When iconic designer Alexander McQueen tragically took his own life in February of this year, the fashion world suffered an unprecedented loss. The young designer had a uniquely imaginative mind unlike anyone else in the industry – and at age 40 was often cited as a mentor, inspiration and model for new designers. His runway shows felt more like Broadway productions than displays of new lines, with fantasy and over-the-top glamor reigning supreme.
Securing a seat at a McQueen show either required an A-list celebrity name or press credentials as Editor-in-Chief of Vogue. Needless to say, first hand access to McQueen’s breathtakingly innovative designs was a near-impossibility, until now. From May 1 to July 31, 2011, the Costume Institute is sponsoring an exclusive retrospective exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, aptly titled Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty.
The artistic exhibition will include the entire course of McQueen’s career, from his postgraduate designs from Central Saint Martins in London in 1992 all the way through his final runway show in February 2010. It will include legendary McQueen looks as well as never-before-seen pieces from the McQueen Archive in London and Givenchy Paris Archive.
The four separate themes for the McQueen retrospective will be Romantic Gothic, Romantic Nationalism, Romantic Exoticism and Romantic Primitivism – all displaying different facets of the designer’s creative vision throughout his career. A separate room will display several of McQueen’s successful artistic collaborations like his partnerships with Phillip Treacy and Shaun Leane, among many others. According to event insiders, there will also be a separate video room at the MET featuring videos of McQueen’s most successful and show stopping fashion shows throughout the years.
The retrospective’s opening is perfectly timed according to the annual Costume Institute’s Gala Benefit, co-chaired by Anna Wintour and Stella McCartney, which will also include plenty of McQueen designs. If you live in the area, or are planning a trip to NYC this coming summer, the Alexander McQueen retrospective will be a must-see for lovers of fashion and style – not to mention a thoughtful and thorough memorial to one of the industry’s greatest minds.
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