BEST OF BRITISH

British fashion is many things. Rich in heritage, steeped in craft and synonymous with a certain sense of style, yet never conventional.

Across eras, British designers have taken what we know and turned it on its head. From Burberry’s pioneering outerwear and Vivienne Westwood’s punk renaissance, to Alexander McQueen’s boundary-pushing vision, British fashion has continually challenged rules and reshaped conversations. Today, that spirit lives on, with designers and brands bringing fresh energy to the British fashion playbook, from streetwear and occasion dressing to elevated everyday style.

That makes London Fashion Week a defining moment in the fashion calendar. More than a showcase of what’s next, it reflects the individuality that runs through the city itself. For LFW ‘26, we’re celebrating the British brands continuing to shape that culture, from established names with decades of influence to new talent making their mark.

Consider this your edit of the best of British. Heritage, reimagined. Tradition with grit. Fashion that’s unapologetically British.

BURBERRY

Burberry is having a very British renaissance. Under Daniel Lee, the house is looking backwards to move forwards, raiding its archive for the codes that have made it unmistakably Burberry and giving them a decidedly more modern attitude. The trench is still doing the heavy lifting, while checks, quilting, scarves and weather-ready layers get a new lease of life. Heritage, but with considerably more swagger.

For 2026, the inspiration is distinctly London. Summer looked to Britain’s live music scene, bringing the energy of festivals, stadiums and open-air gigs into the collection, while Winter turned the city after dark into its playground. Think rain-slicked streets, night buses and Hackney carriages, with classic trenches thrown over evening looks and tailoring given a more rebellious edge. Even the soundtrack comes with a sense of occasion.

It’s Burberry doing what Burberry does best: taking quintessentially British codes and making them feel completely of the moment.

McQUEEN

Alexander McQueen has never been short on bite. Since Lee McQueen first disrupted the fashion establishment, the house has built its reputation on clothes that provoke, seduce and occasionally make you do a double take. Gritty, raw and gloriously dramatic, rebellion has always been part of McQueen’s DNA. The razor-sharp tailoring, the theatrical silhouettes… These are the pieces that refuse to sit quietly in your wardrobe.

In 2026, that spirit is still very much alive. Seán McGirr continues to carve out his vision for the house, pulling from British subcultures, historic dress and the darker corners of McQueen’s archive. There’s a distinctly British eccentricity to it all, precise tailoring rubs shoulders with romantic fabrics, exaggerated proportions and the right amount of drama to keep things interesting. 

Romantic but unruly, polished but never prim, rooted in British history while refusing to be confined by it. As usual, the fashion house takes the drama and runs with it. Lace, sculptural tailoring, fluid fabrics and statement knitwear all bring a little McQueen energy to your everyday.

BARBOUR

Barbour has weathered just about everything. Founded in South Shields in 1894, the British brand built its reputation on clothing made for the great outdoors, before the wax jacket escaped the countryside, becoming an undeniable fashion staple. The Bedale, Beaufort and Beadnell have been British wardrobe heroes for decades, proving that practicality and style can go hand-in-hand.

In ‘26, Barbour remains rooted in its heritage, but never stuck in the mud. Archive icons are being reworked for a new generation, while collaborations bring fresh energy to its signature waxed cotton, quilting and tartan. The result is quintessentially Barbour: built for rainy commutes and muddy walks, yet always ready for a fashionable detour.

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD

Vivienne Westwood needs no introduction. Over five decades, she turned rebellion into a design language, crashed the worlds of punk and couture together and made British heritage feel anything but traditional. From SEX and the early days of punk to her signature corsets, tartans and tailoring, Westwood proved that fashion could be political, provocative and fun.

Today, Andreas Kronthaler continues that legacy, drawing from Westwood’s wardrobe, British history and his own perspective. In ‘26, the codes remain instantly recognisable. Corsetry, tartan, Harris Tweed, draping and sharp tailoring are pushed into new shapes, while historic references are given a distinct modern twist.

The result sees clothes with history, humour and enough chaos to keep things interesting. Westwood has always known that tradition is much more exciting when you rewrite a few rules along the way.