Sarah Burton to Exit Alexander McQueen
Image Courtesy: Monica Feudi
Look from her first Spring/Summer 2011 collection.
After 13 years of partnership and countless innovative collections, Sarah Burton is exiting her position as Creative Director at Alexander McQueen. In a statement made on Monday by the label from Burton, she says that the team at Alexander McQueen are her family and “Above all, I want to thank Lee Alexander McQueen. He taught me so much, and I am eternally grateful to him.”
Burton has worked with the brand for nearly 26 years. She got her start as an intern at McQueen while studying at Central Saint Martins, an extremely prestigious design school in London, England. Central Saint Martins is responsible for producing some of the biggest names in fashion today, among the likes of Lee Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Kim Jones, and Stella McCartney. In 2000, Burton became the head of womenswear for the brand and in 2010 was named Creative Director, following the death of her longtime mentor, friend, and beloved designer Lee Alexander McQueen. She has since been the creative director for 13 years and produced some of the most amazing collections.
Image Courtesy: Alexander McQueen’s Instagram
Beyonce in custom Alexander McQueen during her Renaissance Tour in Stockholm.
Among her exquisite portfolio of work, Burton is the one responsible for the design of Kate Middleton’s wedding dress that took the internet by storm in 2011. She has also dressed stars like Beyonce, Zendaya, and Timothee Chalamet, just to name a few. Her first solo collection was shown In Paris in 2011 during the Spring/Summer season and in 2021, she started working with young teenagers to produce smaller sizes of Alexander McQueen designs. Burton also gave them different materials from the studio so they could create their own designs, style themselves, and be photographed with their creations.
Image Courtesy: Monica Feudi
Sarah Burton after the 2011 debut show.
Burton has always been driven by her innate need to create and share her designs. Her final collection with the brand will be shown in Paris on September 30th, 2023. “I am looking forward to the future and my next chapter and will always carry this treasured time with him,” Sarah said in a press release made by the brand on Monday. Speculation has already begun to arise on social media about who will be the one to replace Burton. Kering Group, a French-based company that manages some of the most luxurious fashion houses is expected to release a statement on Burton’s exit and her successor in the following days.
Strike Out,
Ali Tarnowksy
Boca Raton
Ali Tarnowsky is the Fashion Director for Strike Magazine Boca. When she’s not writing about fashion or styling, you can find her with her best friends. You can reach her on Instagram @alitarnowsky or at a.n.tarnowsky@gmail.com
Kate Middleton’s 2011 wedding dress. PC: Vogue.com
