After Alexander McQueen’s untimely death in February this year, Sarah Burton stepped from behind the scenes in the McQueen team, to be thrust in to the limelight as the newly appointed creative director.
After joining the company in 1997, having spent so long working with Lee, she was hailed as the best woman for the job.
In an interview with WWD, Burton talks about the future of the McQueen label and her first major collection to be shown in Paris on 5th October, commenting:
“I don’t think it has to have as much angst in it. I think it will become softer. There will always be this McQueen spirit and essence. But, of course, I’m a woman so maybe more from a woman’s point of view.”
Despite McQueen’s dramatic and astounding shows that mixed design, technology and performance, including a holographic Kate Moss and Shalmom Harlow being spray-painted by a machine in a Jackson Pollock style, Burton says we shouldn’t expect the same shock tactics from her: “That was very much Lee’s territory — the spectacular show. In that way, I can’t try and pretend to be Lee.
“What saddens me in a way is that Lee had these incredible shows, but always under that there were amazing pieces you could wear, but somehow nobody every believed it was wearable. There’s this myth that it’s an unwearable house, but that’s not true.”
Despite producing designs for the McQueen Cruise line (images above), the Paris show will mark Burton’s first solo McQueen line – and just as the fashion world waited with baited breath for every unique, beautiful and stunningly crafted collection from the modern day genius, we cant wait to see how Burton will take the label forwards.
Kate Lawson – Fashion Editor, Showbiz-i
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