Alexander McQueen Successor Sarah Burton Prepares For Runway

The biggest names in fashion gathered at London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral on Monday to pay homage to the late designer Alexander McQueen on Monday, but his longtime deputy Sarah Burton is preparing for the company’s first important runway show without him. Burton took over as creative chief of the Alexander McQueen label four months ago—more than a year after McQueen’s suicide in February 2009—and will unveil the company’s first complete women’s wear collection at Paris Fashion Week on Oct. 5. McQueen the designer (whose real name was Lee) was known for his over-the-top looks and shocking catwalk shows and the label must now stand on its own. "The creation of modern beautifully crafted clothes was at the heart of Lee's vision. I intend to stay true to his legacy," Burton said in her only statement on the subject. Burton worked under McQueen for 14 years, joining his label before she graduated London’s Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. "I don't think anyone will be able to keep up with McQueen," one fashion consultant told the Wall Street Journal. "I think it would probably be best to not try to compete with that."