Find out what the creative mind formerly behind Givenchy has in store for the storied British brand.

When a fresh face is installed at the helm of a design house, you can expect a little chatter. When that house is as established and storied as Burberry (a brand that, up until recently, was steered by one man for a 17-year stretch), and the new designer in question is Mr Riccardo Tisci, the quiet hum of chatter quickly becomes a cacophony. It’s no secret that the Italian’s appointment was a controversial one: was he, a swaggering, streetwear-championing designer, the right fit for a century-plus-old British heritage brand? Conjecture and objections showed no sign of abating when, first, a new graphic logo was unveiled, quickly followed by the release of an archival-inspired monogram. Was Mr Tisci about to carefully dismantle the label’s 163-year legacy or was he honouring it in earnest? A bit of both, it turns out.

When the collection debuted back in September, it became immediately clear that Mr Tisci knew very well what he was doing. Not only did the designer demonstrate a deep appreciation of the house’s traditional codes, he’d successfully (and respectfully) modernised them. Huddled in an ex-Post Office warehouse in Battersea, we were treated to a parade of 134 looks that checked the trench (oversized, but immaculately tailored) and, ahem, check boxes as well as a slew of streetwear-inspired jersey, technical outerwear and suits in Mr Tisci’s newly defined “English fit” – an elongated slim silhouette with strong, rolled shoulders. Needless to say, we’re sold. And we strongly suspect you will be, too. First up at MR PORTER: a handful of key pieces from the line, including a duo of graphic logo tees and some wide-leg twill trousers perfectly suited to spring. But watch this space: there’s plenty more where that came from.