Iconic British Fashion Designer Alexander Mcqueen Dies

RIP Alexander McQueen
The Fashion World suffered a huge blow today with the untimely death of one of it's biggest stars. Alexander McQueen died today in his London Flat.

Police said his death is not being treated as suspicious.

A spokeswoman for McQueen said: "Mr McQueen was found dead this morning at his home. We're devastated and I hope you understand that out of respect to his family and his colleagues we're not going to be making any further statement."

A message on his website alexandermcqueen.com said: "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."

I have followed Alexander McQueen since his career began and have always been a huge fan and have written about him in my blog many times. Workin' the Plaid: Alexander McQueen and Sarah Jessica Parker at the Costume Institute Gala 2006

Besides being a Fashion Superstar in his own right, McQueen has dressed almost every celebrity you can think of. One of the most memorable being Sarah Jessica Parker at the Costume Institute Gala several years ago. While she ended up on many peoples worst dress list, it was one of those images that is unforgettable and definitely made a "Fashion Statement" that is the very thing McQueen was so brilliant at.

Reptilian Diva: Alexander McQueen Spring 2010

Most recently McQueen dressed Anna Paquin for the SAG Awards in a cocktail dress from his Spring 2010 Collection. This will now be remembered as his final collection and there is no doubt after viewing these reptilian inspired looks that he ended his career at the "top of his game"
Painted Lady: Alexander McQueen Fall 2009

McQueen rose to fame quickly after he received his Masters Degree in Fashion Design from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design and famously, his graduation collection was bought in its entirety by influential fashion stylist Isabella Blow, who committed suicide just 3 years ago.
Alexander McQueen: Fall 2006

He was known as the "Bad Boy of Fashion" and in his early years wore the banner proudly. In 1996 he was hired by LVMH president Bernard Arnault to replace designer John Galliano at the prestigious Couture House of Givenchy. Although he had a shaky start, he persevered and continued to design amazing collections until 2001 when he left to focus on his own label.

Alexander McQueen was a rare talent and will be truly missed.

Paris Fashion Week: Alexander McQueen's Creative Genius

McQueen's Avant-garde Challenge:Givenchy Redux: Alexander McQueen houndstooth exaggerated Portrait Collared suit

Couture Wonderment was handed over on a Fashion Silver Plate--or more on a broken-glass runway stage--by the design genius of Alexander McQueen this past week for the Paris Fall 2009/10 Season. While every other designer showed recessionista fashions--dark, moody, underwhelming perhaps--mirroring the state of the depressing world economy and the state of retail and fashion in general--one of the last "bad boys" of fashion said "to Hell with that!"The Flying Mitered-stripes Nun: Alexander McQueen Fall 2009/10

For Fall 2009/10, Alexander McQueen decided to just "serve it" to everyone; the way a fierce Drag Queen "serves" it to you at a Drag Queen Walk-Off! Speaking of Drag Queen, the make up and styling was beyond out of control: The Leigh Bowery-meets-Amanda Lepore sex-doll lipstick, the Edie Beale "Grey Gardens" head wraps and fabulous lamp-shade hats from the genius of hat designer Philip Treacy (some of the hats actually had soda/beer cans tucked and wrapped into the models hairstyles!). It all added to the in-your-face collection that made editors, buyers and fashionistas alike speechless.200 Pattern Pieces: A Museum-worthy Leather Coat from McQueen's Fall 2009/10 Collection

In essence, McQueen decided to pay homage to his "Best Hits"(he's done this before) as well as give a nod to the old guard of Couturiers such as Hubert de Givenchy and Dior with twisted yet divine representations on hounstooth suitings and the New Look silhouette. When I first looked at the images, I was like "Is this Couture?" because it certainly was not Ready-to-Wear. The pieces were exquisitely complicated, tailored to an inch of the models size 2 bodies, bias cutting, mitering perfectly into a seam, a la Adrian; it had all the elements of a Museum-worthy Haute Couture Collection. I think he definitely blurred the line with Couture vs. Pret-a-Porter with this collection. Lacroix is Jealous: Pouffed silk printed gown, Alexander McQueen Fall 2009/10

The gowns were either double-pouffed silks, twisted and knotted in ways that will leave true devoted lovers of the art of fashion in awe (and I, for one, would love to take a look at those pattern pieces and deconstruct it all) or tightly packed feather concoctions that would make the most beautiful of swans blush. Pheasant Anyone? White feathered cocktail dress, Alexander McQueen Fall 2009/10

Thank God he's got the Gucci Group backing him, otherwise, to be honest, he would not have been able to create such a spectacle of Couture-worthy pieces. This is not something an up-and-coming designer could ever afford to do (even if he or she were technically able to do it). And some Industry insiders argued whether or not it was even wise for McQueen to do it (see Style.com Review HERE). It all made for a collection that would be talked about for months to come and isn't that really the point anyway?!
Click on the two videos below for highlights of the Alexander McQueen Fall 2009/10 Runway Show The First shows close-ups of those "soda/beer can" headwraps...