A lesson in elegance: Burberry Prorsum SS12

I think Christopher Bailey is prepared for a very British Summer in the SS12 Burberry Prorsum collection. These are clothes that can withstand the mood swings of our fickle weather. Where in other collections I saw bright sunshine yellows, here they were more mustard toned but will still look gorgeous with the sun's rays catching them.
I really adore the silhouette of this collection: voluminous skirts and strong shoulders paired with a nipped in waist make for a lovely hourglass shape which is very elegant and just the sort of thing I love to wear and would like to see more of. This ladylike aesthetic paired with the practical feel of the clothes, seen in the number of parkas and hardy fabrics, comes across to me as capturing the essence of high fashion in the country, but given a modern twist that can be worked just as well in the city.
There's a sense of nostalgia and the hemlines hit a little below the knee, harking to the modest styles one could meet royalty in. However the hems sit in stark contrast to the steamy slashed bodices present in the collection. There are also more tightly tailored skirts with a more slick feel but still keeping the demure length.
As well as keeping with Burberry's classic heritage including the all important staple trench, the collection also nods to trends further afield and an African influence is felt in the vibrant patterns of embellishment and the rich and earthy colours.  Meanwhile raffia woven hats have a well travelled feeling which lives in the other accessories, but then a kooky pom pom on top brings back that sense of British fun. I love the new take on the classic snuggly jumper. Sticking out from the crowd we have one shocking turquoise-blue coat which is in such an amazing hue.
Throughout the collection the clothes are gorgeously cut with an exquisite attention to detail and techniques. I especially like the pleating from box pleats to softly hanging industrial ones. I could wear them around a country house or for a smart day in the city. Bailey captures the perfect balance of old school elegance and modern Buberry attitude.


Images kindly provided by Darja Noren at Burberry.