The dreamy romanticism infused in each of Sarah Burton’s collections for Alexander McQueen was never more prominent than for fall/winter 2016. Burton’s magical creative universe took shape in flowy, feminine dress and lacey, lingerie details, counterbalanced by sculptural leather looks and masterful tailoring techniques. The show opened with pronounced references to surrealism, from embroidered patches displaying old-fashioned pocket watches and butterflies, to flowers and Man Ray-esque lips, these objective odes to the imaginative art movement of the early 20th century also existed as prints on feminine sheer gowns and dresses with exposed shoulders. The collection’s perfectly tailored black and cream tuxedo jackets and structural, cropped motorcycle looks were decorated with antiqued charms and chains, while standout eveningwear was presented in the latter ten looks of the show. Each sheer evening gown stood as a blank canvas for a spattering of bejeweled fairytale-like imagery, some finished off with equally embellished capes, others with embroidered duvet jackets. The collection was a progression of imagination and craftsmanship, all seen through the brilliant eyes of Sarah Burton.
![Alexander mcqueen fw 2016 muse board](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6yPy335dSM2GCKEIeweIUY/ec8539bf2b50bd9a41826bfcd02e5f82/Alexander_McQueen_FW_2016_Muse_Board.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
References
- 1
- 2
Salvador Dali
The Persistence of Memory, 1931
![Dali the persistence of memory 1931](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1C53buFGYQQI8mIY84mW6k/b04078611db1371a06f713858f36133b/Dali_the-persistence-of-memory-1931.jpg)
Nadja Auermann at John Galliano
Spring/Summer 1997
![Nadja auermann at john galliano ss 1997](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5iiDy1bcpUCuUKOAAUSiOE/1d23cda53225069d902a16c698f919f3/Nadja_Auermann_at_John_Galliano_SS_1997.jpg)
Piero Fornasetti and Gio Ponti
Corner Cabinet with Reverse-Painted Glass Doors, 1941
![Corner cabinet with reverse painted glass doors by piero fornasetti and gio ponti 1941](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6a3OotLhwQEKmg8Ewc0QUO/0c9abbb5edb3055e95acde362b36439b/Corner_Cabinet_with_Reverse-Painted_Glass_Doors_by_Piero_Fornasetti_and_Gio_Ponti__1941.jpg)
Man Ray
Observatory Time: The Lovers, 1936
![Man ray observatory time the lovers 1936.](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3rq9QjhKCkmMWAMQcyUwGa/023dc65b417389eda4bb4021839854f3/Man_Ray__Observatory_Time__The_Lovers__1936..jpg)
Eileen Gray
'Dragons' Armchair, 1917-1919
![Eileen gray dragons armchair 1917 1919](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1fR8lCAVYAu4KIA8wGmIkW/2e2d3eb0687c94a8fc6a9d7398bd194c/Eileen_Gray_Dragons_armchair__1917-1919.jpg)
Henry van de Velde
The School of Arts and Crafts, 1904-11, Weimar, Germany
![The school of arts and crafts in weimar henry van de velde](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5tCBu6dXPyYkakcmUsg4uy/a7a6caff13644680430f52537d3419de/The_School_of_Arts_and_Crafts_in_Weimar__Henry_Van_De_Velde.jpg)
Jules Leleu
Cabinet
![cabinet jules leleu sotheby smay172004234pg135 meuble a hauteur d appui mode le feu d artifice](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2PkD1IpXvW4G0WCS8ACgww/64f904de221b03090cc3abc5d2c9135e/_cabinet___Jules_Leleu___Sotheby_sMay172004234Pg135___MEUBLE_A___HAUTEUR_D_APPUI__MODE__LE_FEU_D_ARTIFICE.jpg)
Carlo Mollino
The ‘Venus’ Mirror at Casa Miller, 1936
![Carlo mollino the venus murror lounger chair and window 1936 38](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/B5gjgJdCrQ4Yo406CCsKC/b96a199cd491c3bc06827e1bf1724a34/Carlo_Mollino__The__Venus__Murror__lounger_chair_and_window__1936-38.jpg)
Clement Rousseau
Chair, 1925
![Clement rousseau chair 1925](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1SGJ1JBDnG2Y6Mo0w2i8Ia/fc0fec3e791f6e20bec6fdd258682059/Clement_Rousseau__Chair__1925.jpg)
Damien Hirst
Gold Summer, 2008-09
