Wear Art Thou: Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen for Autumn/Winter 2013 Paris Fashion Week

Models for the autumn/winter 2013 collection for the house of Alexander McQueen floated dreamily, two by two, down the gilded Opéra-Comique at Paris Fashion Week. The small collection featured only 10 looks, understandably pared down while creative director Sarah Burton was on maternity leave, having just given birth to twins.

Supposedly, the garments were inspired by the ecclesiastical wardrobe seen in the church, “from communion gowns to cardinals’ robes, the high church, nuns, popes, angels,” as the brand described itself.

Say what? We don’t see anything resembling religion in these fabulous creations, but that doesn’t mean that they’re not divine.

The whispering confections borrowed more from the wardrobe of Queen Elizabeth I. Garments emphasized corseted waistlines and a flattened chest characteristic of the Middle Ages. Each model wore an Elizabethan ruff around the neck, creatively interpreted with feathers or gems.

Elaborate jewel-encrusted cages framed the faces of the models.

Drenched in pearls or floating amidst ethereal ostrich feathers–or both–the collection was construed strictly in black and white.

Pearl-studded shoes and stockings further embellished the small but powerful collection.

And although we could find little resemblance to the ecclesiastical wardrobe seen in the church, we still believe these pieces are heaven-sent. Watch the video of the show, below. It’s six minutes of brilliance.