In a season noted for its sartorial flights of fancy, the Alexander McQueen Fall/Winter 2016 collection at London Fashion Week was a soaring success. British designer Sarah Burton, who has been at McQueen since 1996, deserves most of the credit.
Best known as the designer of the wedding dress for Catherine Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, Burton has in fact produced season after season of critically acclaimed collections for McQueen – including accessories and jewelry with a focus on handcrafted, artisanal and technical expertise.
About Sarah Burton
Sarah Burton grew up and was educated in Manchester, England, before moving to London to study fashion at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. On the recommendation of a tutor, she completed a “placement year,” or internship, with Alexander McQueen in 1996, rejoining the company following her graduation a year later.
In 2000, Burton was named Head of Design for womenswear at Alexander McQueen. Ten years later, after the untimely death of Mr. McQueen, she was promoted to Creative Director of the entire brand, having worked alongside Mr. McQueen for more than 14 years.
In April 2011, Burton received global recognition when it was revealed she had designed the wedding dress for the marriage of Kate Middleton to Prince William.
Bejeweled Moons, Stars and Butterflies
Sarah Burton described her Fall 2016 McQueen woman to Vogue as “Almost sleepwalking, in a state where reality and dreams become blurred.” Fashion critic Sarah Mower wrote that Burton’s ethereal clothes and accessories were indeed “spun out of dreams,” but “every bit as elevated as haute couture.”
Burton called upon bejeweled moons, stars and the iconic McQueen butterfly motif as accents for her feminine dresses and coats. She also sprinkled them liberally in the hair of her sylph-like models.
In her more man-tailored offerings Burton employed silver body chains under deconstructed tuxedo pieces, and oversized, Dali-like watches with watch fobs and dangling charms.
To see a slideshow and video of British designer Sarah Burton’s Alexander McQueen Fall/Winter 2016 collection, please click here.
Awards and Accolades
Sources: Fashion Photos: Vogue.com | Jewelry Photos: AlexanderMcQueen.com
I love the gold butterflies.
Thanks, Kellee. We’ll post more butterfly jewels in the weeks ahead.
— S.M.