Alexander McQueen, SS13, Paris.

The recent Alexander McQueen collection was intensely detailed, with minute fabric layering and honeycomb peephole details. The Spring-Summer 2013 under the reign of Sarah Burton centred around the idea of the bee hive, and the concept was the driving force behind structural and textural details as diverse as exquisite mesh, bee brocades and over blown flowers.

The frantic feeling of the hive was evident in the layering of the honey comb motif with different scales of the comb hexagon peeping through in mini vignettes created by cage-like outer layers. This was truly dynamic use of fabric and textiles to create texture and movement, with textiles created that consciously blurred the boundaries between each layer of the garment.

There were also many references to womanly curves and lingerie details, with bell shaped hip structures emphasising the models waists and tiny slithers of sheer panelling creating cheeky details in the back panels of shorts and skirts, or creating the illusion of lapel lines in tailored pieces.

Images from Vogue.co.uk»