From Burberry's Beasts to the Mulberry Squirrel, fashion is embracing creature comforts this Autumn. The relationship between fashion and nature has always been far more than a fling, but lately animal inspiration seems to be cropping up everywhere. This article will guide you through the picks of the litter at every price point.
Mulberry
The it-bag of the moment is definitely Mulberry's embroidered squirrel clutch (£425). I first spotted this in the above Instagram from a shoot for British Vogue (styled impeccably by Naomi Miller) and I haven't stopped thinking about it since. The embroidered creature strikes just the right balance of being cute without being twee, and it's nice to see the brand releasing some pieces a little less serious than their usual fare. If squirrels aren't your style, there's also a luxurious pheasant with tail feathers that sweep around to the other side of an oxblood purse.
Burberry
Burberry has launched its Burberry Beasts collection, featuring fish and birds made from intricate patchworks of bright leather. A vibrant ode to maximalism, stand-out pieces of this collection include the eccentric Falcon bag (£2,995) and the vibrant V-neck silk maxi dress (£795), both in shades of millennial pink. If you don't want to make quite that much of a statement, the Beasts print cotton sweater is the perfect transitional piece for your wardrobe. It comes in an earthy colour scheme of celadon and terracotta, bringing a freshness to Autumnal colour schemes.
Gucci
Alessandro Michele's artful use of animals in the Gucci Garden collection is unashamedly opulent, which is why partnering with Harrods makes such sense. What setting could be better suited to a collection bursting with butterflies and blooms than London's most unapologetically sumptuous department store? The name of the game here is embellishment, and plenty of it. This collection is dripping with pearls, lace, embroidery and every other type of detailing you can imagine. The star of the show has to be the king snake high-tops (£645), which would make a statement of a simple t-shirt and jeans. Until 25th August, you can even add personalisation in store, to really put your own mark on luxury.
Oasis x Zoological Society of London
Having previously created stunning pieces at high-street prices in collaboration with the Victoria and Albert museum, the team at Oasis have now turned their hand to transforming some of the world's most endangered species into incredible prints. The Indiana print is a sure-fire winner, particularly on their cropped jumpsuit (£60). Pair with heels and a leather jacket for a night out. If you want something more subtle, their LBD (£55) with a zebra-tipped collar is a sweet way to nod to the animal trend.