Last week the news of Alexander McQueen’s suicide shook the fashion world. Here, we explain his importance to British fashion and why his loss will be mourned so deeply.
Who was Alexander McQueen?
Alexander McQueen - born Lee Alexander McQueen - was arguably the greatest British fashion designer of his generation.
Born in the east end of London and the son of a taxi driver, McQueen started his career on Savile Row. Known for his controversial behaviour he moved around the fashion world, his big break coming in 1994 when he was discovered by Isabella Blow - eccentric former fashion editor of British Vogue - until he launched his own label.
The Alexander McQueen label is now owned by Gucci, which is controlled by French luxury goods group PPR. Last week McQueen committed suicide at the age of 40.
What was his contribution to fashion?
McQueen had an immense influence on the fashion world, both through his designs and his controversial behaviour. While at Savile Row tailor Gieves & Hawkes, he reportedly once embroidered a suit for the Prince of Wales with the words “I am a c**t” in the lining.
When he worked for Givenchy one of his fashion shows featured amputee models and the destruction of white cotton dresses.
When many in the fashion world turned their back on supermodel Kate Moss after she was embroiled in a cocaine scandal, he came out at the end of one of his fashion shows wearing a t-shirt with the slogan “We love you Kate”.
He was a four-times winner of the British Designer of the Year Award, run by the British Fashion Council, and was awarded a CBE in 2003.
Department stores including Liberty and Selfridges alongside designer etailer Net-a-Porter reported last week that sales of Alexander McQueen products were flying off the shelves after the news of his death.
What is his legacy?
McQueen is said to have been key to many of the fashion trends hitting the high street. In 1996 he showed “bumsters”, spawning the trend
for low-rise jeans, which became a must-have throughout the late 1990s and 2000s. They even led to a new phrase being coined - “muffin top” - to describe the over-hang of flesh caused by the low slung waistbands.
He is also famous for the skull motif - his trademark scarf bearing the design became a celebrity must-have - and for towering footwear: Lady Gaga wore a 12cm high pair of McQueen’s Armadillo shoes, which resemble a lobster claw, in one of her music videos.
His label is a massive seller in luxury department stores and independent retailers, but analysts say it is unclear whether Gucci will be able to keep the label going without its famous founder.
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