Esquire Examines: Burberry AW24

Just like the late Amy Winehouse and her iconic sound, Daniel Lee's Burberry was looking for that balance of nostalgia with a contemporary slant
Published: 20 February 2024

Nostalagia hit the runway at the Burberry Winter 2024 show. Not only was the show's soundtrack a selection of Amy Winehouse's songs—"You Know I'm No Good", "In My Bed", "Half Time", and "Back to Black"—the show was opened by Agnyess Deyn. And if you were in your teens in the 2000s like me, Deyn would be a familiar name and figure—an English model known for her platinum blonde pixie cut and a fashion inspiration for girls and boys of the time.

The fashion served a similar platter of nostalgia. Chief creative officer Daniel Lee refocused his attention towards the military heritage of Burberry for the Winter 2024 collection with a colour palette that captured the earthy tones of the outdoors. Now that the new brand signifiers have been put in place—the Equestrian Knight Design, the Burberry knight blue and key bags emblematic of Lee's creative direction—its the coats that were reworked with a further military slant.

The fit: Trench coats took on new forms both in silhouette as well as the way they were worn. Instead of belting to accentuate the waist, the belt was tied from the back for a more minimal front. The collar was turned up and buttoned up to create a funnel neck (practical for the colder seasons). The trench coats were also dressed with the oversized epaulettes that were first introduced in Lee's debut collection for Burberry, as well as new keyring hardware that zipped up the front of the coat to the storm flap. The latter an example of Lee's penchant for decorative hardware at Burberry.

There was a decidedly oversized silhouette employed throughout the collection, exuding a sense of warmth and protection that Lee intended. But also, an extension of a signature British aesthetic prevalent on the streets.

Duffle coats and field jackets took on more voluminous forms as they were either crafted from fleecy wool or trimmed with a burst of braided fringing. Zippers on these outerwear were extended to trousers too, with each side consisting of three zipper pulls to allow for creative manipulation. They're reminiscent of those trackpants lined with buttons along the sides that were a big part of the noughties, but here, the attention was front and centre.

The details: On the bags front, a variation of the Trench Tote bag seemed to be a key push. Constructed with zippered sides, they were available in a number of materials with the standout being the ones featuring the Burberry check. And if I'm being honest, a more superior version that the original. The Shield bag, on the other hand, received a more functional upgrade with an exterior compartment.

While the knight blue wasn't part of the colour palette, it wasn't completely stripped from the Burberry Winter 2024 collection—its Lee's coloured signifier for the brand, after all. With every step of each model, the colour peeked through from the soles of every footwear. Not that we need to be reminded of how much that colour is now a part of Burberry (there's a whole knight blue takeover of Harrods that's still going on), but perhaps it's one of those subliminal messaging cleverly employed.

Three exceptional looks: Look 7 had the makings of being the next go-to fit for every British renegade youth; the easy and comfort-first look 19 with that plush mustard vest; and look 48's moleskin trench that's cool in every way.

The takeaway: I'm inclined to say that this is the best Lee for Burberry collection yet.

View the full Burberry Winter 2024 collection in the gallery below.

Look 1.
Look 2.
Look 3.
Look 4.
Look 5.
Look 6.
Look 7.
Look 8.
Look 9.
Look 10.
Look 11.
Look 12.
Look 13.
Look 14.
Look 15.
Look 16.
Look 17.
Look 18.
Look 19.
Look 20.
Look 21.
Look 22.
Look 23.
Look 24.
Look 25.
Look 26.
Look 27.
Look 28.
Look 29.
Look 30.
Look 31.
Look 32.
Look 33.
Look 34.
Look 35.
Look 36.
Look 37.
Look 38.
Look 39.
Look 40.
Look 41.
Look 42.
Look 43.
Look 44.
Look 45.
Look 46.
Look 47.
Look 48.
Look 49.
Look 50.
Look 51.
Look 52.
Look 53.
Look 54.
Look 55.
Look 56.
Look 57.
Look 58.

related posts

crosschevron-down