GIVEN that Belstaff is an outdoors brand and waxed cotton jackets its staple, you could think it hard to do something new, re-invent the wheel each season - in a way perhaps there's not so much point when it comes to a practical purchase. Until, that is, you see Martin Cooper's autumn/winter 2013-14 collection.
"This season it was really all about a casual sense of luxury, that British sense of ease," explained the designer after the show. Cooper, who joined the British heritage label in 2011, had previously lived in London and had been charmed by the innate sense of style its girls have when it comes to getting dressed. "It's that effortless dressing, no thinking about it, just putting stuff on," he said, drawing attention to look 17, a jumper and skirt - a self-assemble cool look. "She's the girl on the back of the bike holding the guy. It was really about exploring the heritage of the brand and being less structured with a fluidity," he said.
Coats, of course, were the winning looks here and all too high up on our wish list to walk out with right there and then as the grey skies continued to mount and the rain continued to pour outside. Shearling parkas came cool and oversized, those waxed-cotton jackets belted, beneath them a skirt that flounced into place and a cosy knit jumper up top.
There was a sportswear element later with dropped-waist dresses of sweatshirt shape and there were spots of sparkle on pleated kilts or studs on tops to make for a great line-up of non-outdoors clothes too.
Bags were to be worn always across the body - you've got to keep those hands free to hold on to that biker boy after all- and this was the way to work Wellington boots (if indeed there ever is a way).
Though we don't enjoy this sort of weather, we very much enjoy the options Belstaff has for circum-navigating it.
