House of McQueen Features Basket-Weave Hairstyle on Runway

This month, in the first show since his suicidal death in February, the house of Alexander McQueen premiered its spring/summer 2011 collection as part of Paris Fashion Week. Undoubtedly the highlight of the show, McQueen's runway collection, was designed by now-Creative Director Sarah Burton, who reportedly worked under her mentor for 14 years. McQueen, who's death was announced mere days before the start of London Fashion Week, was often described as having an "anarchic approach" to fashion and was known for his dramatic designs, of which David Bowie, Björk and Lady Gaga were fans.

A stand-out feature in the collection was stylist Guido Palau’s basket-weave hairstyle, donned by McQueen's models. The plaited-coif look was created using lacing extensions through the girl's hair. "There were many permutations but in the end it was highly technical, yet very simple,” Palau told Style.com. The strand-setter achieved this quilt-like technique by dividing the models’ hair into three sections before adding extensions over and under natural strands for a woven effect, finishing each panel in a skinny braid. Back panels were also folded flat against the head and pinned in place.

Incredibly, according to one insider, 60 bottles of hairspray were involved in constructing the head-turning hairstyle.

The intricately plaited mermaid-esque hair is said to also hint at nature and British paganism. To compliment this tone, models wore light and luminous makeup by Peter Philips, who created a neutral color palette using Chanel's Pro Lumiere Semi-Matte Foundation, Ombre Essentielle eye shadow in Ivory and highlighted the cheeks with Poudre Lumiere Perlée.

"We decided to keep the girl really pure, very serene, almost a bit more fragile—and a bit more girly,” Philips told British fashion online magazine, Grazia Daily.

This year's collection, “Earth Mother” has received much positive accolade, with many fashion critics noting the collection as being faithful to the four-time British Designer of the Year, but "a bit lighter" and "tender."

Some of the collection's earthy quality was seen in the line's hand-painted feather butterflies, black leather leaves and cut-open pagoda should jackets, which allowed the fabric to flow naturally. "I think McQueen is all about strong, powerful women but I want them to feel tender as well," Burton told Style.com.

Besides the remarkable basket-weave 'do display, do you think Burton has qualified herself as a worthy successor to Alexander McQueen?

-- Sarah McClure