History Of Burberry’s Tartan Print –

The Burberry check – a tartan design first used as a fabric lining in the brand’s raincoats in the 1920s, and has long served as a visual barometer of changing tastes. The print first came to prominence in the ’60s, after an experimental Parisian salesclerk turned their store’s trench coats inside out as a visual merchandising technique to welcome Sir Patrick Reilly, who was Britain’s ambassador to France at the time.

Paste the unlock code that you have received in your email

Invalid unlock code

Succession fan? Me too. While the world is mourning the end of Succession, for fashion fans, the finest put-down of the show came from its most successful social climber in the opening episode of the final series, when Wambsgans described Greg’s date Bridget’s Nova pane Burberry tote as a “ludicrously capacious bag”. After the Succession episode aired, there was a 310 per cent spike in searches for its handbags.

In the late ’90s it straddled worlds, key to the uniforms of both the Balmoral and the Cool Britannia sets, pearl-wearing Sloane rangers and the “chavs” derided by The Daily Telegraph. The red strikethrough of the beige, white and grey Burberry check was worn by the Queen and tabloid favorite Danniella Westbrook alike. In 2002, when Westbrook was papped with her daughter in matching Burberry check kilts, while wheeling a pram in the same Nova pane print, it marked a shift towards it becoming so associated with the so-called “chav” aesthetic (this was in the era of the WAG, whose taste for designer labels saw flashy logos come to be rejected in some corners as reflective of money, but not taste), that many more conservative customers temporarily turned their backs on the heritage design. Burberry, overseen by creative director Christopher Bailey at the time, even began to limit production of its most distinctive print.

Queen Elizabeth II for her Christmas break in 2018, wearing Burberry check silk foulard scarf

Danniella Westbrook with her daughter in 2002 with matching Burberry check kilts

For his autumn/winter 2000 show, industry disruptor Miguel Adrover drew attention to the relationship between capitalist excess and logomania, and the concept of literally wearing our wealth on our sleeve. His collection included a Burberry trench reversed and worn inside out on the runway, an evolution of the reinterpretation of the motifs of mega-brands-from Coca-Cola to Louis Vuitton, that he showed the previous season. Burberry, meanwhile, continues to rework and reimagine its most emblematic motif. During his tenure from 2018 to 2022, Riccardo Tisci imbued the print with a new dash of rebellious cool, care of a collaboration with Vivienne Westwood. Tisci’s longtime model muse Irina Shayk has been spotted multiple times in Burberry check, and, in a full circle style moment, so too has her young daughter. Billie Eilish, Bella Hadid and Beyonce were also fans of Tisci’s take.

Newly installed creative director Daniel Lee’s assessment of contemporary British values also incorporates Burberry’s heritage tartan. Lee’s spring/summer 2023 swimwear offering features sexy Burberry check bikinis, snuggly robes and XL beach bags.

Miguel Adrover’s autumn/winter 2000 show

Burberry’s Daniel Lee-designed summer swimwear collection features bikinis in the brand’s signature check print

Below, revisit the Burberry Check’s multifarious style moments. Happy Scrolling!!

(Pictures used in this post are for the reference only, all copyrights belong to the respective owners of the images. Image sources include but not limited to – google, IG, respective fashion magazines, fashion designers, fashion models and fashion brands)

Victoria Beckham, 2000 –

Beckham in her Out of Your Mind era in Los Angeles, sporting a Burberry check bandana and backpack.

Rihanna, 2017 –

Rihanna gives the Burberry check a sporty touch for a SZA concert at The Box in 2017

Liam Gallagher, 2000 –

Britpop rebel Liam Gallagher and his then gf, All Saints star Nicole Appleton, adored the Burberry check. Here he arrives at Heathrow airport with a stack of the brand’s Nova pane suitcases. Gallagher’s son Lennon is now a face of Burberry.

Irina Shayk, 2019 –

Modelling Burberry checks to perfection on the streets of Manhattan in 2019.

Bella Hadid, 2022 –

Never afraid to play with Noughties style codes, Hadid opted for a slouchy Burberry check two-piece in sugary pink.

Queen Camilla, 2019 –

Queen Camilla, then the Duchess of Cornwall, wears a check fabric lined Burberry trench to the 100th Royal Welsh Show.

Beyonce, 2018 –

Beyonce was the first star to wear Riccardo Tisci’s creations for Burberry, performing on stage as part of her On the Run II tour in a custom bodysuit and cape.