Our first look at Seán McGirr's vision for Alexander McQueen has been unveiled today. The house has released a preview campaign shot by Tommy Malekoff ahead of the designer's first show, which will take place in Paris next month.
The imagery shows friends of the house Debra Shaw and Frankie Rayder walking around a forest both wearing skull masks, one of the key McQueen emblems, while Shaw is dressed in tartan, another McQueen signature and perhaps a reference to one of Lee McQueen's most famous collections, The Highland Rape.
Although we will have to wait another few weeks to see exactly what McGrirr has in store at McQueen, this preview certainly gives us an idea that the designer will be leaning deeply into the house's history.
Before taking on this role, McGirr was head of ready-to-wear at JW Anderson, working first on menswear and then later adding the women's collections to his remit. The Irish designer, who studied at Central Saint Martins in London, previously worked as womenswear designer at Dries Van Noten, and had stints at Burberry and Uniqlo.
"We are delighted to welcome Seán McGirr as creative director," said Gianfilippo Testa, CEO of Alexander McQueen said of his announcement. "With his experience, personality, and creative energy, he will bring a powerful creative language to Alexander McQueen while building on its unique heritage."
Burton announced that she was leaving the British fashion brand in September after 13 years at the helm, and 26 years in total. She had worked closely alongside the label's founder, Lee Alexander McQueen, up until his death.
"I am so proud of everything I’ve done and of my incredible team at Alexander McQueen," Burton said in a statement at the time of her departure announcement. "They are my family, and this has been my home for the past 26 years. I want to thank François-Henri Pinault for believing in me and offering me this amazing opportunity. Above all, I want to thank Lee Alexander McQueen. He taught me so much, and I am eternally grateful to him. I am looking forward to the future and my next chapter and will always carry this treasured time with me."
Her final collection, for spring/summer 2024 was dedicated to Lee, "whose wish was always to empower women", she explained in the show notes, and to "the passion, talent and loyalty" of her team. The powerful show was opened by Kaia Gerber, closed by Naomi Campbell and received a standing ovation from the audience.
