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A tribute to Alexander McQueen

Written by Jennifer Jaconelli
Saturday, 13 February 2010 00:00

The fashion world is shocked and devastated by the tragic news that illustrious design icon, Alexander McQueen, has died. It has been documented that McQueen, 40, committed suicide on the eve of his mother Joyce's funeral.

Unfortunately, McQueen also lost close friend and mentor, Isabella Blow three years ago, and his Aunt Dolly also died last year. Experiencing such frequent and pungent loss is incredibly difficult to deal with, and something that hit McQueen hard.

Alexander McQueen was a widely celebrated tailor and an exquisite master of design. His visions were nothing short of artistic wizardry, with innovative and compelling creations, including visual controversies such as his currently infamous 'armadillo' shoes. His designs transcended boundaries between couture and works of art, with catwalk shows manifesting an enchanting and at times unfathomable drama that both stimulated and shocked.

McQueen, born Lee Alexander McQueen, trained on Savile Row at a young age and had various other enviable apprenticeships that cultivated his innate talents. After completing a Masters at Central St. Martins, he progressed to the hierarchy of British fashion designers and was awarded British Designer of the Year in '96, '97, '01 and '03. His legacy spanned universal breadth, with stores in every major fashion capital and an extensive list of adoring celebrity clients.  His recognition became global when he was appointed Chief Designer for Givenchy in 1996. He went on to become Creative Director of Gucci and have numerous collaborations with brands such as Puma, alongside his own label. His winning of the International Designer of the Year by the CFDA in 2003 was demonstrative of the calibre he'd reached, and his reputation as an world class designer was also marked in the same year, when he was given the prestigious accolade of receiving a CBE from the Queen.

Alexander McQueen's death has left thousands distraught. From those who knew and loved him, to those who respected his grandiose creative talents, McQueen was a spearhead of the fashion world. As Alexandra Shulman, Editor of British Vogue stated, he was a  "modern-day genius" and it is more than evident that he will be greatly missed.