If you want to predict how the next season is going to go for a designer, don’t look at the clothes on the catwalk, look at their front row – or frow to fashion insiders.
Celebrities don’t just bring glitz and glamour, they serve a far more important purpose – dressed in your brand, they are powerful ambassadors. And they’ve been sorely lacking at London Fashion Week for the past few years.
But this year they’re back and nowhere more in evidence than at yesterday’s Burberry show, held at north London’s Highbury Fields.
There aren’t many designers that can draw an A-list front row like Burberry can. Its creative director Daniel Lee didn’t disappoint with the guests for his first spring/summer collection for the heritage British brand.
It was stuffed with the coolest up-and-coming talent from the UK, alongside some of the most established names in the business – all dressed head-to-toe in its new season.
Wearing a belted trench coat, Kylie Minogue (pictured) was among the A-listers who attended the Burberry Spring Summer 2024 at London Fashion Week
Model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley also attended the fashion shown, alongside her fiance Jason Statham
Actress Jodie Comer (pictured) wore a strapless grey dress for the event, which was held during London Fashion Week
There was iconic Burberry model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who arrived in a signature beige trench and statement yellow sandals, on the arm of her fiance, the Hollywood star Jason Statham.
Actress Rachel Weisz opted for an oversized green version of the traditional belted coat while Kylie Minogue also went for green but in leather.
Model Jourdan Dunn was a vision in head-to-toe purple with a giant check pattern.
Actress Jodie Comer and model Georgia May Jagger also went for Lee’s new oversized check – Ms Comer in a strapless grey dress and Ms Jagger in a jacquard-knit rollneck and mini skirt in pink, lime and canary yellow.
Trendy newcomers bringing a level of London edge to proceedings included Irish actress Jessie Buckley, wearing a grunge T-shirt with giant red check shirt and matching trousers.
Meanwhile, singer Mabel opted for an oversized grunge T-shirt with blue check trousers. When it came to the catwalk show itself, the ‘new’ trench – a modern take on the old classic Burberry is famed for – dominated.
Lee’s take is belted low, cut slimmer and with exaggerated lapels. The familiar beige colour featured, but the focus was more on black, brilliant white and striking print. The traditional nova check made its comeback on the lining.
As well as the reimagined trench, there was a strong focus on leather accessories and footwear.
Actress Rachel Weisz donned green for the event, at one point wearing an oversized belted coat over her outfit
Georgia May Jagger (pictured) another of the A-list attendees at the Burberry fashion show wore a jacquard-knit rollneck and mini skirt in pink, lime and canary yellow
This comes as little surprise given Lee was previously at Italian fashion house Bottega Veneta and had season after season of hits when it came to accessories.
Almost every look included a handbag – oversized, cross-body, chain-strap, canvas and quilted.
There was also a brighter colour palette. The electric Burberry Blue was seen throughout its fall/winter 2023 collection and campaigns, and it was well represented here, cementing it as the brand’s signature colour.
Big names were on the catwalk too, with appearances from models Karen Elson, Liberty Ross, Neelam Gill and Adwoa Aboah.
If London is making a bid to regain its crown as a fashion capital, Burberry is leading the charge.
