Alexander McQueen’s successor named

Fashion group Gucci have appointed late designer’s long time colleague and friend Sarah Burton to take over where he left off and expand the McQueen empire.

There was much speculation after he died that the label could not live on without him but it was soon clear  its owners had every intention of continuing.

Sarah Burton had been Alexander’s right hand woman, so her appointment comes as no great shock to the fashion world.

The 16 of McQueen’s outfits were 80% finished at the time of his death and under Burton (and a design team) they were able to complete the collection, which received critical acclaim.

Today the Alexander McQueen chief executive, praised Sarah saying she had a “deep understanding of his [McQueen’s] vision”.

“We are ready to enter a new phase in the brand’s history,” he continued.

Sarah joined the McQueen design studio a year before she graduated and in 2000 she was appointed its head of womenswear design.  Burton said: “The creation of modern beautifully crafted clothes was at the heart of Lee’s vision. I intend to stay true to his legacy.”

The Gucci group is set on expanding the Alexander McQueen empire, which will launch a men’s underwear collection next month.