Runway King

 R.I.P

This morning I awoke to find out the tragic news that beloved fashion designer Lee Alexander McQueen has died. A message on alexandermcqueen.com homepage simply reads;

"On behalf of Lee McQueen's family, Alexander McQueen today announces the tragic news that Lee McQueen, the founder and designer of the Alexander McQueen brand has been found dead at his home. At this stage it is inappropriate to comment on this tragic news beyond saying that we are devastated and are sharing a sense of shock and grief with Lee's family.

Lee's family has asked for privacy in order to come to terms with this terrible news and we hope the media will respect this."

An article in the Huffington Post confirms that his death was a suicide.  Taking his life just over a week after his beloved mother had passed.

"(16 March 1969 – 11 February 2010) was an English fashion designer known for his unconventional designs and shock tactics. McQueen worked as the head designer at Givenchy for five years before founding the Alexander McQueen and McQ labels. McQueen's dramatic designs, worn by celebrities including Rihanna, Björk and Lady Gaga, met with critical acclaim and earned him the British Fashion Designer of the Year award on four separate occasions." 

-Wiki

He was an accomplished scuba diver. Using his passion as a source of inspiration in his designs for October 2009 fashion show, "Plato's Atlantis", which was influenced hevily by the waters of the Maldives which he dived frequently, models sported massive 10 inch heels and cemetrical-exploded-paintball-like patterns that could blow your mind floated down the runway effortlessly with Avatar like hair styles and androgynus make-up. Heels made of twisted steel and glittering leather were heavily incorperated and created a sence of 'other-worldliness', the models appearing out of the dark like snakes turned human. 

His designes will echo throught the ages and he will go down in history as a beacon of true indeviduality; being one of the youngest designers to win "Brittish Designer of the Year" awards. He was also awarded the CBE, as well as being named International Designer of the Year at the Council of Fashion Designer Awards. The creator of wearable art earned the endeering nick-names "l'enfant terrible" and "the hooligan of English fashion". And we can clearly see why, with his look always being left of centre and taking the idea that extra mile, making his cauture, 'haute' constantly.

McQueen came from a very humble beginning, born in 1969 to a Taxi Driver and Joyce - a social science teacher. - Brought up in council housing realised his desire to create clothing at a young age; the designer made clothes for his sisters and at age 16 left school to begin a design apprenticeship with Savile Row tailors Anderson & Sheppard, later moving on to Gieves & Hawkes then eventually, famous theatrical costumiers Angels and Bermans. He graduated from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design receiving his Masters degree in Fashion design and famously, his graduation collection was bought in its entirety by influential fashion stylist Isabella Blow, whom was also the reason he changed his name from Lee McQueen to [his middle name] Alexander McQueen.  

 

He became the head designer of Givenchy in 1996, succeeding John Galliano. Arriving at Givenchy, McQueen insulted the founder by calling him ‘irrelevant’, making his first couture collection with Givenchy unsuccessful, with even McQueen himself telling Vogue in October 1997 that the collection was “crap”. McQueen toned down his act at Givenchy, but continued to indulge his rebellious artistic streak, causing a stir in Autumn 1998 with a show including car-robots spraying paint over white cotton dresses, and double amputee model Aimee Mullins striding down the catwalk on intricately carved wooden legs. McQueen stayed with Givenchy until March 2001, when the contract he said was "constraining his creativity" was ended. 

By 2007, mcQueen's brand had became world famous with stores from London, to Milan, to LA. Even so far as to open a store in Las Vegas, the perfect place for his lavish looks. 

McQueen's influence will resinate through young designers and he will, like Chanel and Dior, become part of fashion's most important designers.

 

Rest now precious one.

xo-xo