Lee Alexander McQueen RIP

Three days ago, the shocking news that Lee Alexander McQueen had passed away. It is known that McQueen's mother also passed away last week, and the death of Lee McQueen is not bring treat as suspicious, wit it emerging that the designer took his own life. We've definitely lost a designer that was simply out of this world.

McQueen entered the fashion world at age 16, starting a tailoring McQueen entered the fashion world at age 16, starting a tailoring apprenticeship before later studying at St. Martin’s School of Art. In 1997 McQueen succeeded Galliano as head designer for Givenchy and had officially cemented his place in the fashion world, going on to be named British fashion designer of the year on four separate occasions.

spring 2008 collection

fall 2009 collection

All of McQueen’s shows were nothing short of a masterpiece, featuring anything from light shows to the animal kingdom, all including performance with technology and design. However, more important than the aesthetic was the meaning behind the collection, and a McQueen show always gave you something to think about. And alot of his shows were not without controversy, with many of his actions earning him the titles ‘enfant terrible’ and ‘the hooligan of English fashion’. Despite this, it could not be denied that McQueen was a genius who created stunning pieces of wearable art. His clothes transcended the realm of regular fashion and pushed every possible boundary that was there to be pushed. His latest collection saw models looking more like aliens (pre-avatar), walking around on other wordily shoes while guests at his show were confronted with two oversized cameras that zoomed in on their faces while screening them on a large backdrop while the shoe took place.

Spring 2009 Runway

Upcoming Spring 2010

Designers all over the world have spoken about the death, with Karl Lagerfeld stating “I found his work very interesting and never banal”. Tim Blanks spoke about McQueen on style.com –

He was an arch romantic with a pessimistic streak. It produced some of the most beautiful, shocking images in the history of fashion, but it’s a state of mind that can lead to endless disappointments.

Personally, Alexander McQueen was very much at the top of my list. His shows were simply put – interesting. Not only did he have the capacity of a brilliant designer, producing beautifully made garments to create stunning collections, but his philosophies were relevant and well thought out. His death has definitely created a void in the fashion world and who knows when we will find someone else to fill it.