McQueen Spring 2026 Collection
For Spring 2026, Seán McGirr resurrected Alexander McQueen’s infamous ultra-low-rise trousers, infusing the collection with a taut, erotic tension that threaded through daywear and eveningwear alike. Military-inspired jackets met flouncy corsets and cropped mesh tops, while pronounced waistlines appeared on skirts, bandeau shorts, and cargo pants — some with exposed zippers for added daring.
Presented on a circular stage adorned with May Day motifs, McGirr drew inspiration from The Wicker Man (1973), the cult British horror set on a fictional Scottish isle, where pagan rituals pulse beneath idyllic facades. “There’s a kind of sexual energy in the film and the girl I wanted to present,” he explained. “There’s looseness, informality, attitude — because the silhouette has a toughness, a strength. The McQueen woman always wants to look powerful.”
In his first fully independent women’s collection following three mixed shows, McGirr leaned into wearability while keeping the house’s signature drama alive. Uniform-blue shirts softened with corsetry; pencil skirts ranged from frayed white denim to faded floral jacquard and black leather with grommets and fringe. Vibrant red-rose prints sliced across hips or laced like corsets, recalling the rebellious glamour of Y2K low-rise jeans, though the shock factor has softened over time.
Standout moments balanced practicality with spectacle: a gold-sequined strappy dress trimmed with white feathered ruffles, and a parachute gown printed in dreamy watercolor, which McGirr said symbolized liberation. Hidden within the print were two ladybugs in a clandestine tryst, a playful nod to the film’s insect mating scene. “It’s wild,” he chuckled.
