By :- Ojasvi Agarwal1431865022

British designer Alexander McQueen was well-known for extreme, hard-edged and often politically motivated designs. His innovative materials, anarchistic reputation and provocative runway shows made him a memorable figure in more recent fashion history.

Born 17 March 1969, Lewisham, London, United Kingdom

Died 11 February 2010, Mayfair, London, United Kingdom

Education

Central Saint Martins

Occupation Fashion Designer

Spouse

George Forsyth

Parents

Joyce McQueen, Ronald McQueen

Labels Alexander McQueen, McQ

“Fantastical,” “shocking,” “visionary”: these are words that only begin to scratch the surface at describing the late, great Alexander McQueen.

He was christened “Lee”.

Though McQueen’s career officially began at the age of 16, he recalled his earliest memory when, aged 3, he drew a picture of a dress on the wall of his family’s council house in the East End of London. His personal style was drawn along the lines of close-cropped hair, a goatee, t-shirts, jeans, and Doc Martens. He applied for a job as a pattern cutter at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design; the school was so impressed by his portfolio they instead invited him on as a Masters student.

He worked as the head designer at French couture house Givenchy for five years before launching his own label.

Known just as much for his tailoring as his outré women’s couture, McQueen honed his skills as an apprentice on London’s Savile Row.(painstakingly, to cut jackets)

He won British Designer of the Year four times (1996, 1997, 2001, and 2003).

In December 2000, the Gucci Group acquired a 51% stake in McQueen’s company and kept the designer on as creative director.

He directed the music video for Bjork’s single “Alarm Call.”

McQueen is credited with popularizing the skull motif in fashion.

He was most inspired by “animal skins. Not so PC, but there’s nothing better than nature. Nature is a fabric itself.”

McQueen’s signature designs, as he noted them in 2003 were, “the bumster and the frock coat. The “bumster” jeans he debuted in 1996 spurred the low-rise denim trend that proliferated in the 1990s and early 2000s.

In 2005, McQueen collaborated with Puma on a line of sneakers (aka “trainers”) for the shoe brand.

McQueen was the first designer to collaborate with MAC cosmetics on a signature line. His 2007 collab was inspired by Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra

His funeral was attended by fashion world luminaries like Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Stella McCartney, Sam Taylor-Wood, and Daphne Guinne

It was believed that he hanged himself while in mourning for his mother’s death nine days prior.

Lady Gaga wore several pairs of 10-inch McQueen stilettos in her video for “Bad Romance”; the so-called Armadillo shoes created a frenzy across the internet.

McQueen’s signature materials

Glass

BoningGlass Leather

Feathers Gazelle Horns

Python Lace

Shells

Brocade Wood

McQueen had an interest in hard edge of technology of textiles, and used it often in his collections

Molded leather body corset Wooden fan skirt Stainless steel

Gummy Bears

Digital mechanics as inspiration Cuttle-fish

McQueen’s Design Philosophy

McQueen’s Inspiration

He used things that people want to hide in their heads. His designs commented on the world around him, and provide examples of what was considered culturally taboo. He was such a sponge that inspiration came from everywhere

War Religion Sex

Deep Romanticism, 19th Century

Alexander McQueen's Spring 1997

La Poupée Collection