing, longhaired singer/songwriter has since been catapulted into the big leagues.
This was also the season that mega-babes Cara and Kate turned up to the show hand-in-hand and posed for the paps.
Autumn/Winter 2015 While it wasn’t technically the brand’s major seasonal show, the LA re-show of Burberry’s AW15 collection wasn’t any less newsworthy. James Corden, the newly inaugurated The Late Late Show host did his best Zoolander impression and closed the show infront of an A-list packed FROW including Victoria Beckham (and family) and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.
Christopher Bailey was more than complimentary of the TV personality’s appearance, saying: ‘What James brought tonight was a real elegance. He brought a refinement and sophistication and brought a real gravitas to fashion that we so desperately needed.’ Bravo, Smithy!
Spring/Summer 2016 The latest Burberry outing, saw the brand revert back to the 90s and bring the humble backpack to the catwalk. The show also saw Alison Moyat perform while Cara Delevingne and her girlfriend, St Vincent starred lovingly into each others eyes. Awww. THIS is why we all love Burberry.
