Umbrellas and British countryside chic at Burberry Prorsum AW12 at London Fashion Week

The rainy April weather outside inspires me to dig out my Burberry Prorsum AW12 catwalk photo archives from recent London Fashion Week (LFW) in February.

SWXX was fortunate to attend the most glittery autumn/winter catwalk show at LFW, while on a front-of-house assignment for Laha Magazine.

The face of Burberry, Cara Delevigne, under a cool umbrella at Burberry Prorsum catwalk finalé during London Fashion Week AW12. Photo © Zarina Holmes

The show took place in the Burberry’s tent (which looked more like a glass-ceiling conservatory) at the Kensington Gore Gardens.

The catwalk show was opened with UK’s black model du jour, Jourdan Dunn, in Burberry’s signature tweed cap and Joni Michell’s haunting song “River” in the background.

Jourdan Dunn at Burberry Prorsum AW12 show. Photo © Zarina Holmes

We fell in love Christopher Bailey’s elegant interpretation of the countryside chic, without compromising comfort and being practical in the British outdoors. Yes people, we can now look smashing in the rain with our brollies.

Under Bailey’s creative direction, Burberry has become one of the the most successful British brands.

The designer matched pretty bow belts and bright-coloured gloves with muted earth colours. Studded leather gloves provided a subtle Brit-punk element to the feminine silhouettes.

Look out for ochre leather gloves and owls motif this winter. Photo © Zarina Holmes

Cool Brittania ladies. Studded leather gloves toughen up feminine dresses. Photo © Zarina Holmes

Female models wore their jackets over slightly mussed-up hair. This low maintenance hairstyle is great news to mere mortals like us.

Mussed-up hair is hot. Wear coats and jackets over long hair to work this look. Photo © Zarina Holmes

Top fashion editors and A-list celebrities such as Eddie Redmayne, Clemence Poesy, Alexa Chung and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley graced the front row.

I was looking for my commissioning editor, Laila Hamdaoui of Laha Magazine, when I spotted American Vogue editor, Anna Wintour, in a fantastic flower-print dress in the front row. Following that important style cue, the UK high street stores are currently filled with bold flower-print dresses.

American Vogue editor, Anna Wintour, doing the spring bloom. Photo © Zarina Holmes

Paris Vogue editor, Emmanuelle Alt, was in her signature skinny white trousers.

My only star-struck moment was when I bumped into The Sartorialist blogger and photographer Scott Schuman: “Wow, I love your blog and photography work! You’re one of the reasons I’m a photographer today.”

“Thank you,” Schuman said sheepishly, as if he was unsure that he is the most influential fashion blogger on this planet. (Ed: He is).

The British gentleman look at Burberry Prorsum AW12. Photo © Zarina Holmes

The show was closed by the face of Burberry, Cara Delevigne, in a majestic purple velvet coat. During the finalé, all the models walked in beautiful confetti rain under colourful umbrellas.

We don’t want to be rained on any other way.

Burberry is at No. 2 Brompton Road, SW1 London. Some of the photos here are featured in Photography Monthly, April 2012 Edition.