![Damien hirst gold summer 2008 09](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/Wb73XJ9qkmkAGSEeMUSyc/14ea6d382cf6c950eaf372446b91b9ad/Damien_Hirst__GOld_Summer__2008-09.jpg)
Elsa Schiaparelli and Salvador Dali
Suit Embroidered with Lips and "Shoe" Hat, Fall/Winter 1937
![Elsa schiaparelli salvador dali suit embroidered with lips and shoe hat winter 1937](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/34aY0TqE9q8kc4WkKAC8o6/8f2c3b8feda3770cc980b07e294011d7/Elsa_Schiaparelli_Salvador_Dali_Suit_Embroidered_with_Lips_and__Shoe__Hat__winter_1937.jpg)
Givenchy
Fall/Winter 2008
![Givenchy fw 2008 ii](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7Gb9vwk4Ni4wcQYOi8EymQ/fd11791be6fa71553831f0986cf60bdf/Givenchy_FW_2008_II.jpg)
Herbert Bayer
Lonely Metropolitan, 1932
![Herbert bayer lonely metropolitan 1932](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/N2VPz4HrUYIcmc8wYgwi0/dc1c07f0eb35adbac3493dd6b8880006/Herbert_Bayer_-_Lonely_Metropolitan__1932.jpg)
Jean Dubuffet
Portrait of Jean Paulhan, 1955
![Jean dubuffet s portrait of jean paulhan butterfly wings and ink on paper from 1955](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6djrRfTsd2muSeSWwIMqmi/618f2700a91b07cc0b1248a28341b089/Jean_Dubuffet_s____Portrait_of_Jean_Paulhan_____butterfly_wings_and_ink_on_paper__from_1955.jpg)
Jean Cocteau
Le Testament d'Orphée, Horse, 1959
![Le testament d orphe e 1959 jean cocteau horse](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2yfHxjVS8smsUqiK602kKg/b225120219afe5ff548fa51a303acfcd/Le_Testament_d_Orphe__e__1959___JEAN_COCTEAU__horse.jpg)
Man Ray
Marchesa Casati, 1935
![Man ray marchesa casati 1935](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3OjiFR9EdWeAE04c4uqSqU/b6485686bb79c74653c39af603be13f8/Man_Ray__Marchesa_Casati__1935.jpg)
Joseph Cornell
Parrot for Juan Gris, 1953
![Parrot for juan gris joseph cornell 1953](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6GQQe4m48gemWCUWesW8oK/c87f18f6360ae97ddad0a8a6a2958606/Parrot_for_Juan_Gris__Joseph_Cornell__1953.jpg)
Karl Koepping
Set of six delicate blown glass cordials
![Rare set of six delicate blown glass cordials by karl koepping](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2QmEgfd4qQM44eyI2IYiwY/68e5bc719ee19a05fed3fa600e226f05/Rare_set_of_six_delicate_blown_glass_cordials_by_Karl_Koepping.jpg)
References
![Dali the persistence of memory 1931](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1C53buFGYQQI8mIY84mW6k/b04078611db1371a06f713858f36133b/Dali_the-persistence-of-memory-1931.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Salvador Dali
The Persistence of Memory, 1931
1 of 18
![Nadja auermann at john galliano ss 1997](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5iiDy1bcpUCuUKOAAUSiOE/1d23cda53225069d902a16c698f919f3/Nadja_Auermann_at_John_Galliano_SS_1997.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Nadja Auermann at John Galliano
Spring/Summer 1997
2 of 18
![Corner cabinet with reverse painted glass doors by piero fornasetti and gio ponti 1941](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6a3OotLhwQEKmg8Ewc0QUO/0c9abbb5edb3055e95acde362b36439b/Corner_Cabinet_with_Reverse-Painted_Glass_Doors_by_Piero_Fornasetti_and_Gio_Ponti__1941.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Piero Fornasetti and Gio Ponti
Corner Cabinet with Reverse-Painted Glass Doors, 1941
3 of 18
![Man ray observatory time the lovers 1936.](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3rq9QjhKCkmMWAMQcyUwGa/023dc65b417389eda4bb4021839854f3/Man_Ray__Observatory_Time__The_Lovers__1936..jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Man Ray
Observatory Time: The Lovers, 1936
4 of 18
![Eileen gray dragons armchair 1917 1919](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1fR8lCAVYAu4KIA8wGmIkW/2e2d3eb0687c94a8fc6a9d7398bd194c/Eileen_Gray_Dragons_armchair__1917-1919.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Eileen Gray
'Dragons' Armchair, 1917-1919
5 of 18
