Rest In Peace, McQueen
The brilliant Lee Alexander McQueen left us this week, leaving behind a legacy that will carry on for generations. McQueen was an absolute genius artist.
Even if you don’t like fashion, you have seen McQueen’s artistry without even realizing it!
Example A: David Bowie’s “Earthling” album art…..McQueen and Bowie designed this jacket together.
Example B: Björk’s “Homogenic” album art concept, clothing AND photography….even though it looks like a painting, it’s an actual photograph of her.
His designs simultaneously appear to be centuries old and from the future. Without labeling these photos, you can’t tell what year these are from. Fall/Winter ‘99? Spring/Summer ‘09? They are mindblowing in their timelessness. I mean, can’t you see Marie Antoinette wearing this stuff, and can’t you see your great-great-great-great-grandchildren wearing it as they zip around in their hovercrafts?
The way McQueen could look at a body and see borders and shapes beyond its natural lines is fascinating to me. The best example of this is the Armadillo shoes he created:
They look hilarious, right? Then you see them being worn and look at how amazing they are!!!!
Some more of my favorite designs where he creates different shapes, volumes and borders:
At the same time he designed crazy, gorgeous, high-concept, totally out-there couture collections like this…..
…he also designed a discount line for Target of totally wearable, everyday clothes for people like me to wear. This is one of my favorites from that collection (that I wore to see Kylie, for whom McQueen designed stage costumes).
His garments have adorned everyone you can imagine, because his designs are so versatile. These are all so different from each other, so gorgeous, and each of these women looks so comfortable in his clothes.
Janet Jackson
Beth Ditto
Björk, of course
Lady Gaga, a frequent recent collaborator with McQueen.
Cate Blanchett
Anna Paquin
Dita Von Teese
Thandie Newton
Victoria Beckham
Rihanna
Katie Holmes
…..and even our First Lady, Michelle Obama!
My 5 runners up for favorite McQueen design of all time:
And my all-time favorite Alexander McQueen creation EVER EVER EVER EVER…….this dress that makes my heart stop.
Farewell to an innovator and inspiration….
(Photos collected from a million places under the influence of rum and mourning. Contact me if you own any of them.)
(Also, I know the spacing is all fucked up and the photos are all different sizes. I don’t know shit about that stuff, sorry.)
Tags: fashion, heartstopping, inspiration, lee alexander mcqueen, rest in peace, shoes