Lee McQueen the creative genius behind Alexander McQueen is the first designer that introduced me into the art of high fashion. Beloved by the fashion world. Nine years ago the muse behind his shows, Isabella Blow, and Lee himself both met a tragic end only a few months apart . I wanted to list my five favourite shows and explain why I love them so much.
NO.1 - Spring 2010 Ready-to-Wear - Plato’s Atlantis
This show has a special place in my heart as it was the first show of McQueen's that I saw. It really opened my eyes to fashion and the concepts behind a show. The concept is based on Darwin's theory of evolution as well as rising seawater which is why the models evolve throughout the show. The prints along with the contrasts of flowy and structured materials is something that I will always remember. It was incredibly innovative as it was the first show of McQueen's that was live-streamed and a new shoe was born the “Armadillo Boot”. |
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NO. 2 - Fall 2009 Ready-to-Wear - The Horn of Plenty
This show is another of my all-time favourites. The concept of the show was a rebuttal to the backlash McQueen faced after his shows with fashion critiques often calling his shows rubbish and for this collection, McQueen used literal trash bags and bin liners to create garments. I love this show for the avant-garde outfits from incredibly restricting coats to big billowing dresses along with the makeup of the models being over the top and exaggerated. The show is just sheer brilliance and the clothes are incredibly designed. |
NO. 3 - Spring 1999 Ready-to-Wear - No. 13
McQueen’s thirteenth fashion show was inspired by the Victorian Arts and Crafts Movement which seen over embellishment as ignorance against materials used in clothing. McQueen used wood, leather and lace throughout the looks, sculpting dresses and skirts out of the mentioned materials. What gave this show the iconic legacy it retains is the ending when model Shalom Harlow wore a plain white dress which was then spray painted by two robots while she stood on a turnstile. I see this show being about art and that's why I like it so much. |
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NO. 4 - Spring 2007 Ready-to-Wear - Sarabande
Unlike the other shows, this one stands out to me because of the romantic styling of the models. With their hair styled from the 16th century to the pale complexion it truly gives the feel of romanticism. The structured suits and billowy dresses are captivating and haunting with flowers falling from the dresses as they went down the runway. All the models are quite ghostly in appearance and with the setting being from the 16th century and a live orchestra it is truly just astonishing. |
NO. 5 - Fall 1995 Ready-to-Wear - Highland Rape
One of McQueen's earliest shows caused a lot of controversy to the point that it could've ended McQueen’s career. The name is incredibly provocative and is based on how McQueen felt about England’s pillaging of Scotland. Keeping on the theme with the name the models were put in clothes that had gashes and rips in places that made it seem they had been sexually assaulted. The reason I love this show is mainly due to how the clothes are made as well as how haunting the models look with black contact lenses and an array of tones of red hair. |
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