Sarah Burton's Queen Bee World of Alexander McQueen S/S 2013

Sarah Burton’s Alexander McQueen spring 2013 collection is a knockout. David Sims lenses Raquel Zimmermann in these striking images of the collection’s clothes. In Private Studio, we share a more overtly sensual view of the same campaign starring Manon Leloup.

In a refreshing take on “femme fatales”, conceived in Britain which is deep in diagnosing reasons for the global collapse of honeybees, Burton created a deeply sensual theme of female empowerment, control, rigorous architecture, sex and nature dedicated to — Queen Bees. 

Sarah Burton’s honey bee collection for Alexander McQueen is a splendid example for us to show readers how a wide variety of Smart Sensuality issues and concerns link together at AOC. 

Organza and lace suits embroidered with hexagons and honey bees set the tone for McQueen’s spring 2013 collection. Beekeeper hats in laser-cut patent leather and crystal wedge heels offered perfectly stylish renditions of Queen Bees on the catwalk. 

The Queen Bee runs the show in Burton’s world, and the designer embraces femme power without the ambivalence that dominated the brand’s namesake founder Lee McQueen. Moving from mermaids last year to honey bees this one, it’s clear that Sarah Burton mines not only nature but mythology and female archetypes for her creative inspiration.