The Burberry summer man is a refined double entendre of the upstanding military man and the underground bad boy.

The house of Burberry, which was established in 1856, is steeped in tradition, certainly not least of all their traditional trench coat, which they originally created for the military men in the trenches of World War I.  Heritage Biker was a tribute to this man with everything from trench coats to pea coats, knits, pants and shirts coloured and styled military and paired back with edgy leather pieces.

Christopher Bailey produced a collection of classic looks with rich subtle detailing that gave each garment a strong modern stance. Bonded and quilted cropped leather biker jackets were covered in large studs and zips and finished with detachable riveting. The leather biker pants were also treated with riveting texture on the knees giving them a more sophisticated look.

Patch pocket officer’s shirts and mesh crochet tanks continued the biker versus officer trend, while slim leg trousers were the leg look of the season. The bare ankle trend from last season’s runways was also still prominent with high top sandals completing the look.

The biker style wellington boots were the accessories standout of the season though, epitomizing the fusion of the heritage of the British countryside and underground London.

Burberry’s long-standing reputation for the most opulent fabrications was more than upheld by both the biker and the officer as well, cotton twills, jersey, mesh and washed cotton canvases made up the basics of the collection with suede, wools and leathers adding the prevailing textural features.

The true veteran of the long-established Burberry look, the trench coat, was in fine form, returning to its original military colour palate in single and double-breasted styles with studded belts toughening up the look. Pea coats, field jackets and military cabans were also given a touch of tough with biker zips and studded detachable cuff straps.

For a collection so heavily weighted with tradition, Heritage Biker, will also be remembered for moving Burberry into the future. Yes you guessed it the online future. Not only was the show live streamed online, but 30 pieces of apparel and 9 bag styles in multiple colourways and sizes were made available for pre-order immediately after.  This is not the first time Burberry has done this, but it is a first for menswear. The pre-order option allows customers to receive their items within 6-8 weeks of them leaving the runway. Gone are the days of queuing outside stores in anticipation of the newest collection arrivals now all you have to do is watch, click and buy.

Burberry are clearly looking backwards to move forwards, they know their routes inside out and they also know that the future of fashion in our fast paced consumer driven world means accessibility.

Heritage Biker ached with nostalgia for the future, re invigorating the clean-cut aesthetics of the past that defined two specific groups at opposite ends of society, whose distinctive styles each gifted them with a sense of belonging.

Christopher Bailey created a sophisticated collision of order and anarchy, clean cut and grunge, the rebel and the peacekeeper, that offered the idea that the modern man is a man in the middle, with the freedom to be neither one or the other, but to be a fusion of both instead. The Burberry SS11 man is one whose sense of belonging comes from him self. A very attractive prospect indeed.

Rhiannon