Where do I even start when it comes to Alexander McQueen Fall 2011? Even after its namesake’s death a year ago, the brand has continued to march to its own beat under the masterful watch of Sarah Burton, McQueen’s right-hand woman and the company’s creative director since his passing. She’s kept up McQueen’s tendency to eschew trends in favor of further exploring the brand’s dark, detailed aesthetic, and that’s exactly what this collection does.

While McQueen himself tended toward violence and conflict with his clothes, perhaps reflecting the turmoil in his own life, Burton’s design have a subtle serenity to them that is nothing less than excellent. Her shoes still have the signature McQueen sexuality, though, and thigh-high laced python boots with vertiginous stiletto heels aren’t any less fierce because of their lavender shade. The heelless wedges are also a sight to behold, not to mention a feat of physics and careful design. In a sea of largely practical, wearable clothes in Paris, Burton’s collection for McQueen was a more-than-welcome counterpoint in both its grandiose aesthetic and exquisite finishing.

Photos via Vogue.com.