AP Photo/Danny Moloshok
By Susannah Liguori ‘12
Contributing Writer
An evocatively creative magician of fashion was lost on Feb. 11. The fashion industry, taken by solemn surprise, continues to mourn the loss of a outspoken, provocative designer and showman of a generation: Lee Alexander McQueen.
Constantly pushing the boundaries of reality and fantasy, the 40-year-old British designer was a true craftsman who molded the minds of many designers and urged them to step out of the box and into the spotlight.
McQueen’s final collection from his eponymous label, less than half finished before he died, consisted of 16 ravishingly breathless garments. Binding and captivating the masses with his unconventionally constructed gowns, modernly medieval corsets, tantalizing and theatrical headpieces and bedazzled seven-inch platforms, McQueen never ceased to amaze. His graduation collection from Central St. Martins put him on the radar when Isabella Blow bought every single piece in the collection.
Though pages upon pages can – and should be – taken up upon discussing McQueen’s success, those whom he inspired have been left in the dark as to what may come of his much loved and sought-after label.
AP Photo/Michel Euler
His suicide, was an appalling event not only to his admirers, but also to the world as a whole. Concern immediately fell upon the future of McQueen’s line but little yet has been decided.
As an artist myself, I would hope that in a form of respect for the gifts McQueen has given to society since 1994, when he began making his contributions to the fashion world, the label should be preserved and cared for by those closest to him and crafted by those as influential as McQueen himself. Names such as John Galliano, Julien Macdonald, and Nicolas Ghesquière come to mind because of their talent and history. Galliano, who designed for Givenchy before McQueen, and Macdonald, who took over the house afterwards, have both gone on to create beautiful labels of their own that are new and innovative to the fashion industry.
The label continues to be up and running with hope still in the air for its prosperous future. His accomplishments prove potent and timeless even after his death. The ravenously loyal hearts of McQueen’s fans are still hungry for more, exemplifying him as a true visionary capable of the unimaginable.
Long live McQueen.
UPDATE: Sarah Burton is named the new creative director of Alexander McQueen. Read more about her here.
