Mcqueen Prepares A Busy Summer

[stylegurrl]

McQueen Prepares a Busy Summer of Eyes, Scents, Menswear and Parties

April 27, 2004 - Paris

Get ready for a busy blast of energy this summer from Alexander McQueen, the most hyper-kinetic designer in fashion

On June 3, McQueen will stage what should be the most fashionable party of the UK summer with a mega party to celebrate the ultra exclusive American Express Black cards.

This Thursday, May 1, the latest scent from the designer hits stores worldwide, while his debut collection of reading glasses and shades, Alexander McQueen Eyes, rolls out internationally in mid May. Plus, in the end of June he will unveil his second mens collection in Milan.

But lets first focus on the fete, which will be staged in Earls Court London and feature some 40 works from creative luminaries where possible in black. Among the geniuses Lee hopes to commission are Bjork, Steven Klein and Norman Foster, whose works will then be auctioned for an AIDS charity.

The highlight of the event will be a major world of McQueen fashion show featuring his greatest looks, all reproduced in black for the event. FYI - The card is not for cheapskates: to qualify for an American Express Black card, holders must spend $1 million a year with the plastic.

McQueen has been telling friends that Earls Court will be divided into two sides Ð "one half Studio 54, the other Claridges with black velvet sofas and bar."
Our advice to guests is fasten your seat belts it should be a bumpy night. And, before heading over, splash on a little of Kingdom Limited Edition.

The new scent debuted in Selfridges last week in London and will roll out internationally at the end of this week. The package is typically iconoclastic McQueen, with an open steel egg, holding a glass heart decorated with delicate rose petals.

A blend of Calabrian bergamot, Sicilian mandarin and white jasmine, Kingdom Limited Edition, is a new twist on the McQueen debut fragrance Kingdom launched in spring 2003. Kingdom Limited Edition will have an exclusive distribution in each market Ð just 5,000 flacons in France, for instance.

McQueens staff also recently presented in Paris the houses first eyewear collection, produced under license by Italian specialist Safilo.

Composed of eight sunglasses and six opticals, the looks are in classic McQueen mixes of materials Ð green acetate, dark tortoise wood and titanium. The selection also features his celebrated "panda" eye looks that has appeared in catwalk shows.

Like so much McQueen does, his new "Eyes" are an ingenuous blend of high-tech concepts and artisan skills. Priced at between $160 and $300, the eyewear will debut in McQueens own stores in mid-May before rolling out to 1,400 stores internationally in June.

Expect to see McQueen in these shades in June when he shows his second season of mens looks. The designer is mulling staging a catwalk show, though probably on a lesser scale than his most recent womenÕs show in Paris. It was an immense 80-feet diameter circular raised set, under a huge gantry of concentric lights inspired by crop circles in Southern England.

Whatever happens heres looking at you Lee.

 

[metal-on-metal]

Didn't he launch eyewear back in like, 2001? I remember Sophie Dahl was in the ad campaign and I know for a fact that a friend of mine has McQueen eyeglasses. What's the deal?

 

[faust]

Poor guy - Gucci is really riding him. You know he didn't want to do the perfume, he hinted that Gucci pressured him into it to bump up sales. I'm sure the same goes for the shades...

 

[asta]

Originally posted by faust@May 3rd, 2004 - 3:58 pm
Poor guy - Gucci is really riding him.  You know he didn't want to do the perfume, he hinted that Gucci pressured him into it to bump up sales.  I'm sure the same goes for the shades...

well, i expect he knew what he was doing when he sold 51% of his company to gucci... i doubt he thought he would get a free ride. he doesn't even retain 1/2 of his company anymore... gucci is the majority shareholder.... and all for a few extra stores and a quite a few million.

anyways... why would he sell 50% of his company and the rights to his name????!?!?!?! ah geez. you would think that someone at central saint martins would start teaching people a little bit of business sense. even if you retain the title of creative director, giving up more than 50% of one's company is the easiest way to lose control [halston, anyone?]....

Gucci Group bought a 51 per cent share in McQueen's company for a reputed £54,000,000. The deal also included ten new McQueen stores and the establishment of McQueen's own "house" in Paris in 2002.

