A Tribute

By: Souzan Michael and Vanessa Manno

On Thursday, February 11th the fashion world suffered a tremendous loss when British designer Lee Alexander McQueen was found dead in his London apartment. McQueen took his life a day before his mother’s scheduled funeral and his untimely death has shocked his fans, family and colleagues. Known for his provocative designs and runway shows, the ‘bad boy of British fashion’ once claimed that “[i]t’s good to leave the audience in bewilderment”, which he undoubtedly succeeded in doing throughout his career. In 1996, McQueen was appointed as head designer of Givenchy, following John Galliano, and stayed with the brand until 2001. He has won the British Fashion Designer of the Year four times between 1996 and 2003, along with the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) and was named International Designer of the Year at the CFDA Awards. McQueen was also the first designer to partake in MAC’s promotion of cosmetics by fashion designers. His trend-setting and often controversial designs have awed fans and critics alike and his death has left the fashion world truly heartbroken.

“Celebrities and designers from all over the world shared their memories and admiration of Alexander McQueen, showcasing that he was not only a brilliant designer, but a great friend to many.”

Kate Moss: “Kate is shocked and devastated at the tragic loss of her dear friend Lee McQueen. Her thoughts are with his family at this sad time.” (Kate Moss’ spokesperson)

Sarah Jessica Parker: “I am shocked and overcome with grief upon learning about the untimely death of the quiet genius Alexander McQueen. My heart goes out to his family and all those who worked for and with him. Every single inspired, original, lofty, whimsical, stunning, brilliant and jaw dropping detail was Alexander McQueen. There has never been anyone like him. And there simply never will be. What is more devastating is that despite all his success thus far, creatively, critically and commercially, his greatest achievements lay ahead of him. The future would be whatever he hoped to make of it. God speed Lee. It has been a privilege for all of us to know you. You will be indescribably missed.”

Rachel Zoe tweeteed: “I can’t describe the tragic loss of such a brilliant man and designer Alexander McQueen..R.I.P xo RZ”

Marc Jacobs: “He is such a great guy and such an amazing talent that it is so devastating to know he is gone. We have a lot of mutual friends and some of them are working here, and everybody is walking around crying today, so it’s been a little sad. I will miss him, and I will certainly miss the beauty that he created, and his vision and his world.”

Karl Lagerfeld: “It’s a loss for the fashion industry. His story was one of success and talent, but that may not be enough to keep you alive.”

Anna Wintour, Vogue Editor-in-Chief: McQueen was “one of the greatest talents of his generation … In such a short career, [his] influence was
astonishing – from street style, to music culture and the world’s museums. His passing marks an insurmountable loss.”

McQueen told the February issue of Love magazine “I’m 40 now, but I want this to be a company that lives way beyond me, and I believe that customers are more important in making that happen than press. When I’m dead, hopefully this house will still be going. On a spaceship. Hopping up and down above earth.”

Spring 1998 – One of McQueen’s draw dropping collections showed during the spring of ’98. Not only were the tailored clothing, which McQueen was so famous for, breathtaking but McQueen unleashed rain on the runway. Following this show with the torrential downpour were collections with caged wolves and life size chess games, McQueen was a magician and created magic on the runway.

Spring 1999 – McQueen fuses mad science and fashion at his S/S 1999 show. Placing infamous model Shalom Harlow on a revolving platform in a strapless while dress, two robotic arms splashed the garment in yellow and black spray paint. McQueen’s creative genius was captured once again through the art of the runway.

Fall 2006 – Alexander McQueen closes his F/W 2006 show with a haunting hologram of Kate Moss and takes his bow at his S/S 2006 show donning a t-shirt that reads “We Love You Kate“. Kate was McQueen`s muse and close friend. It has been said that after Moss’ drug scandal, it was McQueen who revived the model‘s career. The two were not mere colleges but genuine friends.

17 March – 11 February 2010

No stranger to the Red Carpet, McQueen dressed many of Hollywood’s starlets in ball gowns at events from movie premiers to charity
balls. Here, along side friend SJP at The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala in New York City, May 2006.
Others include Cameron Diaz (Shrek 3 Premiere, Tokyo, May 2007), Rihanna (Inglourious Basterds Premiere, London, July 2009) and Anna Paquin (Screen Actor’s Guild Awards, Los Angeles, January 2010).

(Picture courtesy of@ LadyGaga, Twitter.com) – With no words to describe the loss of such a close friend, Lady Gaga posted this picture of McQueen and herself via twitter. Known as one of McQueen’s recent muses, Lady Gaga and McQueen joined creative forces to send the fashion and music world on a whirlwind adventure this past year.
Moments before the S/S 2010 show, Lady Gaga announced she would be performing her new single, ‘Bad Romance’ on McQueen’s runway. Soon after, Lady Gaga’s video for the single was released, where each ensemble was designed and styled by McQueen.