![The school of arts and crafts in weimar henry van de velde](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5tCBu6dXPyYkakcmUsg4uy/a7a6caff13644680430f52537d3419de/The_School_of_Arts_and_Crafts_in_Weimar__Henry_Van_De_Velde.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Henry van de Velde
The School of Arts and Crafts, 1904-11, Weimar, Germany
6 of 18
![cabinet jules leleu sotheby smay172004234pg135 meuble a hauteur d appui mode le feu d artifice](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2PkD1IpXvW4G0WCS8ACgww/64f904de221b03090cc3abc5d2c9135e/_cabinet___Jules_Leleu___Sotheby_sMay172004234Pg135___MEUBLE_A___HAUTEUR_D_APPUI__MODE__LE_FEU_D_ARTIFICE.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Jules Leleu
Cabinet
7 of 18
![Carlo mollino the venus murror lounger chair and window 1936 38](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/B5gjgJdCrQ4Yo406CCsKC/b96a199cd491c3bc06827e1bf1724a34/Carlo_Mollino__The__Venus__Murror__lounger_chair_and_window__1936-38.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Carlo Mollino
The ‘Venus’ Mirror at Casa Miller, 1936
8 of 18
![Clement rousseau chair 1925](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1SGJ1JBDnG2Y6Mo0w2i8Ia/fc0fec3e791f6e20bec6fdd258682059/Clement_Rousseau__Chair__1925.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Clement Rousseau
Chair, 1925
9 of 18
![Damien hirst gold summer 2008 09](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/Wb73XJ9qkmkAGSEeMUSyc/14ea6d382cf6c950eaf372446b91b9ad/Damien_Hirst__GOld_Summer__2008-09.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Damien Hirst
Gold Summer, 2008-09
10 of 18
![Elsa schiaparelli salvador dali suit embroidered with lips and shoe hat winter 1937](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/34aY0TqE9q8kc4WkKAC8o6/8f2c3b8feda3770cc980b07e294011d7/Elsa_Schiaparelli_Salvador_Dali_Suit_Embroidered_with_Lips_and__Shoe__Hat__winter_1937.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Elsa Schiaparelli and Salvador Dali
Suit Embroidered with Lips and "Shoe" Hat, Fall/Winter 1937
11 of 18
![Givenchy fw 2008 ii](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7Gb9vwk4Ni4wcQYOi8EymQ/fd11791be6fa71553831f0986cf60bdf/Givenchy_FW_2008_II.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Givenchy
Fall/Winter 2008
12 of 18
![Herbert bayer lonely metropolitan 1932](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/N2VPz4HrUYIcmc8wYgwi0/dc1c07f0eb35adbac3493dd6b8880006/Herbert_Bayer_-_Lonely_Metropolitan__1932.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Herbert Bayer
Lonely Metropolitan, 1932
13 of 18
![Jean dubuffet s portrait of jean paulhan butterfly wings and ink on paper from 1955](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6djrRfTsd2muSeSWwIMqmi/618f2700a91b07cc0b1248a28341b089/Jean_Dubuffet_s____Portrait_of_Jean_Paulhan_____butterfly_wings_and_ink_on_paper__from_1955.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Jean Dubuffet
Portrait of Jean Paulhan, 1955
14 of 18
![Le testament d orphe e 1959 jean cocteau horse](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2yfHxjVS8smsUqiK602kKg/b225120219afe5ff548fa51a303acfcd/Le_Testament_d_Orphe__e__1959___JEAN_COCTEAU__horse.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Jean Cocteau
Le Testament d'Orphée, Horse, 1959
15 of 18
![Man ray marchesa casati 1935](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3OjiFR9EdWeAE04c4uqSqU/b6485686bb79c74653c39af603be13f8/Man_Ray__Marchesa_Casati__1935.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Man Ray
Marchesa Casati, 1935
16 of 18
![Parrot for juan gris joseph cornell 1953](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6GQQe4m48gemWCUWesW8oK/c87f18f6360ae97ddad0a8a6a2958606/Parrot_for_Juan_Gris__Joseph_Cornell__1953.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Joseph Cornell
Parrot for Juan Gris, 1953
17 of 18
![Rare set of six delicate blown glass cordials by karl koepping](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2QmEgfd4qQM44eyI2IYiwY/68e5bc719ee19a05fed3fa600e226f05/Rare_set_of_six_delicate_blown_glass_cordials_by_Karl_Koepping.jpg?w=1000&q=70)