Alexander McQueen

Lee Alexander McQueen (17 March 1969 – 11 February 2010) was a British fashion designer. Known for his unconventional designs, he was one of the most influential fashion designers in the world from the 1990s until his death by suicide in 2010. His brand, Alexander McQueen, is now owned by Gucci and remains active. McQueen was presented with four British Designer of the Year awards as well as being named the International Designer of the Year. He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2003 for his work in fashion. McQueen had a background in tailoring before he studied fashion and embarked on a career as a designer. His MA graduation collection caught the attention of the fashion editor Isabella Blow, who became his patron. McQueen's early designs, particularly the radically low-cut "bumster" trousers, gained him recognition as an enfant terrible in British fashion. In 2000, McQueen sold 51% of his company to the Gucci Group, which established boutiques for his label worldwide and expanded its product range. During his career, he designed a total of 36 collections for his brand, including his graduation collection and an unfinished final collection. Following his death, his longtime collaborator Sarah Burton took over as creative director of his label. As a designer, McQueen was known for sharp tailoring, historicism, and imaginative designs that often verged into the controversial. He explored themes such as romanticism, sexuality, and death, and many collections had autobiographical elements. Among his best-known individual designs are the bumsters, the skull scarf, and the armadillo shoes. McQueen's catwalk shows were noted for their drama and theatricality, and they often ended with elements of performance art, such as a model being spray painted by robots (No. 13, Spring/Summer 1999), or a life-size illusion of Kate Moss (The...