Sean McGirr’s second runway outing for McQueen began with a tailored suit, the lapels rolled together at the chest as if to ward off a sudden London rainstorm—or perhaps the buffeting of his critics. The young Irishman’s debut was met with intense skepticism last season. He was an untested designer replacing the beloved Sarah Burton, who had been Lee Alexander McQueen’s right hand. It was never going to be an easy launch, but it was made worse by the inhospitable warehouse space he chose on the outskirts of Paris, and the cold rainy drive required to get them.
Putting that behind him, he staged his sophomore outing at the École des Beaux Arts, right off the Seine on the Left Bank, a venue that’s hosted scores of shows over the years, though never a McQueen collection, if memory serves. And, as he said, he had the benefit of a longer lead-up than he did for his first go-round. It showed in the collection, which was more cohesive and more commercially viable. See all the photos. |
