‘Savage Beauty’ by Alexander McQueen

As mentioned on my Facebook Page, recently I was at The Met (Metropolitan Museum of Art), NYC for the exhibition ‘Savage Beauty’ by Alexander McQueen.
It was a rare opportunity, to see the amazing radical tailoring and iconic designs which were not behind glass! It’s impossible to describe the details in his designs and how not one piece is like another, the only common thread is brilliance and genius!

I was inspired by virtually everything he did and would have loved to have spent hours in each room, here is just a glimpse at a few of his masterpieces;

1. The red dress was made from feathers and medical slides painted red.
2. Drilled and carved wooden bodice and exaggerated collar.
3. Razor clam shells sculpted into a stunning dress.
4. A beautifully tailored skirt paired with a delicate fitted top.
5. Raw punched leather draped over a metal frame.
6. A heavy leather corset with high neck made it impossible for the model to ‘watch her step.’
7. Flowers appliqued on to leather.
8. An African inspired neck piece teamed up with a beautiful leather ‘pencil’ skirt.
9. A billowing cloak attached to a jacket, part of his ‘Jack The Ripper’ inspired collection.
10. Lace over lavender corset.
11. What looks like horse tails sewn to a corset.
12. Beautiful gold dress with guantlet
13. Robots spray painted the dress while the model turned live on stage
14. An exquisite dress made of plumes to emulate the beauty of the human spine

Born in the East End of London, 1969, youngest of 6, his Dad was a cabbie, a London taxi driver. His career started as an apprentice at Anderson & Sheppard, Savile Row at the age of 16, where they made bespoke suits for Prince Charles, he learnt how to do everything from design, to pattern cutting to tailoring and more…
He said, “Everything I do is based on tailoring.” McQueen’s approach to fashion however, combined the precision and traditions of tailoring and pattern making with the spontaneity and improvisations of draping and dressmaking.

“You’ve got to know the rules to break them. That’s what I’m here for, to demolish the rules but to keep the tradition.” —Alexander McQueen.

His scandalously low-cut ‘Bumsters,’ dating back to his first collection in 1993, is the reason trouser-bands sank to the hip and have stayed there ever since.
In the 90s while he was at St Martin’s school of Art he was ‘discovered’ by Isabella Blow, the style guru and fashion director of Tatler, UK she became his mentor and a great friend.

It’s interesting how we don’t realize we can reach out to someone in the ‘limelight’ when, in fact most successful people are only too happy to be, a Mentor.
Anna Wintour, the British-born editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine USA, said, “He (McQueen) brought a uniquely British sense of daring and aesthetic fearlessness to the global stage of fashion.”

I agree, his designs and name will never die. The McQueen Fashion house Tweeted ‘over 150,000 people have seen the exhibition so far’ @WorldMcQueen

If you get the chance you must go, it’s been extended until Aug 7, 2011.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10028
(212) 535-7710
metmuseum.org