Of McQueen: Mastery, Success and Despair

My mind has been on Alexander McQueen this week
wondering about his life of extremes
from his mastery of fashion, meaning not just clothes but wearable art
to his success as the world's youngest leading designer
to his despondency and death
He could create clothes such as these
that were so immanently wearable

like this suit, perhaps without the birds nest hat

and this feather dress which we all know was copied on project runway

and this tropical bird of paradise evening gown, utterly wearable without the feathers

He could also create clothes that were pure theatrical genius

Like this "Red Queen" coat, an Orientalist - Georgian confection

and this armored warrior queen - note that the dress without the mail is dazzling in its cut

this basking butterfly headdress

and these iconic "bedlingtons" so aptly named by Miss Cavendish

and this birds of prey in flight headdress seemingly holding up this frock.

How does a 40 year old man at the height of his success succumb to such despair as to commit suicide? Granted that he grieved for the mother that he lost only days before his death, and his friend/champion Isabella Blow that he lost three years previously, but to take his grief to such extreme is for me, not understandable.

When I consider all of the people who are out of work and have families to feed or who are seriously ill from a terminal decease, who get up everyday continue with their lives, I wonder that McQueen couldn't have found the will to go on.

I friend of mine lost his daughter to cancer almost two years ago, after battling it with her for almost 8 years. His daughter was 24 years old when she died. He despaired in fact he still despairs but he goes on with his life. A woman that I work with has had cancer treatment off and on for the last 6 years and now the cancer has metastasized to her brain. She goes on knowing how fragile life is and appreciates each additional day.

I guess that in some way I'm insufficiently sensitive to the trials and travails of the talented, successful and wealthy 40 year old McQueen.

I leave you with this link to part 1 of McQueen's last show, Plato's Atlantis.

The embed code has been disabled, thus the link.

Watch and enjoy the last of his brilliant body of work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eciYA7rygsw

Alexander McQueen - RIP

OMFG
Alexander Mcqueen has commit suicide.
So very sad
Check out Wendy B's blog for an incredible video of Kate Moss on the runway
and the Townhouse Lady's blog for a beautifully written eulogy.

OMG...Daphne Dons Bedlingtons!

Look who's wearing the Miss Canvendish's well named Bedlingtons!!!!
My style icon Daphne Guinness!
On the Fringe of Fashion posted this bizarre photo today.
It makes we wonder if she asks ever herself
"Do these shoes make me look insane?"
instead of "Does this outfit make me look fat?"
Probably not.

Alexander McQueen - Spring Collection 2010

Alexander McQueen's Spring 2010 Collection
inspired by Charles Darwin's Origin of The Species
according to The Daily Mail
Ruffled hemlines were frilled to resemble feathers, and vibrant fabrics were printed to resemble amphibian-like breastplates.
The high-tech show set then morphed into a prehistoric underwater scene, lending something of an otherworldly feel.

Can someone...anyone please explain the evolutionary biology behind these soaring 12 inch Alexander McQueen boots

Is this the modern equivalent of foot binding?

Does Alexander McQueen really hate women?

More McQueen Mayhem

Can someone please explain this?
Was Alexander McQueen afraid that we wouldn't notice his genius without all the styling antics of chain mail, umbrella hats, swan feather dresses and clown makeup?

Even with the magpie mayhem and houndstooth from hell fabrics and Philip Treacy surrealist toques, this collection was brilliant.

There's something so "little boy at the back of the class with his hand raised and a NOTICE ME PLEASE expression on his face" about all of this.

It's McQueen for God's sake...why does he have to try so hard?