uring Milan Fashion Week, it was clear Dunhill was celebrating its unapologetic British roots. Creative Director Simon Holloway drew inspiration from regal wardrobes and the rock legends he considered aristocrats who carried with them a degree of irreverent glamour. The result? A collection that was as much garden party as backstage pass.
“British style is never just about the suit; it’s about how you wear it and what you wear with it,” said Holloway, citing the influences of King Charles III in his bachelor days and the eccentric elegance of Bryan Ferry (frontman for the 1970s highly successful British band Roxy Music).
The show took place in the private garden of Milan’s Museo Poldi Pezzoli, and was at once intimate and expansive. The models strode down the runway with borzois and weimaraners—the aristocratic-looking dog breeds that nodded to the British noble theme and added visual interest to the overall presentation and memorability. The fitted silhouettes were relaxed and complemented with loose layers and muted colours—creams, olives and browns—with hints of red and yellow. From tattersall check-lined coats (inspired by Tattersall’s horse market in London) to linen suits in pastel colours and silk-cotton blends that were hand-finished, the pieces from Dunhill conveyed relaxed luxury. The accessories also took cues from the casual: leather trainers, Panama hats, and the re-introduction of the classic Davies driving shoe that made the collection practical too. “It’s not about stiffness—it’s about precision with personality,” Holloway said. In a season in which fashion is all about looking forward, Dunhill reminded us that looking backward—as long as you do it with purpose and flair—can be just as edgy. – Images: Courtesy of Dunhill