EMPERORS’ CLOTHES

Bid goodbye to minimalism and embrace opulent embroidery fit for a king

The SS17 runways were a homage to the finest artistry in hand-embroidery techniques. Alexander Mcqueen showed cropped capes and a tailored take on the sherwani, both embroidered with shimmering metallic threads, in a collection inspired by the British Raj. Burberry, meanwhile, showed a line inspired by Virginia Woolf ’s feminist classic Orlando— there were Tudor ruffs, jacquard textiles and opulent embroidered cavalry jackets. It’s not just on the eveningwear, however, that we are seeing such sumptuous embroidery; daywear from brands such as Ports 1961 and Les Hommes are evidence that brocade looks fabulous anytime, anywhere.