Every season needs a hero coat, and we've already found it for spring/summer 2019, courtesy of Mulberry. We previewed director Johnny Coca's latest collection at Paris Fashion Week, and while of course it included womenswear as well as handbags, shoes and accessories (watch out for the super fun sequin sunglasses), the one piece fashion editors kept Instagramming was the checked coat.
It was my favourite, and it turns out Johnny's too when I asked him. Of midi length, it featured oversized checks in a light palette of cream, red, orange and black, and looked great paired with a mini dress, though I suspect it will look just as nice over flared jeans.
Checks are a big deal for the new collection, and also feature on shorter coats with oversized buttons, and cropped jackets with co-ordinating mini skirts.
As you might have guessed, the collection is more than a little reference to the sixties: a period of freedom, emancipation and revolution - the birth of modern pop culture.
Johnny says, 'For this new season I was looking at a defining moment in British culture - the Swinging Sixties and its hedonistic and iconic imagery. I wanted something fun, dynamic, lighthearted, candid, graphic and pop. It’s a collection that revisits the spirit of the sixties with the attitude of today.'
As such, the rest of the collection is a play on shapes - scallop and rounded edges, colours - pastels, neon greens, and prints - florals, marble effects.
Accessories continue the fun theme - see aforementioned diamante sunnies - which include 3D daisy print seaton bags, a heritage check Hamsptead silhouette and a new crescent, round and square-shaped clutches. A delight.
