Thursday, 11 February 2010

R.I.P Alexander McQueen



I woke up by a text today from a friend. It was not a nice piece of news. One of my favourite designers and a great source of inspiration had committed suicide.






The papers only say:




The British fashion designer Alexander McQueen has been found dead after apparently committing suicide at his home.

The 40-year-old was discovered at his property in Green Street, in London's West End, shortly after 10am today. [11.Feb.2010]

Paramedics were called but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said his death is not being treated as suspicious.



Born in the East End and the son of a taxi driver, McQueen got his training in tailoring in Savile Row, eventually making suits for Prince Charles, and won the distinction of being named British designer of the year four times between 1996 and 2003. He went on to be awarded the CBE, as well as being named International Designer of the Year at the Council of Fashion Designer Awards.





McQueen became the 'enfant terrible' of the fashion world after he was famously discovered by Isabella Blow, who was fashion director of Tatler. She bought all the clothes he made for his graduate show for £5,000 and they were delivered to her in black binliners.
Miss Blow killed herself in May 2007 after taking an overdose of weed killer after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She had attempted suicide several times by then.


Alexander McQueen's early runway collections developed his reputation for controversy and shock tactics (earning the title "l'enfant terrible" and "the hooligan of English fashion"), with trousers aptly named "bumsters", and a collection entitled "Highland Rape". McQueen was known for his lavish, unconventional runway shows, such as a recreation of a shipwreck for his spring 2003 collection, spring 2005’s human chess game and his fall 2006 show, Widows of Culloden, which featured a life-sized hologram of supermodel Kate Moss, dressed in yards of rippling fabric.

I am grieved and speechless today as I'm writing this, my only hope is that devastating losses like this will not occur any time soon. He joins his friend and another inspirational figure of late - Isabella Blow - a much respected icon in my eyes.
Rest in Peace! 

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