Classically Bohemian ... Burberry Prorsum Menswear FW2015-16

Carefree and free-spirited … these are the credos that make up the idea of Bohemianism. 

Albeit the original meaning of the term actually refers to the gypsies originated from the land of Bohemia (a historical country in Central Europe), Bohemian is now used to define a set of community or society that embraces unorthodox or anti-establishment political or social viewpoints, oftentimes expressed through free love, frugality and sometimes, voluntary poverty.

However, in Burberry’s case for its upcoming Fall/Winter collection, the level of Bohemianism is rather high, practically in sync with its rich heritage and its position as an haute fashion maison. 

Held in London, the show, which was attended by fashion editors and notable trendsetters, showcased a unique take on the timelessness of Bohemian style, reinterpreted through the eyes of Creative Director Christopher Bailey and his design team.

Kick-started with live performance by British singer Claire Maguire and accompanied by the London Contemporary Voices, the Fall/Winter 2015 ready-to-wear and accessories collection features classic silhouettes that are synonymous to the British fashion house such as the trench coats, Chesterfields, cabans, pea coats, topcoats and jackets in various styles – quilted, donkey and bomber – as well as smart tailoring.

Drenched in hues such as ink, green, ochre, camel, purple, charcoal, red, fuchsia and turquoise, Bailey played with a mix of classic, rich and mediocre fabrics such as linen, cashmere, flannel, and double wool, just to name a few, to create pieces that spell haute bohème.

In between, the pieces are interspersed with decorative elements such as mirror embroidery that is commonly present in Romani fashion and shearling to amplify the nuance of classic masculinity.

For instance, the shearling gilet harked back to the time when Sonny Bono and Cher made their initial mark on the global showbiz scene, singing their hit single “I Got You Babe” in BBC’s Top of the Pops show. 

Another notable must have piece from the collection would be the leopard print trench coat that outstood the rest. Giving the piece an edgy look is the classic Burberry Nova chequered scarf and an oversized Burberry carryall.

Colours aside, Bohemian floral and paisley prints inspired by the Durham quilts, as well as animal and camouflage prints are liberally used to strengthen the collection’s Bohemian appeal, exhibiting the Bohemian ethos itself that runs along the theme of joie de vivre. 

As for accessories, the large Burberry carryall crafted using various luxurious materials and tinged in bright, joyful colours go hand-in-hand with felted wool and cashmere ponchos and shearling-lined Derby shoes.  

Making its debut alongside the complete collection is the Scholar Eyewear collection. Featuring both optical frames and sunglasses, the frames feature a distinctive keyhole-shaped nose-bridge and play with contrasts in thickness and surface areas. 

Elongated, straight temples for a comfortable fit feature the polished metallic Burberry logo. Exaggerated hinge points with traditional double pin hinges are visible on the front and temples.

Burberry Prorsum Fall/Winter 2015 menswear and accessories collection will be available at Burberry stores and Burberry.com by the third quarter of the year.

*Photos courtesy of Burberry

Burberry – Lot 438, Ground Floor, Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur; Pavilion, 168 Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur; Ground Floor, The Gardens Mid Valley, Lingkaran Syed Putra, 59200 Kuala Lumpur.