Daily Front Row

2010 February 24

Runway Review: Burberry

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Burberry Fall 2010
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(LONDON) Burberry Prorsum
The spectacle surrounding the Fall 2010 Burberry Prorsum collection was extreme even for this media-savvy brand. Between the livestreaming parties (in 3-D, no less!) held at worldwide fashion capitals, the immediate availability of the collection for purchase online, and the presence of a slew of stars seated front and center—Kate Hudson, Mary Kate Olsen, Kristen Stewart, and Claire Danes among them—one might think it would have been easy to be distracted from the collection itself. But Christopher Bailey presented another home run of a collection starring Burberry’s bread and butter: outerwear. Even just the opening series of cropped moto-style jackets had attendees reeling over which to choose: shearling-lined, or the sort of inside-out style with the shearling on the outside? One oversized collar, or two? Then there were the long coats in army green, navy blue, black; coats that zipped off at the middle for a two-in-one style; coats with straps and belts at the sleeves and collar for that slightly subversive touch. A short number in a gorgeous Bordeaux with fur spilling from the inside and collar would have caused an audible gasp--if the front row would ever allow itself.

Bailey had a few ideas about what to wear underneath these lovelies, as well. Lean lace dresses and skirts, lace leggings and narrow, cropped trousers, and ruched velvet dresses did the trick, as did thigh-high boots in leather or snakeskin. (And if over-the-knee boots aren’t necessarily new anymore on runways, don’t think you won’t still see them everywhere after these pairs. Editors and stylists alike were buzzing post-show about getting them into their books and onto their clients.) Overall, a collection worth serious commendation.