Burberry Flower Necklace

Burberry, a luxury British fashion house with origins in battlefield gear and outfitting real-life explorers, is universally renowned for its vintage trench coats, jackets, footwear and handbags. The brand has undergone several transformations since its inception in the 19th century.

When the 21-year-old apprentice draper Thomas Burberry (1835–1926) opened a small clothing outfitter in Basingstoke, Hampshire, in 1856, he catered to the needs of the local population, focusing on weatherproof clothing designed for outdoor activities like hunting, riding and fishing.

Building on his success, Burberry researched more fabrics that would be suitable for these country pursuits. In 1888, he patented gabardine, a durable, breathable fabric that was ready for any British weather. The material was groundbreaking for rainwear, which previously had been bulky and heavy. Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen wore it on his 1893 North Pole expedition and Burberry later outfitted Sir Ernest Shackleton on his Antarctic expeditions. These high-profile demonstrations of its design for extreme conditions fueled Burberry’s growth as a trusted brand.

The Tielocken coat — a forerunner to the trench coat — was patented in 1912, featuring just a button at the collar and a single strap. Higher-ranking British officers during World War I donned trench coats designed by the likes of Burberry, Aquascutum and other firms.

The design of Burberry’s classic trench demonstrated a consideration of the demand for both weather protection and function on the battlefield, with every element having its purpose, whether it was the epaulets for an officer’s rank or the gun flap at the breast. When the now-familiar check — a plaid check with black, white and red stripes on a background of beige — was added as a lining during the 1920s, a fashion icon was born. Scarves and other items featuring the pattern rendered the Burberry plaid an instantly recognizable hallmark of the house around the globe.

The brand continued to gain popularity throughout the 20th century, but by the 1990s, it was in dire need of a refresh. By the time Christopher Bailey was named design director at Burberry in 2001, the check was so ubiquitous through rampant knockoffs that it had become a reference for kitsch rather than quality.

Drawing on its heritage of craftsmanship with a new streetwear edge, Bailey helped rebuild Burberry’s relevance as a reputable fashion brand. Key to this reimagining was developing an understanding of how to democratically market high-end luxury fashion. Milestones in this regard materialized in 2010, when Burberry became the first brand to livestream a fashion show (and did so using 3D technology), and in 2020, when the house brought its London Fashion Week presentation to Twitch, a popular American livestreaming service. The international visibility brought with it renewed interest in the brand, which eventually revived its tartan after dropping it from many of its clothes, including in a 2018 collaboration with Russian designer Gosha Rubchinskiy that swathed shirts, dresses, coats and bags in the check.

Although tastes have changed, the signature trench coats that date back to Burberry’s beginnings remain at the brand’s core, with new fabrics and fits continuing to adapt this British style classic to contemporary trends.

Find vintage Burberry trench coats, shoes, handbags and other outerwear and accessories on 1stDibs.

Diamond, pearl and other antique rope necklaces continue to be worn around the world and across cultures, thanks to their many styles and versatility.

While the term rope necklace may conjure up images of a classic gold link chain with a pattern like a rope, it can refer to any long necklace that drapes over the chest. This can include a string of pearls, a fabric rope with a pendant or a metal necklace made of interlocking links.

Rope necklaces are among the most ancient pieces of jewelry. Even before the Bronze Age, when twisted metal necklaces took hold, rope necklaces were fashioned out of natural materials. One found in Israel, dating back 120,000 years, had seashells painted with ocher on a flax string. Even after all these years, necklaces of any kind remain an irrefutable staple of any complete outfit.

Although new trends in jewelry are constantly emerging — everything from equestrian-inspired pieces to statement brooches have come into vogue in recent years — the glamour and beauty of the past continue to inform modern styles and designs. In a way, the cyclical history of the necklace differs little from its familiar looped form: The artisans at Van Cleef & Arpels, the celebrated French jewelry house that has earned the adoration of modern royals, found lots of inspiration in King Tut, whose burial chamber informed the look of Art Deco necklaces and other adornments of the era. David Webb also looked to history for the design of his necklaces, mining the ornamental styles of ancient Greece, Mesopotamia and Egypt.

Casual beads or a simple pendant can complete a relaxed ensemble, while multiple or heavy jeweled strands can give an outfit instant pizzazz. An antique or vintage rope necklace is the ultimate everyday accessory. Find yours today on 1stDibs.