Photo: David Benthal/BFA.com
Nothing says “welcome back, Burberry” quite like a swanky cocktail party with Cher and Tyra Banks — both wearing trench coats, of course — in attendance. On October 16, the icons arrived at the grand reopening of the British luxury brand’s flagship 57th Street store in New York, following a yearlong closure while the building underwent a complete renovation. They were joined by VICs (very important clients) and other friends of the brand, including Kaitlyn Dever, Nicky Hilton, Iris Apatow, Jemima Kirke, Jodie Turner-Smith, Cara Delevingne, Jeremy O. Harris, Carmelo Anthony, Shanina Shaik, and Dixie D’Amelio.
Photo: Burberry
Led by creative director Daniel Lee, the redesign of the space captures the essence of British luxury and pays homage to the brand’s rich heritage. QR codes that link to more information about the history of Burberry’s signature trench coat are sprinkled throughout all three floors of the store, which first opened in 1978.
Photo: David Benthal/BFA.com
Photo: David Benthal/BFA.com
Lee’s nostalgic approach proved effective, considering many of the high-profile customers at the cocktail party used all two-and-a-half hours to shop — and not in the “I don’t know anyone here so I guess I’ll peruse the racks until I find someone to talk to” way. No, these people were trying on cashmere capes, pulling coats off the racks, and chatting with sales associates about their latest and greatest Burberry purchases. As an anglophile with an appreciation of Burberry’s signature tartan-check design, I rated elements of the evening from 1 to 10 cups of tea.
Photo: David Benthal/BFA.com
The Venue
After learning more about the architecture and design elements throughout the newly renovated store, one thing became very clear: Burberry has a long history (it was founded in 1856) and Lee respects it deeply. From the greenery-filled window displays inspired by the English countryside and the accessories display cases made from limestone to the archival campaign images hanging from the façade and the display of archival replicas worn by 19th-century explorers and World War I soldiers, the store will give even the most loyal Burberry customers a new appreciation for the brand.
Rating: 9 out of 10 cups of tea.
Photo: David Benthal/BFA.com
Photo: David Benthal/BFA.com
The Fashion
… Was all over the place. Burberry’s signature tartan-check print can be overdone, and I spotted questionable styling choices with some pattern clashing that personally offended me. But there were also incredibly chic looks that made me want to drop $3,000 on a Burberry trench. Apatow looked adorable in a Burberry miniskirt and classic white sweater, and Delevingne’s fur coat was to die for (although I’m not sure it was cold enough to be wearing it last night). I also loved Harris’s and Shaik’s monochromatic suits. Honorable mention for the sales associates, who were dressed in cobalt-blue crewneck sweaters and khaki pants (or pleated skirts in some cases), rather than the all-black uniform that’s standard in luxury retail spaces. The sweaters served as little pops of color in a sea of plaids and neutrals.
Rating: 8 out of 10 cups of tea.
Photo: David Benthal/BFA.com
Photo: David Benthal/BFA.com
The Conversation
If I were to rank industry events from best to worst, the category of store openings would be at the very bottom of the list, tied for last place with breakfasts that start before 9 a.m. They’re almost always stuffy, overcrowded, and far too bright; the best parties have dim mood lighting, not fluorescents that make it damn-near impossible to stand in the corner of the room without feeling uncomfortable. Last night’s party, however, was surprisingly fun and lively. Guests were actually interested in the clothes and marveled at the scale of the renovation. There was a lot of chatter about the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show that took place at Brooklyn Navy Yard on Tuesday night. The guest lists for these two events overlapped quite a bit, and many of the supermodels cast in the revived runway presentation also showed up to support Burberry, including Taylor Hill and Jasmine Tookes. “I know I’m not supposed to say this, but I loved it,” one person told me of the controversial comeback event.
During the second half of the party, guests were talking about one topic and one topic only: Cher, bitch! I know this sounds dramatic, but the aura of the room actually shifted when word got around that she was en route. (Or perhaps it was just the euphoric feeling of finally getting to break out a trench coat on a crisp fall evening spreading throughout the building as more and more Burberry-clad guests walked through the doors — either way, the energy was palpable.)
Rating: 7 out of 10 cups of tea.
Photo: David Benthal/BFA.com
Photo: David Benthal/BFA.com
The Guest List
Sure, there were a few stragglers; a few people I talked to “came with friends” who were nowhere in sight and not one but two people I know coincidentally ran in to their party-hopping neighbors who have no ties to the fashion industry. But it was certainly an A-list crowd of celebrity friends of the brand, supermodels, Burberry ambassadors, and VICs who genuinely love the label. The usual group of D-list (sorry) fashion-adjacent folks who silently judge you while wearing sunglasses inside were noticeably absent, which probably contributed to the great vibes. Even a few A-listers who are rarely spotted out and about — so seeing them IRL feels like a treat — were in attendance, like Banks, Delevigne, and, of course, I have to mention her again, Cher. Bravo, Burberry, for getting these divas out of the house and in front of a step and repeat.
Rating: 10 out of 10 cups of tea.
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