Alexander McQueen Shows Us Welsh Romance And Heritage At Fashion Week

Sarah Burton took inspiration for this seasons collection from the courage and strength of women, Welsh folklore and the heritage of the country. It was a lesson in elegant romance, with a punk twist of course. Opening looks were mostly monochrome with pops of red appearing throughout, each model’s hair slicked back with streaks of scarlet.

Coats and skirts with high low hems made visible the thigh high latex boots, a trend which has been seen on many FW20 runways including Balenciaga, Saint Laurent and Balmain. Asymmetric blanket check gowns with leather bodices were said to be inspired by Welsh nursing shawls but were also a polite reference to past collections. Laser cut lace dresses with exaggerated hips also reminded us of McQueen in its heyday. 

A subtle heart theme ran through the collection, drawing inspiration from intricate Welsh ‘love spoons,’ appliquéd on to leather, seen in the chunky silver jewellery and, more obviously, printed on the ‘queen of hearts’ style dresses. Standout looks included oversized, billowing dresses with added leather harnesses, a really wearable look for the Instagram age; and an intarsia wool coat and suit pieced together with hiding woodland creatures and a sneaky Welsh leek. 

This February marked the 10-year anniversary of the passing of Lee McQueen, it is comforting to see the brands roots still so evident in Burtons collections, although, now perhaps with a little less punk and a little more polish. 

Next Up, In Memory Of Lee Alexander McQueen