Burberry makes its London comeback with Christopher Bailey’s new, relaxed take on English style.

Christopher Bailey returned to London in that most quintessentially English of settings: the garden party. Or at least, a garden party marquee in Kensington Gardens. The inspirations, too, were quintessentially English: the vivid, zingy colours by way of David Hockney and the clothes – a looser, boho take on British preppiness – courtesy of Alan Bennett.

David Gandy, Tinie Tempah, Douglas Booth and Hugh Dancy eyed up the offering from the front row – you can imagine that this collection is the kind of thing you’d see them wear, and wear, and wear. Bailey’s was a relaxed, slouchier approach than previous seasons – not so much the cosmopolitan trench-clad Londoner as the English schoolboy gone on a trip to the seaside, though obviously clad in luxurious cashmere, silk and linen.

There were weatherproof cagoules, sou’westers (peaked sailing hats) and soft leather swim bags and duffles slung casually across the models’ shoulders. Gingham, florals and two-toned boaters all provided requisite pops of colour, with the chunky, rectangular sunglasses adding an extra touch (in true Burberry 2.0 style, the latter was available to order from the Burberry website after the show). All in all, a graceful return to the London stage.

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Words: Zing Tsjeng (Follow Zing on Twitter @misszing)
Images: Hatnim Lee