The Final Show.

13:55


Dear Alexander McQueen fans,

The show must go on. Lee Alexander McQueen had been designing dresses for his sisters at a young age, so naturally the gifted boy would become a household name later in his life. McQueen did his own thing, he designed and put together controversial fashion shows for years, although he wasn't well received by everyone, what designer is loved by everyone? At a young age Alexander McQueen's clientele consisted of Prince Charles and Mikhail Gorbachev.  


"I Think there is beauty in everything. What 'normal'' people would perceive as ugly, I can usually see something of beauty in it" - Alexander McQueen 

March 17, 1969, McQueen was born a designer. His ability to see a masterpiece before he drew it allowed him to be one of the worlds most recognized fashion names. At 16, he left high school with an o-level in art and pursued his dreams in becoming a designer. As an apprentice with Savile Row tailors, and Anderson & Sheppard before joining Gieves & Hawkes and later theatrical costumier Angels and  Berman's.the skills he developed during his time spent with Savile Row, earned McQueen the reputation for being an impeccable tailor.

In 1994 Alexander applied at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, to work as a pattern cutter tutor, with him impressive resume McQueen was strongly encouraged to apply as a student. He later graduated with a fashion degree, prior to graduation he caught the eye of Isabella Blow, who later persuaded him into using his middle name in his label; Alexander McQueen was born.

"It's a new era in fashion, there are no rules. It's all about the individual and personal style, wearing high-end classic labels, and up and coming designers all together". - Alexander McQueen

McQueens early runway days were somewhat shocking to the polite British public. Later gaining him the title of "L'enfant terrible" and "The hooligan of English Fashion." In 2004, journalist Caroline Evans wrote; "theatrical staging of cruelty" in 032c Magazine.Alexander was all about the drama in his fashion shows. The crazier the better, using new technology and inventions added a twist to every show, it had his audience shocked, amazed, floored and appalled, but they always came back the following season to see what else the designer could do. McQueen was the first to use Indian women in his shows. McQueen was known for his lavish unconventional runway shows;
-A recreation of A Shipwreck . Spring 2003
- Human Chess. Spring 2005
-Widows Collection. Fall 2006 which featured a life size hologram of super model Kate Moss dressed in yards of rippling fabric.

"I've had good times; i've had bad times. If I do a bad show my friends are still there. And that's what, to me, friendship is all about. I love what it's about." - Alexander McQueen










"Clothes and jewelry should be startling, individual. When you see a woman in my clothes, you want to know more about them. To me, that is what a distinguishes, a good designer from the bad designers." 
 -Alexander McQueen



McQueen became known for skull in his designs, copied around the world for scarves bearing the designers motif. Bumsters or low rise jeans as we come to call them, are what put McQueen on the consumers map.

In 1996 McQueen was appointed head designer at Givenchy. Upon his arrival Alexander McQueen insulted former Givenchy designer John Gallioano, calling the designer's collections "crap" and "irrelevant." The designer toned down his designs but kept the drama in the fashion shows. In Autumn 1998 he included Amiee Mulins, a double amputee, in his show, she sauntered down the catwalk in carved wooden legs.

"For people who know McQueen, there is always an underlying message. It's usually one the intellectual ones who understand what's going on it what I do." - Alexander McQueen. 

As the youngest designer to recieve the titile of "British Designer of the Year," which he won 4 times. In 2000 McQueen partnered with Gucci acquiring 51% of the company and became the companies creative director, soon after they opened stores in New York, London and Milan and launching his perfume collection.In 2003 he was named International Designer of the year by the CBE.  In 2005 Alexander collaborated with Puma to design a line of shoes.

February 11 2010, McQueen was found dead in his home in London.

On February 16 Lady Gaga preformed an acoustic rendition on "Telephone" and segued into "Dance in the Dark" and the British Awards in 2010. She later dedicated "Born this Way" in a special release of her third album. At McQueen's funeral Bjork sand a rendition of "Glooming Sunday" while sporting her favorite Alexander McQueen costume that had been custom made for her music video. Everyone at the funeral was in head-to-toe Alexander McQueen in honor of the incredible designer. The Metropolitan Museum in New York City opened for 3 months an exhibit in honor of McQueen, Savage Beauty was the most viewed exhibit in the museums history.
"Please make Alexanders McQueen's "Savage Beauty" a traveling exhibition to bring honor to McQueen and see his vision become reality; to share his work with the entire world." -McQueen Fan  









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