Alexander McQueen Spring Summer 2013 Show at Paris Fashion Week

| 4 October 2012

In her show late Tuesday on the eve of the close of Fashion Week, Sarah Burton presented an extravagant collection for Alexander McQueen's Spring Summer 2013 collection constructed from hive-like fabrics. The ornate, immaculately tailored garments, mostly jackets with pants or hotpants, all came cinched at the waist, and all imparted Queen Bee status on their wearer.

In the amber and gold hues of a beehive, a bustier whose pattern resembled an armadillo hide was paired with black cropped pants, their hive pattern revealing skin underneath in a dazzling juxtaposition of armour and exposure.

The reptilian fabric on another dress, a dramatic tight column of black with a vampish flounce below the knee, was so tactile, it begged to be touched.

Burton – who received international acclaim after designing Kate Middleton’s wedding gown – also showed a dozen or so hoop-skirt looks that managed to remain both elegant and avant-garde at the same time.