Savage Beauty

Everyone knows the tragic story of Lee Alexander McQueen. Born on March 17, 1969 in London, the son of a taxi driver and a schoolteacher, and a fashion designer from when he was a child. He was a brilliant designer, the man who made models pass out from too-tight corsets, drop out of shows once presented with his 10 inch Plato's Atlantis heels, and the man who made a holographic Kate Moss appear floating in a glass pyramid as part of his fall/winter 2006 show The Widows of Culloden.

The Widows of Culloden show

Kate Moss wearing the dress once again for a Harper's Bazaar UK Edition Cover

McQueen was the ultimate icon, and through his clothing he created an unbelieveable theatric, fantastic substitute for what we mere mortals call reality. He introduced the McQueen tartan, dressed musical icons such as Bjork and Lady Gaga, and his now tragically beautiful designs will never be forgotten. To assist in his perpetual immortality, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is presenting an exhibition called Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty. Why is this important now? Because thanks to my lovely grandmother, I'm going to see a private tour.

Alexander McQueen dresses from the f/w 2010 Angels and Demons collection

The exhibit has been reviewed as incredible, and follows McQueen's work from his work at Givenchy through his untimely suicide in February of 2010. The collection begins with 'The Romantic Mind" and culminates with "Romantic Naturalism." But hey, we'll just find out more come Wednesday with a post on the exhibit.

A few final words: he was the self proclaimed "Edgar Aleen Poe" of fashion, nicknamed the "l'enfant terrible" and "the hooligan of English fashion." The creater of the "bumster", the "manta" dress (voted one of the top ten dresses of the decade), and the now covetable skull motif, he created true rebellion in fashion.

McQueen's "Manta" dress on Camilla Belle

All hail Alexander McQueen.

xoxo,

Christina Anne