Creative Director Seán McGirr just announced he will be stepping down from McQueen, following three years as the brand’s Creative Director, during which time critics and fans of the brand delivered a mixed yet ever-optimistic reception of his vision.
Irish designer Seán McGirr was appointed as McQueen’s latest Creative Director in October 2023, succeeding Sarah Burton. In the years since, he’s revived some of the brand’s most iconic staples, whilst bringing the brand into a new, more commercial era.
This London Fashion Week, McGirr brought the McQueen brand back to the city where its founder used to show at the start of his career, hosting the first McQueen collection to be shown in London since February 2001.
The sentimentality of the Spring/Summer 2026 show was not missed by audience members and critics alike, and there was an acknowledgement this season that McGirr was perhaps finally finding his footing at McQueen. Which is why it may come as a surprise that Seán McGirr is now stepping down.
Becoming Creative Director at a legacy house with as much history, cultural impact, and emotion attached to it as Alexander McQueen’s is no easy feat. Sarah Burton, who worked directly under Lee McQueen while he was still alive, had the benefit of that experience when coming on-board.
Being the first individual from outside of an institution to take over following the death of its founder is a huge and daunting task. Dario Vitale, who lasted less than a year at the helm of Versace, faced a similar hurdle, being the first person outside of the Versace family to head up the brand.
Perhaps Seán McGirr was destined to be ousted from McQueen before his vision had fully been realised all along.
