It’s rare that I’m truly inspired by a runway show. I’m passionate about the industry and wearing beautiful things, but adjectives like “inspiring” and “amazing” are thrown around far too often by fashion writers and bloggers. There are certainly many talented designers, and I’ve been lucky to see a number of incredible collections in my short career; ADAM Fall 2009, Narciso Rodriguez Fall 2009, Vivienne Westwood Fall 2011, and Paul Smith Fall 2011 are a few standouts. But, there are unfortunately many more that are long forgotten by the time the clothes actually hit the racks. Inspiring? Sometimes. Amazing? Rarely.

However, I can’t stop thinking about the Burberry Prorsum Spring 2012 collection, and the thrilling experience of seeing it live in London last September. The show opened with a jazzy rendition of “I Put a Spell on You,” and it was true. I’m captivated by this spring’s Burberry girl. I want to be her. And, most importantly, she has encouraged me to write when life (and laziness) have led to unfortunate writer’s block.

It wasn’t just the massive, pristine, white tent looming in Hyde Park, a testament to myself that I had actually “made it” in London Fashion Week. It wasn’t just seeing Samantha Cameron, a true role model for women, and it definitely wasn’t asking the glowing starlets to smile for my camera.

 

It’s the Burberry girl herself. She’s tough but feminine, pairing a rugged jacket with a demure pleated dress in sunshine yellow.

 

She’s patriotic but worldly, 1940s Americana British we-can-do-it attitude juxtaposed with African-inspired prints and a raffia handbag she seems to have picked up from an exotic locale.

 

She’s Miss Congeniality, in every spring fashion spread–and in fact, the tech-savvy could get the look as soon as it came down the runway. However, she’s also subdued, in saturated but warm colors quite different from the neons and metallics on her fellow runways.

 

She’s everything you want to be this spring.

For more on the Burberry Spring 2012 show, check out my recap in the Washington Life October 2011 print edition. Photos are my own.