From The Straits Times    |
Burberry Prorsum Autumn Winter 2012 collection THUMBNAIL

For most English speaking fashionistas 2012 will probably go down as the year of the Brits. What with the London Olympics, the Queen’s Silver Jubilee and the continuing rise of British fashion designers, once again it’s “Cool Britania”.

Now the head of Britain’s resurging fashion industry – dare we say the “Godfather” of UK fashion – Christopher Bailey has just released his latest fashion onslaught in the Burberry Prorsum Autumn Winter 2012 womenswear collection, and it was all about being British.

The creative chief office of Burberry – yep, that’s his official title – sent a series of iconic British fashion items down his livestreamed runway at London Fashion Week.

Obviously there were a lot of trench coats; but they weren’t ordinary Burberry trench coats. There was a distinct “voluminous” aspect to the hip-line shape of the Autumn Winter Burberry Prorsum coats.

Burberry Prorsum Autumn Winter 2012 collection looks

Created from the brand’s iconic gabardine, there was also a lot of British wool tweeds, mixed silk and angora wool, some weatherproof waxed cotton and even some heavy cashmere coats which came mostly in grey.

There was a lot of traditional, solid, reliable grey in the entire collection in fact. Lightened by touches of cream, enriched with a range of green shades – all with lovely names like olive green, laurel green and dark racing green – and jewel-tones like malachite, burgundy, dark mauve-pink, blackcurrant and chartreuse yellow.

But it was the shape of the collection, the volume, that made fashionistas sit up and take notice. The peplum is well and truly back in vogue; the wide-hips on the coats were echoed by actual peplums on skirts, cropped fitted jackets and dresses, that ranged from a wee frill to a jutting three-dimensional second layer.

Three-dimensionality as “stone” embroidered necklines, appliqué college stripe hems, equestrian quilting, leather seam taping, corduroy collars, ruched leather bow belts and structured oversize guipure lace followed on from the Spring Summer 2012 collection with it’s “wood” embroidery and raffia-fabric coats.

Obviously the concept of “modern folk” and traditional handicrafts remained a major inspiration for designer Bailey when he came to the Burberry Prorsum collection.

The most covetable items? Obviously the new bags; the new Burberry Orchard Bag, Burberry Barrel Bag and for the shoe-lovers – the Burberry Field Boot, a lovely suede lace-up ankle boot that comes in a brogue and moccasin version as well.

My personal “must have” is a pair of the gorgeous studded cuff-length gloves; oh, and a matching studded clutch to go with them.

Overall, the Burberry Prorsum Autumn Winter 2012 collection is not ground-breaking when it comes to innovative fashion; it’s not exactly “fashion forward” but it is an interesting new take on classic shapes and classic British cultural tropes.

Sometimes you just want something luxurious, comfortable, elegant and wearable but interesting. Basically, in the year of the “Brits”, you want Burberry Prorsum.

Coats and accessories from the Burberry Prorsum Autumn Winter 2012 collection is now available to order via sg.burberry.com/aw12-womenswear/show until February 28. Orders will be shipped within 8 weeks. Burberry Prorsum clothing and accessories are available from the Burberry flagship store at ION Orchard; Burberry Prorsum accessories only are also available at the Burberry stores at Marina Bay Sands and Paragon Shopping Centre. Other Burberry stores are located at Ngee Ann City and Takashimaya Shopping Centre; Burberry Children’s is available from Isetan and Takashimaya Shopping Centre.