American Vogue’s winter 2025 issue has a feature on Alexander McQueen creative director Seán McGill, who is finding his rhythm with measured steps at the house. Hayley Maitland interviews the designer, whose focus for his spring 2025 collection reflects far more discipline than his original collection for the brand.

Campbell Addy [IG] photographs models and talents including Celina Ralph, Florence Sinclair, gallerist Oyinkansola Dada, Raffey Cassidy, Sacha Quenby, Sara Caballero — with styling by Ib Kamara./ Hair by Cyndia Harvey; makeup by Bea Sweet

Seán McGill reflects on his original interview with Louise Wilson at Central Saint Martins in London, and how demanding she was, called the crucible for design genius at Saint Martin’s. She also had the potty mouth of a long-haul trucker or other working class guy.

Lee McQueen was in Wilson’s first class in 1992 and McGill was in her last, before she passed in 2014.

McGirr describes his mentor, who also taught Christopher Kane, Jonathan Saunders, Simone Rocha, as “the greatest test of endurance he’s ever been through.”

“In tutorials, she’d be like, ‘No, it’s not right.… It’s not right yet’—but in the most profane language imaginable, like a football hooligan,” McGirr recalls. It was the greatest test of endurance he’s ever been through. “She’d be like: ‘Fucking do the job. Just do it.’ It’s very practical.”

At the end of his entrance-seeking interview, McGirr heard her calling after him down the hallway:

“ ‘Oi, Irish boy! There’s a scholarship that you should apply for now, because I know you fucking students: You’re so lazy, and you miss out on these things.’ That was her way of being like, ‘I’m going to give you a scholarship so you can afford to study.’ ”

Fellow London designer Charles Jeffrey, who’s known McGirr since he served as his fit model at Saint Martins, advises us not to underestimate McGirr.

His friend is absolutely not arrogant, but Mc’Girr is resolute. His persona is charming, fun-loving and jolly, but don’t confuse his kindness with weakness.

There’s a kind of Celtic fire in him, Jeffrey adds, and if people turn around or say ‘no’, it’s just like,