Alexander McQueen Spring/Summer 2010

Plato's Atlantis

Paris

You sit on the edge of your seat, unsure of what to expect; as the lights abruptly shut off and a hush gradually falls over the crowd. Instrumental music starts to play, which brings a hint of mystery and fantasy. A video begins to play, which releases a sense of curiousity in your mind. Your imagination soars and undescribable thoughts flood your head. What could McQueen have possibly have created this time? The video displays a woman lying on her back, with numerous snakes moving across her upper body. As soon as the video comes to an end lights illuminate the runway and you witness two spectacular and never before seen cameras, which are parrallel to each other. It scans over the runway and the audience showing curious faces, and deep intrigue throughout the audience. McQueen has done it again, he has captured the interest of his audience and has stolen them from reality. Allowing his audience to experience a glimpse of the unimaginable imagination of McQueen.

A silhouette enters the runway in the most captivating way. The model walks with an alien and foreign sense of wonder, her hair is undescribable, her shoes are breath taking. Did I mention that they are 10 inches high? However she walks with ease and a confidence about her, with no fear of stumbling during her few moments on the runway.

When you believe you have McQueen all figured out, you really don't. No one can say that they would ever know what McQueen's Spring/Summer 2010 collection was going to bring. That is Alexander McQueen's legacy and trademark in the fashion industry. He was simply unpredictable. This collection was based on the idea and theories of evolution. The pieces were very down to earth, they explored the thoughts of creation, and brought a sense of hope for new life. It incorporates the relationship between humanity and the elements of Earth. This collection was not intended to be based around sci-fi, this collection was based on evolution.

Alexander McQueen was famously known for his advanced technological skills. He portrayed those skills humbly with the Spring/Summer 2010 collection. Each print was engineered and designed for each individual garment. The pieces in this collection had incredibly complex prints and patterns. The colours were mainly, almost a military green, blue, gold/yellow, and a rusty brown. The pieces portrayed female strenght with the sharp and clean cut edges of the garments, yet brought a sense of feminicity and softness at the same time. The design was indescribable, the finishing was flawless, and the hair was astonishing. (MODTV iPod Podcast specifically about the Spring/Summer 2010 collection)

To end the show, Alexander McQuicky quickly walks the runway waving, while dressed with a white shirt underneath a loose dress shirt, finished with blue jeans.

 This collection was simply a portrayal of remarkable brilliance.

Alexander McQueen

The most coveted show in fashion.

You could only sit on the edge of your seat as you struggle to attempt to think of what McQueen might possibly have designed this time. However each thought and attempt will never be able to even guess what originality and breathaking pieces will walk the runway. Not one thing about McQueen was predictable; you could not say that his collection would follow popular seasonal trends. He defined his own trends, ignored the cliche, and strived towards originality. His pieces were controversial and audacious, making his undeniable mark in the fashion industry.

Alexander McQueen's runway shows were far from the usual. His shows steal you away from reality (only for a little while), challenge your imagination, and leave you with an raw emotional feeling. At times the run way set up would deceive the eye and look rather typical. But how could one lose faith in what McQueen had up his sleeve? From a famous dance marathon (Spring/Summer 2004), to a emotional and "gasp" worthy model (Shalom Harlow) being spray painted (Spring/Summer 1999), to a life size chess game (Spring/Summer 2005).

McQueen was known for bringing theater, mystery, fantasy, sensuality, fragility, female strength, raw energy, and emotional power through his work. He was accused of incorporating dark fantasy, and a sense of twists on beloved fairytales. However through all the accusations and reviews on his work, it did not affect McQueen's designs. He stayed true to himself and did not allow anyones opinions change or alter his unique designing of clothes.

Although it has almost been a year until his passing, his legacy and his work has not been forgotten. He is dearly missed by the fashion inudustry, those who he came in contact with, those who where inspired by his work, and those who saw him as a role model. His thoughts were never planned, they were spontaneous and on the spot. If you worked with him, you had to be quick to his words, and on top of his requests. Many things were last minute (especially his runway shows), new ideas and innovations would pop into his head as the time crunch on his projects started. However with a brilliant and complex mind like McQueen's, there was no excuse to not attempt to make his thoughts into reality, even if that meant you had to move heaven and hell to make it happen.

A Fresh Start

Sarah Burton

Alexander McQueen's right-hand assistant for fourteen years (since 1996). Her Spring/Summer collection through the McQueen label received perfect and emotional reviews. Sarah was truly under estimated for what potential she really carried. Many in the fashion industry questioned if an unkown assistant manager could carry out and continue the McQueen label. However their mouths soon shut, and their doubts vanished as soon as the last model of the Spring/Summer collection walked off the runway. A weight and intense tension since Alexander McQueen's passing was lifted and a glimpse of life and hope replaced the once lost and doubtful fashion industry. Sarah Burton admits that She will never be like Alexander Mcqueen, no one could ever possibly replace such a once and a life time designer. But Burton will carry on the label, bringing pride to the McQueen label, and peace to the fashion world as Alexander McQueen lives through her future collections.

Although Burton has done an amazing job carrying on the McQueen label, she does not strive to put theater into the runways. Alexander McQueen was famously known for his emotional and jaw dropping theatrical performances during his runway shows. However Sarah Burton does not believe she will carry on that legacy, and no one should expect her to bring a twist of McQueen's imagination into a runway through theater. She will bring her own originality to the McQueen label while still keeping Alexander McQueen as the soul and inspiration for the future collections to come.

"Life's too short not to do what you believe in, You just have to go with your gut, even if someone else is not going to like it. Because, you know you're putting your soul on the line."

- Sarah Burton