Sarah Burton Bids Farewell to Alexander McQueen for SS24
The British designer ends her 26-year run at the House with an emotional tribute to contemporary women and her loyal team.
British Designer Sarah Burton has guided Alexander McQueen into a contemporary light since 1996. She worked closely with Lee Alexander McQueen until his passing in 2010, taking the title of Creative Director 13 years ago and pushing its founder’s ruthless vision to a global stage.
Burton has arrived at Paris Fashion Week to showcase her final collection for the British House. The grandiose occasion was met with roaring crowds looking to glimpse the magic, welcoming international A-listers, including Stray Kids‘ I.N, Elle Fanning, and Yara Shahidi.
The intergalactic set was met with realistic bird calls and rumbling sounds that signaled blast off, transporting us to another world. “The show is dedicated to Lee Alexander McQueen,” read the show notes, “whose wish was always to empower women, and to the passion, talent, and loyalty of my team.”
Titled “ANATOMY II,” Burton recalled her extensive tenure at Alexander McQueen, celebrating women in all forms. Queen Elizabeth I, red roses, and Polish sculptor Magdalena Abakanowicz (whose artwork ornamented the venue) served as further inspiration. The designer’s powerful Spring/Summer 2024 collection was opened by Kaia Gerber, who wore a tailored dress with thick-cut stitching and slashed detailing. Red-trimmed fringed suiting followed with mystical flair, while blood-red roses bloomed on satin slip dresses.
Golden dresses with threaded decor were accented by bold leather corsets that manipulated natural figures, seeing cutout suits receive pointed breast covers in glossy leather. Blood pumped through illustrative veins on additional designs, sending crotchet garments down the runway honoring McQueen’s historic legacy. Naomi Campbell closed the collection with a glistening metallic number, seeing models recount the runway with tears in their eyes. A vast standing ovation marked Burton’s finale, making attendees emotional for her final bow at the House.
Sarah Burton’s final collection for Alexander McQueen allowed us to appreciate her revolutionary stance, recalling her emblematic design language that will follow the House for years to come.
Take a closer look at Alexander McQueen’s SS24 collection in the gallery above, and stay tuned for more Paris Fashion Week content on Hypebeast.
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