LONDON - Luxury British label Burberry dazzled a star-studded crowd with colourful metalics, corsets and capes at the most anticipated show of London Fashion Week – despite a gloomy profit warning.

Set in Kensington Gardens, the huge greenhouse-like tent which housed the show led by Christopher Bailey was plunged into darkness.

A backdrop showed Burberry’s new flagship store lit up against silhouettes of iconic London buildings and monuments – Big Ben, St Paul’s Cathedral and Nelson’s Column.

Models rolled out Burberry’s latest spring-summer collection on Monday under the expectant gaze of burlesque style icon Dita von Teese, American Vogue editor Anna Wintour, tennis star Andy Murray and actor Dev Patel.

First up is a long white cloak. Next, tailored jackets worn over swimsuits in pleated satin, followed by dresses and tops with fitted corsets.

A cropped cape covering the shoulders often completes the look, setting off a feather dress in midnight blue or purple hotpants.

Burberry’s colour palette for the season ranges from dusky pinks and flesh colours, suggestive of lingerie, to green lace dresses and trench coats in red and fuschia.

The clothes take on an increasingly aluminium hue, until a grand finale of rainbow-coloured metallic raincoats.

“It was an explosion of colour, it was really surprising,” enthused British fashion editor Hilary Alexander who said she was “electrified” by the show.

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