Burton’s brilliant debut Tuesday at the rudder of the label put any rumors about the house’s future to rest. Her spring-summer 2011 ready-to-wear collection was a tour-de-force that channeled McQueen’s darkly surreal style, remodeling his signature elements into strange and gorgeous confections that managed to be at the similar time new and reassuringly familiar.

Tailed pantsuits in mesmerizing jacquard, sculptural sheath dresses wholly made from monarch butterflies, or feathers that gleamed darkly like spilled oil or woven chaffs of wheat that emerged to be one with the models’ woven hairstyles.

The audience of fashion elite burst into whoops of approval and frantic applause for Burton, who spent years as McQueen’s deputy and deeply implicit the troubled designer and his work.

Burton’s brilliant debut was certainly among the strongest shows of Paris fashion week.

Paris’ ready-to-wear shows end on Wednesday after nine long days with exhibits by Prada second line Miu Miu, and French luxury powerhouses Louis Vuitton and Hermes.