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Burberry’s AW21 collection is a love letter to women

 (Burberry)
(Burberry)

“I have always been drawn to strong women and, in turn, they have also given me the confidence to express my own femininity. They are not afraid to challenge expectations and I have always been in such awe of their determination. They are warriors,” said Burberry’s creative director Riccardo Tisci in the notes accompanying his autumn/ winter 2021 Burberry womenswear show.

Debuted via an off-schedule showcase in the brand’s flagship Regent Street store, the collection was “emblematic of the power of feminine energy,” said Tisci, who was raised by a single mother alongside eight sisters, and intended as “a love letter to women and a celebration of their incomparable strength.”

Certainly the show, which kicked off with an original spoken-word piece from British rapper Shygirl, enlisted an all-star cast of power women to join its virtual FROW. Gigi Hadid tuned in wearing a pink fluffy Burberry bunny look, Naomi Campbell wore black cigarette pants and a Burberry trench while Kendall Jenner and Irina Shayk made an appearance in luxe black Burberry leathers.

Burberry
Burberry

The clothes themselves felt bright and optimistic. A gold lamé trench coat with eyelet fringing sat alongside colourblock cape-sleeve dresses and a sharp-shouldered bright red boxy blazer that made for a perfect return-to-work power look .

The themes of outdoor adventures and the 20th century British arts and crafts movement that inspired Tisci’s recent menswear show were continued via boldly coloured flags reworked into body-con dresses, silk and satin skirts and ramble-ready chunky scarves. The classic Burberry cape was reimagined in magnified check cashmere, spliced with a tailored jacket.

Burberry
Burberry

Footwear came by way of second-skin sock boots in check, monogram and heart-print stretch tulle which had soles moulded to resemble deer hooves. Tisci introduced all-new arm candy via the Flag bag, a soft tote with metallic fringing that came in sequin-embellished silk and smooth lambskin annotated with Thomas Burberry’s initials, while the supersized messenger bag he introduced in the AW21 menswear show, made a comeback in faux fur and shearling.

Burberry
Burberry

As we all look to inject some more power into our post-pandemic wardrobes, Tisci delivered a confident and celebratory collection for a brighter future. If a shiny golden trench isn’t the ultimate comeback look, I don’t know what is.