Expansion followed and included the opening of flagship stores in New York, London, Milan, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Collections include womens ready-to-wear, mens ready-to-wear, accessories, eyewear and fragrance (Kingdom 2003 and MyQueen 2005). In December 2000, 51% of Alexander McQueen was acquired by the Gucci Group, where he remained Creative Director. In October 1996 he was appointed Chief Designer at the French Haute Couture House Givenchy where he worked until March of 2001. In less than 10 years McQueen became one of the most respected fashion designers in the world. Alexander’s collections combine an in-depth working knowledge of bespoke British tailoring, the fine workmanship of the French Haute Couture atelier and the impeccable finish of Italian manufacturing. Integral to the McQueen culture is the juxtaposition between contrasting elements: fragility and strength, tradition and modernity, fluidity and severity.Īn openly emotional and even passionate viewpoint is realised with a profound respect and influence for the arts and crafts tradition. He showed his MA collection in 1992, which was famously bought in its entirety by Isabella Blow.Īlexander McQueen shows are known for their emotional power and raw energy, as well as the romantic but determinedly contemporary nature of the collections. On his return to London, he completed a Masters degree in Fashion Design at Central Saint Martin’s. Aged 20 he was employed by the designer Koji Tatsuno, who also had his roots in British tailoring.Ī year later McQueen travelled to Milan where he was employed as Romeo Gigli’s design assistant. He left school at the age of 16 and was offered an apprenticeship at the traditional Savile Row tailors Anderson and Shephard and then at neighbouring Gieves and Hawkes, both masters in the technical construction of clothing.įrom there he moved to the theatrical costumiers Angels and Bermans where he mastered 6 methods of pattern cutting from the melodramatic 16th Century to the razor sharp tailoring which has become a McQueen signature. In a show inspired by Darwin's 'Origin of the Species,' McQueen challenged models with shoes that gave new meaning to the phrase 'survival of the fittest': claw-shaped, 12-inch-tall platform heels designed to resemble 'armadillos.Lee Alexander McQueen was born in London on March 17th 1969, the youngest of six children. McQueen, seemingly inspired by the comedy 'Borat,' sent male models down the runway wearing only 'mankinis.' Critics scorned his overly revealing take on the male bikini: 'I hope this trend doesn't catch on, or the beaches could become hazardous to our eyes,' said Trendhunter. McQueen threatened to destroy the entire modelling industry when he featured the first-ever supermodel hologram - a state-of-the-art video projection of Kate Moss wearing a white organza gown, encased in a glass pyramid. McQueen managed to thrill even the 'impermeable' Vogue editor Anna Wintour when he staged an elaborate runway dance marathon based on 'They Shoot Horses, Don't They?' - Horace McCoy's Depression-era pulp fiction novel about a danceathon turned deadly. As model Shalon Harlow's spun, arms aloft, on a wooden turntable in an ethereal white dress, two runway-mounted robotic arms sprayed-painted her with splats of black and yellow. McQueen's Spring/Summer show concluded in an explosive fashion. But by the time his models were calmly sashaying through artificial rain tinted with yellow light, sponsor American Express had expressed concerns, and the show had been retitled 'Untitled.'

Originally called 'Yellow Rain,' McQueen's Spring/Summer show seemed destined to be remembered for the wrong reasons. Under critical attack, McQueen revealed that the clothes symbolized the 'rape' of Scotland by the British. McQueen's notorious 'Highland Rape' show featured models in torn, disheveled outfits festooned with what appeared to be feminine hygiene paraphenalia. ( Watch a complete retrospective of Alexander McQueen's best fashion show moments.) While authorities look for answers, here's a look back at some of the controversial 'enfant terrible''s most eyebrow-raising runway works: McQueen's death at age 40, has discombobulated the fashion world, and left insiders speculating if the recent passing of McQueen's mother brought him to the brink. British fashion designer Alexander McQueen was found dead in his London apartment this morning in an apparent suicide.

Alexander mcqueen runway looks