 

[stylegurrl]

Originally posted by pearsandapples+May 3rd, 2004 - 3:14 pm--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pearsandapples @ May 3rd, 2004 - 3:14 pm)</div><div class='quotemain'> <!--QuoteBegin-faust@May 3rd, 2004 - 3:58 pm
Poor guy - Gucci is really riding him.  You know he didn't want to do the perfume, he hinted that Gucci pressured him into it to bump up sales.  I'm sure the same goes for the shades...

well, i expect he knew what he was doing when he sold 51% of his company to gucci... i doubt he thought he would get a free ride. he doesn't even retain 1/2 of his company anymore... gucci is the majority shareholder.... and all for a few extra stores and a quite a few million.

anyways... why would he sell 50% of his company and the rights to his name????!?!?!?! ah geez. you would think that someone at central saint martins would start teaching people a little bit of business sense. even if you retain the title of creative director, giving up more than 50% of one's company is the easiest way to lose control [halston, anyone?]....

Gucci Group bought a 51 per cent share in McQueen's company for a reputed £54,000,000. The deal also included ten new McQueen stores and the establishment of McQueen's own "house" in Paris in 2002.

[/b][/quote]
I agree completely. If you sell a major stake in your business to a conglomerate, it's only natural that you are expected to give them a return on their investment by making sales.

Also remember Jill Sander...

 

[Lena]

Mc Queen's eyeswear rules

glad he's in top form

 

[Spike413]

I feel bad that he's being pressured into things, but his perfume smells really good, so it isn't all bad.

 

[pennyfei]

Isn't he always busy, though!

 

[ultramarine]

Originally posted by chickonspeed@May 3rd, 2004 - 2:57 pm
Didn't he launch eyewear back in like, 2001? I remember Sophie Dahl was in the ad campaign and I know for a fact that a friend of mine has McQueen eyeglasses. What's the deal?

Yeah ... but I think twas only sunglasses, no prescription ...

Oh! and about the soiree ... a kidney for an invite, anyone?

PS *secretly hopes that Lee's lurking here and feeling generous*

 

[Acid]

a black card holder american express party
this smells of money, celebrities, free drink and goodie bags

 

[seditionary]

sean u know im expectin u to get us both on the list

 

[faust]

Originally posted by Spike413@May 3rd, 2004 - 6:51 pm
I feel bad that he's being pressured into things, but his perfume smells really good, so it isn't all bad.

It does, my wife wears it - yummy.

 

[Johnny]

"Gucci Group bought a 51 per cent share in McQueen's company for a reputed £54,000,000. The deal also included ten new McQueen stores and the establishment of McQueen's own "house" in Paris in 2002. "

It's difficult to feel too sorry for the guy, no?

 

[Scott]

It doesn't smell too feminine,does it? I've been keen on a bottle myself and the ingredients don't scream "for women".

 

[faust]

Originally posted by Scott@May 4th, 2004 - 11:45 am
It doesn't smell too feminine,does it? I've been keen on a bottle myself and the ingredients don't scream "for women".

Honestly, that was exactly what I thought and I was not thrilled with my wife getting it. BUT, what I did not realize is that the beauty of the smell comes out after it airs out. It is strong and confident, yet feminine, and it has personality - which exactly mirrors his desings (and my kind of a woman!) B)

 

[faust]

Originally posted by Johnny@May 4th, 2004 - 10:16 am
"Gucci Group bought a 51 per cent share in McQueen's company for a reputed £54,000,000. The deal also included ten new McQueen stores and the establishment of McQueen's own "house" in Paris in 2002. "

It's difficult to feel too sorry for the guy, no?

It is, you guys are right. Lee has enough talent to be a strong but not a corporate designer a-la Ann Dem or Vivienne Westwood. Who knows, he could've been the next JPG. That was his choice, and I'm sure he was smart enough to realize that he'll have to heed the way of $$$.

 

[Spike413]

Originally posted by faust+May 4th, 2004 - 11:52 am--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(faust @ May 4th, 2004 - 11:52 am)</div><div class='quotemain'> <!--QuoteBegin-Scott@May 4th, 2004 - 11:45 am
It doesn't smell too feminine,does it? I've been keen on a bottle myself and the ingredients don't scream "for women".

Honestly, that was exactly what I thought and I was not thrilled with my wife getting it. BUT, what I did not realize is that the beauty of the smell comes out after it airs out. It is strong and confident, yet feminine, and it has personality - which exactly mirrors his desings (and my kind of a woman!) B) [/b][/quote]
I've only smelled it once or twice, but I do remember it smelling really good as it wore on. To me it was feminine, but not in the typical pretty, flowery kinda way. It was different. Can't imagine it on a guy though.