Belstaff’s AW16 men’s collection centred on the theme of ‘Heading North’, with a collection designed for cold adventure riding through rough terrains, snowy mountains and icy glaciers. The Belstaff AW16 women’s collection carried on in this thread, taking inspiration from great polar expeditions – in particular, Edith ‘Jackie’ Ronne’s great Antarctic expedition of 1947; the first woman to be a working member of such an expedition.
As ever, Belstaff gave more than a nod to its rich heritage, with moto-inspired designs seen in motocross leather trousers, a cracked off-white and tan suede biker jacket and graphic motocross-inspired sweaters.
The polar theme was intertwined with these signature biker pieces, found in Mongolian shearling jackets, fur-trimmed quilted coats, Inuit-inspired calfskin patchwork, and a colour palette of tan, white, grey and khaki.
To offset the tough, heavy pieces, subtle feminine details were found in pleated organza wrap skirts, asymmetric hems, fringing and a phoenix-embroidered silk bomber jacket – creating a soft contrast to the more statement-making pieces of the collection.
Words and images by Angharad Jones
