MILAN, Feb 20, 2007/ FW/ --- Perhaps it’s because the movie, ‘The Queen’ starring Helen Mirren is a forerunner at the upcoming Oscars that inspired Christopher Bailey to spotlight the ‘strong woman’ making her a 21st century knight in shining armor.

Maybe, it’s even the Burberry Prorsum logo itself that was displayed bigger than life at the entrance of the show venue. It might even be the current headlines with all the continuing troubles in the Middle East. It might even be all three.

Whatever it was that tickled the British designer’s imagination, the Burberry Prorsum Fall 2007 is ‘tough chic.’ And no, it’s not about street roughness or the languid fight for equality of the sexes. It’s about the woman who can build an empire, like Elizabeth I of England. Yes… that kind of woman.

Opening with a black trench coat with wide collars and oversized zippers, the model wearing quilted gauntlets and a wide belt, Bailey set the tone of the collection, heightened by the background music of an English marching music.

What followed are multiple variants of coats and jackets made with wool, leather, snakeskin, alligator skin and fur, all sharply tailored and with military or medieval armor references.

Epaulets on the shoulder, grommets, obi-wide leather belts, a corset belt that extends beneath the bust to the waist and Stuart boots with stiletto heels all come together as the suit of armor for the beautiful Burberry Prorsum 21st century female knight.

Bailey then softened it with ruche mini skirts and dresses. Tiny ribbons were layered to adorn the placket or be an integral part of the dress itself. Trench coats were sheered at the waist or gathered with a belt to give it softness.

And Christopher Bailey’s coup de grace, the floral camouflage! Proposed on cocktail dresses or corset-inspired minis, the collection that was very dark in terms of color (black, deep blue and silvery gray), was given the necessary sweetness, tough as it may look.

Burberry Prorsum

Burberry Prorsum

Burberry Prorsum

Burberry Prorsum