As the year winds down, Fashion Excursions would like to wish you a happy holiday and take a look back on this year’s top fashions.  I think we can all agree that the most talked about fashion statement of 2011 was the Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding gown.  Yes, admit it, you were one of those millions glued to the television that early April morning, tea cup in hand, waiting for the arrival of Kate Middleton to wed her husband Prince William.  But as true fashionistas,  it wasn’t the wedding so much that we were all interested in as it was WHAT the Duchess would be wearing and WHO designed it.  Although rumors surrounding the dress were abound and speculation grew and grew until the final day, we were all still in awe of the spectacular gown as the bride emerged from the wedding car and our suspicions confirmed as to whom the designer was.  Alexander McQueen designer Sarah Burton landed the most coveted fashion commission of the century and emerged as a household name after years as McQueen’s right-hand woman.  Burton also created the equally most talked about dress; the figure-hugging white bridesmaid dress worn by Kate’s sister Pippa.  So how can we top that?  Those are our picks, what were yours?

Fashion Excursions wishes you all the best for the New Year.  Stay fashionably warm this winter and we hope to see you on one of our 2012 Fashion Excursions. . http://www.fashionexcursions.com 

FEATURED DESIGNER – Sarah Burton

SARAH BURTON is the creative director of Alexander McQueen. She took over the reins of the famous British label in May 2010, following Alexander McQueen's death in February the same year.  Sarah is one of five children and was raised in Manchester, England.  She attended Manchester Polytechnic to complete a foundation course, before moving to London to study Print Fashion at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London.  Burton joined McQueen in 1996 as an intern, and subsequently returned after her graduation in 1997.  She was appointed head of womenswear in 2000 and acted as McQueen's aide up until his death in February 2010.  Burton has admitted that taking over from McQueen was, at first, an intimidating prospect and had no plans to replicate McQueen's signature theatrical shows.   In September 2010, she presented her first womenswear collection in Paris paying homage to McQueen's dramatic aesthetic but added her own more feminine take. She credits McQueen for teaching her all she knows about design as the label continues to grow and has seen consistent sales since she took over as creative director.    2011 was a banner year for Burton starting with the experience of a lifetime working with Kate Middleton to create her wedding dress, to the opening of Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibition at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art; Burton also scooped the coveted British Designer of the Year Award and capped off her year in style when she was named top designer at Harper’s Bazaar Woman of the Year awards.