"IT DIED WITH HIM"

Jonathan Akeroyd, president and ceo of Alexander McQueen, said at the time of Burton's appointment as creative director in May 2010: "We are delighted that Sarah has agreed to take on the role of creative director. Having worked alongside Lee McQueen for more than 14 years, she has a deep understanding of his vision, which will allow the company to stay true to its core values." Robert Polet, president and ceo of Gucci Group added: "Sarah has a real talent, a close understanding of the brand, and the vision necessary to take it forward. We will be giving full support to Sarah and the team in the coming years."


Burton has admitted that taking over from McQueen was, at first, an intimidating prospect. "I thought: 'How would I ever begin to begin?' Lee's mind was so different to anyone else's. I knew there was no way I could pretend to be him; but I had to ask myself, what did Lee work for? For all this just to close down? I thought about what I wanted. What was best for me. Like many women my age, I do want children, but I came to think that that's not a reason not to take up a challenge. In the end I just decided to get on with it: do my best."

The designer has no plans to replicate McQueen's signature theatrical shows. "That was very much Lee's territory - the spectacular show," she told WWD in September 2010. "In that way, I can't try and pretend to be Lee." She also spoke of her fondness for McQueen: "He was such a lovely man, and his mind never switched off. He was so important to me. You just wanted to make him happy, look after him," she said. "Although I felt that I protected him, now I feel that he protected me."

In May 2011, she spoke for the first time about her feelings following the death of Alexander McQueen. "My immediate feeling was: it died," she told the Telegraph. "It died with him, it couldn't exist without him. To be honest, I'd made up my mind not to do the job."

Burton has garnered critical acclaim for the collections she has created since the death of McQueen. The label continues to grow and has seen consistent sales since she took over as creative director.

http://www.vogue.co.uk/spy/biographies/sarah-burton