When Fashion is Art: ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

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Some days ago I read Alexander McQueen brief bio in wikipedia, and everytime I read a biography, I am always struck with the start of someone's career, his family and his background. In this case I was really impressed by Alexander McQueen's life, from the beginning to the end, as you know, unfortunately tragic, he committed suicide because of a depression (his mother died a week before).

The McQueen culture and fashion contained contrasting elements: fragility and strength, tradition and modernity. His creations were imaginative  and original, his collections were known for their emotional power, his provocations, he was defined rebel, as well as a romantic nature. His works seem to be pieces of art, in creativity and tailoring. So if we try to search these elements of his works in his biography, we could discover his life as the roots of his creativity process. 

He was born in London, the youngest of six children, his father was a taxist, he left school at the age of 16 and was offered an apprenticeship at the traditional Savile Row tailors, he worked also for theatrical costumiers in London and after spending some time in Milan, he completed a Masters degree in Fashion Design at Central Saint Martins.

He showed his MA collection in 1992, which was famously bought in its entirety by Isabella Blow for 4000 pounds, she became his muse contibuting to his success and she died suicide too.

McQueen collections were caractherized by shocking and trasgressive performances so that  they were defined visionary, dark, gothic, connected to death theme, and ispired by a symbolic aestethics.

This fall/winter collection will be the last of his, every piece has the beauty of an oil painting, the strenght of a marble statue, every piece exudes Art, so I would like to remember him in this way; if we'll buy something from McQueen, we could know what is its origin. As you know I have in my home page a McQueen ring as a lucky charm that attests my love for the brand.

If you would like to know more you could visit 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_McQueen