McQueen fashions a fairytale romance at Paris Fashion Week

Sarah Burton enchants with a spellbinding collection inspired by Beauty and the Beast
5 March 2014

Paris Fashion Week was treated to its own fairytale ending last night as Sarah Burton closed the penultimate day of shows with a spellbinding collection that was among the most exquisitely crafted thus far.

Showcased against a moss-covered catwalk created to echo the wild moorlands of a wildly beautiful enchanted forest, Burton's autumn/winter offering for Alexander McQueen took its inspiration from the popular children's story Beauty and the Beast.

But there was nothing that resembled of Disney's interpretation of the tale on offer here, instead a series of sumptuous red-riding hood capes, bell-sleeved Broderie Anglaise smock dresses and delicate organza gowns trimmed with hand cut feathers took centre stage.

Playing with contrasts throughout, Burton sought to strike a balance between the sinister an the beautiful with this collection. Sweet Tyrollean silhouettes and exaggerated peter-pan collars were undercut by flat laced sole boots in shining patent while haunting black tiered gowns were trimmed with delicate feather pom-poms for an equally divisive effect.

Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen A/W14 - in pictures

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When it came to presenting the McQueen beast, Burton -a mother to 1 year old twins - went all out to capture the essence of the children's classic with hoods cut from shaggy skunk and goats fur almost identical to those featured in Walter Crane's early illustrations of the text.

But there was more at work in this collection than a designer with a supreme ability to tell a story with clothes. Since taking over the McQueen ship following founder Lee McQueen's untimely death in four years ago, Sarah Burton has proved herself to be one of the few contemporary designers with the ability to marry commercial astuteness with an unrelenting desire to create fashion collections which have heart and soul.

Last night's showcase serves as proof that Burton is still very much at the top of her game. Keen to attract brides-to-be who, three years on from the Royal wedding, still flock to Alexander McQueen for wedding gowns cut with the royal seal of approval, Burton closed this show with a beautiful bridal offering. A sheer silk chiffon and organza gown trimmed with the delicate hand-cut feathers and hand-sewn gold leaf embroidery was the final chapter in last night's showcase. May McQueen live happily ever after.

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