Grey Skies, Mud and Music: Burberry's Festival Remix

Vogue Arabia

18-06-2025

There's nothing quite like an English summer. Gloomy and golden in equal measure—depending on the mood of the weather gods—it's a season of contrasts. And nowhere are these juxtapositions more alive than at the heart of British music festivals. Think wellies in the mud, bass lines under grey skies, and a crowd that never lets the drizzle dampen the vibe. For Burberry Festival, the British heritage house taps into that heady mix of nostalgia and modernity, celebrating the cultural power of 1990s festivals and the spirit of Cool Britannia that defined an era.
Burberry Festival doesn't just revisit the past—it remixes it. Set against a custom-built festival scene complete with tents, sound systems, and a healthy dose of English mud, the visuals blend archival footage with contemporary imagery to channel a carefree, off-duty energy. It's an ode to Britpop and rave culture, to oversized silhouettes and utilitarian outerwear, and to the kind of style that thrives in unpredictable weather. Because in the UK, festival fashion is as much about expression as it is about survival—and Burberry knows how to do both.
At the heart of this campaign is a cross-generational cast that reflects the past, present, and future of British cool. Liam Gallagher—arguably the voice of an entire generation—joins fellow 90s icon Goldie alongside modern-day muses like Cara Delevingne and Loyle Carner. The next-gen Gallagher siblings also make an appearance, underscoring the campaign's sense of legacy and reinvention.
In one shot, Alexa Chung stands defiant in a moss-green parka thrown over a sequinned slip dress—her Burberry wellingtons sunk into the slush, puddles pooling behind her. It's messy, moody, and unmistakably British. The kind of image that doesn't just nod to festival culture—it lives in it. In another, the back of a small vehicle is packed with all the essentials for a full day of music: Burberry's Large Highlands Tote brims with water bottles and cups, while rolled-up mats and the matching Highlands shoulder bag hint at a long, carefree day ahead.
Burberry Festival puts the spotlight on festival-ready pieces from the Fall collection. Expect weatherproof outerwear, layered silhouettes, and, of course, the quintessential Wellington boots—a nod to festival legends like Kate Moss and Sienna Miller, who made the sturdy footwear a style icon in its own right. Beyond the campaign, Burberry will mark the summer with special takeovers at The Newt in Somerset and Ibiza, blending countryside cool with coastal energy.
By capturing the essence of an era while looking ahead to what's next, Burberry Festival isn't just a nostalgic ode—it's a cultural reset. A reminder that great style, like great music, is always worth revisiting.