Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty//Master of His Designs

It had been a year since one of the fashion legends, Lee Alexander McQueen, passed away in February. Known for his boundary-breaking fashion and unexpected themes, Alexander McQueen is always one of my favourite brands in my heart(ah, who can forget those Armadillo shoes? Or the corsets that made Abbey Lee fainted? OR the flowers falling out of the dress from Spring 2007? My favourite McQueen moments ♥) And if you are just like me, and just happen to be in New York at the moment, go the the Met Museum and visit the Savage Beauty exhibition. 

Highland Rape, Autumn/Fall 1995/96. According to McQueen, it actually represents the rape of Scotland by England, instead of the raping of women. (Note: to those who don't know, McQueen was Scottish-decent)

No. 13, Spring/Summer 1999. Remember the two robots spraying paint on Shalom Harlow and her white dress? The spraying is like a piece of art itself to me. Shalom Harlow was trained as a ballerina, so the whole thing is as dramatic and graceful as it can get.

Sorry for using photos from the Met website, but no cameras are allowed at the Met unless you want to get scream at by menacing-looking Met security guards. Enough said *cough*cough*

Irere, Spring/Summer 2003 - "Oyster" dress. McQueen was inspired by a shipwreck at sea, like the girl is drowning. They called it a piece of couture at full force and reference to the skills at which McQueen learned at Givenchy. I just want this as my wedding dress.

Sarabande, Spring/Summer 2007. Described as darkly romantic, McQueen used flowers because they die. It was an amazing dress, including in which the flowers kept falling out in presentation. The model looked so awkward, she's trying to be professional while her flowers were falling out. Teehee. 

Widows of Culloden. Autumn/Winter 2006/2007. Based on the final battle of Jacobite Risings, the collection is full of exaggerated silhouettes inspired by the 1880's, as seen above. I read in Vogue that McQueen and Burton cut out the pattern of the lace to create their own pattern since McQueen hated gathering.

Showcasing McQueen's work from his start to last collection, which was almost finished until he took his own life. His Central St. Martins grad collection, was discovered by the late Isabella Blow and kinda his first big break. Structured jackets and careful, delicate embroiders became a McQueen signature from then on.

The Girl Who Lived In A Tree, Autumn/Winter 2008. Inspired by queens of England. Novelty red, full of rich detailed embroideries and accessories. Dreamy, romantically nationalistic, well-dressed fairy queens. According to internet sources, the show is a fairy tale, about a girl dressed in beautiful black rags(first half of the show), met her prince and started descending from the tree. I wish I live in that fairy tale.

  

Angels and Demons(as named), Autumn/Winter 2010/2011. A look into the Dark Ages, and reminding to find light in the darkest of times. The collection was finished by Sarah Burton.

The accessories are put along side some of the most dramatic presentations(chess game of Spring/Summer 2005, anyone?) Most famous accessories such as the Armadillo shoes(which Lady Gaga wore in the infamous "Bad Romance" video), the Philip Treacy butterfly hat(a homage to the late Isabella Blow, which the collection was inspired by, Spring/Summer 2008) and countless others.

So, promise me, go to the Met and paid your respect to this great artist?

photo source: met website