Sarah Burton

Sarah Jane Burton ( Heard; born 1974 She is currently the creative director of Givenchy.

Early life Burton was born in Macclesfield, Cheshire, one of five children of Anthony and Diana Heard. and opting to pursue fashion over studies in fine art, she studied Print Fashion at the Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London. During her third year she was interviewed for a year's placement at Alexander McQueen at the suggestion of her tutor Simon Ungless, a friend of McQueen's. She joined the company for a year as an intern, when the company was based in a tiny studio in Hoxton Square. Burton was appointed Head of Womenswear in 2000, during which time she created dresses for Cate Blanchett, Lady Gaga and Gwyneth Paltrow. In October 2010, Burton presented her first show in Paris.

On 29 April 2011, it was revealed that Burton had designed the wedding dress of Catherine Middleton for her marriage that day to Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. It is believed that Burton's work came to the attention of Middleton in 2005 when she attended the wedding of Tom Parker Bowles, the son of the Duchess of Cornwall, for whom McQueen had designed the wedding dress for his bride, fashion journalist Sara Buys. Burton said creating the royal wedding dress had been the "experience of a lifetime".

Burton also designed maid of honour Pippa Middleton's dress, and the dress that Catherine Middleton wore to the wedding's evening festivities.

In 2011, Burton was named the British Fashion Council's Designer of the Year.

In September 2023, Burton announced she would be departing Alexander McQueen. She had worked at the brand for 26 years.

Givenchy (2024–present) It was announced in September 2024 that Burton would become creative director for French fashion house Givenchy. Actor Timothée Chalamet debuted the first ever menswear look by Burton for Givenchy at the 97th Academy Awards.

Personal life As of 2011, Burton lived in St John's Wood with her husband David Burton, a fashion photographer.

In July 2012, Burton received an honorary degree from Manchester Metropolitan University where she was a former student, becoming an honorary Doctor of Arts.

In June 2019, Burton was awarded the Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti International Award by the Council of Fashion Designers of America. In November 2019, the British Fashion Council bestowed Burton with the Trailblazer Award.

In 2023, Burton was given the 'Special Recognition Award' at the Fashion Awards.