Alexander McQueen has died…
The 40 year old designer was one of the most talented designers of his generation. Born in the East End in 1970, McQueen studied at Central Saint Martins and trained on Savile Row where he famously wrote messages in the linings of suits being made for HRH the Prince of Wales. Hew as named British Designer of the Year in 1996 when he was just 27 in 1977.
He was a unique designer, who had talent, who sadly took his own life a week after his mother’s death.
He used to make dresses for his 3 younger sisters and then decided to become a fashion designer. Alexander McQueen's early runway collections developed his reputation for controversy and shock tactics (earning the title "l'enfant terrible" and "the hooligan of English fashion"), with trousers aptly named "bumsters", and a collection entitled "Highland Rape". McQueen was known for his lavish, unconventional runway shows, such as a recreation of a shipwreck for his spring 2003 collection, spring 2005’s human chess game and his fall 2006 show, Widows of Culloden, which featured a life-sized hologram of supermodel Kate Moss, dressed in yards of rippling fabric.
McQueen succeeded John Galliano as head designer at Givenchy in 1996. His first couture collection with Givenchy was unsuccessful, with even McQueen telling Vogue in October 1997 that the collection was “crap”. McQueen toned down his act at Givenchy, but continued to indulge his rebellious streak, causing controversy in Autumn 1998 with a show which included car-robots spraying paint over white cotton dresses, and double amputee model Aimee Mullins striding down the catwalk on intricately carved wooden legs.
By the end of 2007, Alexander McQueen had boutiques in New York, London, Los Angeles, Milan, and Las Vegas.
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