By Julianna Tramposch
The UK luxury fashion house Alexander McQueen is undergoing some intense
transformations this fall season. Sarah Burton began her career at Alexander McQueen in 1997
as an intern. She has been the creative director at McQueen for over 13 years following the
tragic suicide of McQueen himself. He was her mentor, and her work has helped carry out his
legacy through countless collections. Many people believed Burton was the only person who
could possibly fill the shoes of McQueen. And she did. As an extremely talented creative
director, Burton was known for preserving the heritage of Alexander McQueen while also
incorporating her own touch that was softer and romantic. This contrast between Burton and
McQueen, of the light and the dark, made McQueen's collections so emotional and
mesmerizing. Burton’s departure from McQueen reminds us to always expect the unexpected in
the world of fashion.
Burton shed no tears at the end of her final show, which took place at Paris Fashion
Week. The ending song was “Heroes” by David Bowie, which was a very fitting song because
Burton was like a hero to everyone at McQueen for keeping the name and legacy alive. Like all
of her collections, this final collection was stunning, a work of art, and a compelling exhibit of
femininity. She dedicated this collection to “Lee Alexander McQueen, whose wish was always
to empower women, and to the passion, talent, and loyalty of my team.” She goes on further to
say, “This collection is inspired by female anatomy, Queen Elizabeth I, the blood red rose, and
Magdalena Abakanowicz, a transgressive and powerfully creative artist who refused ever to
compromise her vision” (Cathy Horyn, “Sarah Burton’s Stunning Final Bow”).
Burton will always be ingrained in the McQueen fashion house. The next person to take
on the position of creative director is Séan McGirr. Before joining the McQueen house, he was
the head of ready-to-wear at JW Anderson and has worked under Christophe Lemaire. He is a
graduate of Central Saint Martins of the University of the Arts in London, England. The CEO of
McQueen, Gianfilippo Testa, believes McGirr is the right person to succeed Burton due to his
experience, personality, and creative energy. His official appointment was confirmed in a press
release by Kering, the global luxury parent group of McQueen, on October 3, 2023. As the first
designer of the house who never had the chance to work with McQueen, many are intrigued to
see his work at McQueen.
Julianna Tramposch is a student writer for Boston University Fashion and Retail Association. She is a senior studying Public Relations and Hospitality.