Dubbed as the "enfant terrible" or the “hooligan of English fashion” for his outspokenness, abrasive manner and appearance, Alexander McQueen, the bad boy of British fashion, loved to shock. He pushed the boundaries of fashion to the extreme, shunning political correctness by showcasing collections with controversial themes such as death, rape and violence. His creations would often veer from the controversial to the crazy.
He was well-known for unconventional fashion shows and eccentric designs which included amour-like suiting, dramatic origami cuts, kimono-styled oriental draping, ultra-cinched waists, wacky headgear, eye-catching prints and death-defying footwear.
Armadillo and Alien Shoes for Spring 2010
McQueen's extreme 10-inch platformed heels dubbed Armadillo and Alien shoes (part of his Spring 2010 collection) caused fervor in the fashion world as 3 models were cut from his runway show for refusing to teeter (albeit slowly) in his towering footwear.
Lady Gaga, however, proved she had no qualms about rocking McQueen's signature shoes, and was seen actually dancing in Armadillo shoes in her music video "Bad Romance." Of McQueen's talent the pop diva said "he is on his own planet. He doesn't need to respond to trends or what anyone else is doing..."
Alexander McQueen Early Runway Shows
1992 saw McQueen become an early influential figure in the fashion industry with his “bumster” trousers, low cut pants for women, revealing what has now become known as “bum cleavage.”
In 1995 his contentious show entitled "Highland Rape" saw him accused by some in the fashion world of misogyny, with his models sporting torn bodices hanging from their skirts. McQueen later argued that he was only making a point that 18th Century Scotland had been over-romanticised.
In 1998 the British designer's models walked down the runway in white dresses splattered with paint thrown by car robots and in 2000 McQueen used theatrical accessories such as headdresses and extreme tribal jewelry to shock. Spring 2005 saw his models dressed as part of a human chess game and in his Fall 2006 runway show he featured a life-sized hologram of supermodel and good friend, Kate Moss.
Alexander McQueen Fall 2009
Oversized houndstooth prints filled the runways of McQueen’s Fall 2009 collection, along with harlequin-esque costumes of black and orange accompanied by umbrellas posing as hats. This was a collection filled with unabashed showmanship with his models painted with bright red sex-doll lips, photographed against a backdrop of a scrap heap of debris. Some designer pieces appeared to be made of trash bags, with aluminum cans proving the basis for some off-the-wall headgear.
Alexander McQueen Spring 2010
Alexander McQueen’s Spring 2010 show at Paris Fashion Week was an elaborate piece of hi-tech theater. Themed “Plato's Atlantis", McQueen drew his inspiration from Charles Darwin’s Origins of the Species with models morphing into underwater aliens, wearing sculpted dresses and his infamous lobster claw-like Armadillo shoes.
This collection was also unveiled live to an audience of approximately 6 million using hi-tech video cameras and robot installations on a hologram runway, which responded to the movements of his models.
Alexander McQueen Fall 2010
In light of his tragic death on February 11, 2010 the fate of McQueen's Fall 2010 collection hangs in the balance. His new designs were due to be unveiled at Paris Fashion Week in March 2010. His forthcoming fall McQ for Target collection was pulled from New York Fashion Week just hours after his death.
Source:
- Telegraph.co.uk: Alexander McQueen Last Show at Paris Fashion Week, February 11, 2010
- Mail Online. Alexander McQueen: A Life in Fashion, February 11, 2010
- Mail Online. March of the Monster Shoes, January 2010
Gill Hart - Gill Hart is a fashion and image professional who specializes in women's fashion over 50.
