Sarah Burton

The '70s style of David Bowie and the paintings of Gustav Klimt inspired the form-fitting, metallic-patterned Alexander McQueen Resort 2013 collection. After a few seasons of showing little other than intensely detailed dresses and gowns, Sarah Burton said she "wanted to bring everything back to the body." She accomplished that by pairing generously lapeled, torso-hugging blazers with lean, boot-cut trousers and by cinching those menswear-inspired looks with wide belts. Many of the dresses got the same belted treatment but featured fabrics and treatments — like an art deco metallic jacquard or intricate gold embroidery — that helped serve as a feminine response to the collection's more masculine pieces.

All gorgeous iterations of volume and texture, Sarah Burton gives us a new slant on Alexander McQueen's futuristic sense with femininity and optimism for Fall 2012. She tapped right into girlish fantasy from the very beginning and saw it all the way through in pinks, fuchsia, floral-embellishment, and the most extreme proportions of fluff and fur. There may be less of the provocative, darker sense that McQueen's later collections were made of, but that's not to say that Burton doesn't impress with her own artistry. The shapely play and construction are a testament to Burton's expertise. Floral-embellishments feel like full rosebushes on voluminous tiers, feathers and fringe move like beautiful sea creatures, and sculptural laser-cut looks have the delicacy of porcelain. In every piece, Burton tells her story — romantic, yes, but not tinged in nostalgia; with mirrored visors on, McQueen's girl is still looking toward the future.

• Trends: Volume, texture, femininity, fur, metallics.
• Colors: Pink, fuchsia, black, gray, white, silver.
• Key Piece: The white and black laser-cut looks were a beautiful departure from the extreme volume.
• Accessories: Fur, floral, and fringe-embellished platforms to match every look, visor-like glasses, furry mittens and gloves, fur collars, oversize metallic bows and flowers at the waist.
• Who Would Wear It: The most whimsical and imaginative of fashionistas; Anna Dello Russo would be a perfect fit for the voluminous furs and pom-pom adorned looks.

>> For Fall 2012, all the gorgeous, classic McQueen-isms were in place — hoof-like shoes, nipped-waists coats, drama to the umpth degree — but this season, Sarah Burton injected much more of her own viewpoint into the mix. It came in the form of lightness, volume, and shining optimism. Silhouettes were lush, round, and frothy, with mirror-like details and masses of floral appliqué. Dresses were done in blush-hued tiers of ruffles, coats were capped by whisper-light tufts of ivory fur, and skirts were covered in intricate doily laces. "It’s futurism with softness, not cold futurism," Burton explained.

With a collection as magical as this, Burton's future is so bright she might want to wear shades. Maybe that explains the giant, super-dark visors covering each model's face.

>> Sarah Burton culled influence from the Victorian era — particularly, the ultra-full circle skirts of that period — for Pre-Fall 2012. Also worked into the mix: the nipped-in waists of '50s couture, lush fabric motifs inspired by Elizabethan art, and exaggerated silhouettes that hint at the work of Charles James. "I've raised the waist, kept the peplum, but moved away from the pencil skirt," Burton explained.

You've seen their work on the runways, in memorable collaborations, in a royal wedding, and on the red carpet. Now it's time to cast your vote for the year's best designer. This impressive bunch, which includes Karl Lagerfeld and Givenchy's Riccardo Tisci, have racked up major style points in 2011. In honor of their countless chic contributions, we've whipped up a quick refresher for you. Sarah Burton made herself a household name after taking the helm at Alexander McQueen and creating Kate Middleton's dreamy wedding dress. Giambattista Valli showed off his couture chops and delivered a playful line of party dresses for Macy's. Additionally, rumors started to swirl surrounding Marc Jacobs's unconfirmed move to the house of Dior. What else have these tastemakers been up to? Catch up on all their accomplishments and let us know who you think deserves this year's top honors!

Source: Getty and WireImage

>> This evening at London's Savoy Theatre, a who's who of British fashion gathered for The British Fashion Council's annual awards. Victoria Beckham, accepting her Designer Brand of the Year award from presenter Marc Jacobs, told the crowd, "I am SO nervous," before shedding a few tears and adding: "This is rubbish." Alexa Chung, who took home the British Style award — which is decided by a public vote — dedicated her award to "girls who dress like awkward boys." Kate Hudson, presenting Red Carpet Award to Stella McCartney, regaled the audience with an anecdote about the dress McCartney designed for her to wear to her first Oscars: "I wore Stella and made every worst-dressed list. The next day, I called Stella, and she said, 'Face it babe, it was the hair.'" And finally, Sarah Burton, who took home Designer of the Year, called the award "the icing on the cake for what has been an amazing year."

The full list of winners, below.

Designer of the Year: Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen

Menswear Designer of the Year: Kim Jones
Accessory Designer of the Year: Charlotte Dellal for Charlotte Olympia
Designer Brand of the Year: Victoria Beckham
Model of the Year: Stella Tennant
Emerging Talent, Womenswear: Mary Katrantzou
Emerging Talent, Menswear: Christopher Raeburn
Emerging Talent, Accessories: Tabitha Simmons
New Establishment Award: Christopher Kane
Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator: Sam Gainsbury, Gainsbury and Whiting
Red Carpet Award: Stella McCartney
Outstanding Achievement in Fashion Award: Paul Smith
British Style Award: Alexa Chung