RIP Alexander McQueen CBE 1969 - 2010

[haksare]

Saddening news, you will be missed McQueen!

 

[Paws]

R. I. P.

 

[helmut.newton]

The man was a genius. And I know that word tends to be over prescribed to people any creative industry, be it fashion or art or film; but to describe McQueen as anything less than a genius would be simply wrong.

For me he was the designer of the decade. Sure, there were and are lots of great designers in the industry, but few are as visionary as McQueen. He was a showman. Somebody that experienced fashion beyond the confines of clothing in stores. He dreamt up aesthetic worlds which were beyond reality and time. I just cannot reiterate it enough; he was a genius.

I just cannot process that we will never see another Alexander McQueen show again. It breaks my heart. And I, personally, will spend the next few months obsessed with his archives. Celebrating his work and celebrating the fact that such a talented man could share his vision with us!


Some of his shows

visualizeus.com/ + pbaglino.blogspot.com + elementlabs.com + nymag.com/ + guardian.co.uk + fashionindie.com + couturesoles.com + chinapost.com.tw + screencaptures from youtube.com/ + style.com/

 

[haksare]

Spring 05 with the chess layout is probably one of my favorite collections/presentations for a fashion show ever.

 

[Meg]

very well said. I too am saddened that we will never get to see a new vision from Lee. There was always something truly special about his shows - there was always an idea or a feeling he managed to project so well. What made him exceptional is that he was able to translate that into beautiful and wearable clothes. He was truly one of a kind and his presence will be sorely felt. Hopefully he has found peace.

 

[cottonmouth13]

OMFG! This is shocking! May he rest in peace. He will surely be missed.

 

[Over the Sea]

beautiful pictures

 

[helmut.newton]

Together at last

cyanatrendland.com/

 

[ScarlettLover]

No no no. I can't believe this.....and an apparant suicide? I'm just in shock...

 

[heelscatchfire]

This is such sad news. He will always be missed.

 

[jess93]

i'm shocked now, at first i tough it was i joke, but it unfortunately it isn't
he was an amazing designer, really amazing, he will be missed...

Rest In Peace McQueen

 

[Label Basher]

US Vogue editor Anna Wintour has issued a statement on the passing of Alexander McQueen:

"We are devastated to learn of the death of Alexander McQueen, one of the greatest talents of his generation. He brought a uniquely British sense of daring and aesthetic fearlessness to the global stage of fashion. In such a short career, Alexander McQueen’s influence was astonishing — from street style, to music culture and the world’s museums. His passing marks an insurmountable loss."

 

[rox_yr_sox]

I can't believe it. So young and full of life and creativity... Lee will be greatly missed.

 

[saturnine]

Pretty much the same words everyone in here has used...

Shocked, saddened... what a loss

 

[rockandroses]

I can't believe this. I'm just shocked and speechless... he will be dearly missed. A talent like his doesn't come around very often. My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones

 

[jennifer~]

This is equal parts shocking and devastating! Just can't believe it...

 

[couturecouture]

I just read this. I cannot believe it. He was so talented with a type of vivid creativity that is unique/different and extremely rare. So sad. My heart goes out to his family and friends an all of his fellow fans who will greatly miss his work.

 

[Crimson C.C]

You have mastered your fashion. RIP friend.

 

[Verene]

I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS. I was just going through his collections before bed last night and I was excited to see what his upcoming collection will be... Rest in peace... McQueen is my favorite and most talented designer ever.

 

[Miss Dalloway]

Some more tributes, and yes Karl spoke once again in his style, although i doubt he meant anything bad really;

Alexandra Shulman, editor of British Vogue, said: "Lee McQueen influenced a whole generation of designers. His brilliant imagination knew no bounds as he conjured up collection after collection of extraordinary designs.

"At one level he was a master of the fantastic, creating astounding fashion shows that mixed design, technology and performance and on another he was a modern-day genius whose gothic aesthetic was adopted by women the world over.

"His death is the hugest loss to anyone who knew him and for very many who didn't."

Sir Paul Smith told Drapers: “Obviously, like everyone, I am extremely shocked at this sad news. I have known Lee since his time at Central Saint Martins and gave him advice in the early part of his career. He was a very talented and creative designer, especially in respect of his tailored clothing. This is a very sad time and my thoughts are with his family.”

François-Henri Pinault, the CEO of the PPR group, Mr McQueen’s employer, said in a statement: “Alexander McQueen was one of the greatest fashion designers of his generation. His genius, sometimes provocative, admired and saluted by all, constantly opened new perspectives.
“Visionary and avant-garde, his creations took their inspiration from both tradition and timeless hyper-modernity”.

Karl Lagerfeld said: “I only knew him very little but I knew his work well.
“I found his work very interesting, never banal”.
But, he added: “There was always a bit of an attraction to death, it was a bit dehumanised.”

“Who knows, perhaps by constantly flirting with death, death ends up attracting you,” he said.

Marks & Spencer chairman Sir Stuart Rose, also a former chairman of the British Fashion Council, organiser of London Fashion Week, added: “I don’t know what to say. It’s very sad and it’s a tragic loss. He was a huge talent and my condolences go out to his family and friends. It’s a reminder of the fragility of life.”

Designer Katherine Hamnett said: "He was a genius. What a terrible, tragic waste."

Among the first to pay their respects to the 40-year-old Londoner, who was found dead at his luxury flat off Park Lane in central London, was Scottish TV presenter Jenni Falconer who wrote on her Twitter : "Terribly sad news about Alexander McQueen. He was a truly talented designer."

BBC Radio One DJ Nick Grimshaw said on Twitter : "Shockingly sad news about Alexander McQueen, one of our most gifted and inspirational talents. RIP"

​

Designer Vivienne Westwood was "incredibly sorry" to hear the news, a spokesman said.

Matthew Williamson, another designer, said: "I am shocked and deeply saddened by McQueen's death. He was a genius and his talent was second to none.

"Like many others, I always cited him as a hugely inspirational leader of world fashion. He will be greatly missed."

Pierre Bergé, the longtime partner and business associate of Yves-Saint Laurent told France Info: “This death grieves me a lot. Alexander McQueen had a rather sensational start in Paris when he took over at Givenchy. He had talent and was an artist and it pains me.”

Tyra Banks, presenter of America's Next Top Model, tweeted: "RIP Alexander McQueen. So so sad. Such a huge loss. He was one of my favourite designers. He will be missed."

Boy George, the musician, tweeted: "Very, very sad news about Lee McQueen, he was a genius, such tragic news. R.I.P!"

Ben Bradshaw, the culture secretary, said: "Alexander McQueen made an outstanding contribution to British fashion.
"His extraordinary talent and creativity mean that his designs are adored not just by followers of haute couture but lovers of great style everywhere.
"This is a great loss to one of Britain's most successful industries and to the design world more widely."

Helena Bonham Carter, the actress, said: "It's absolutely tragic. What horrible news. It's just horrendous to think that someone was so devastated by his mother dying.
"I loved McQueen. Tim (Burton - her partner) did some drawings for one of his shows, did a shirt with him together.
"He had such lovely vision, originality comes quite hard these days. Originality and success."

Victoria Beckham spoke of her sadness at the loss of a "creative genius" and said he would be "desperately missed".
She said: "McQueen was a master of fashion, creative genius and an inspiration.
"Today the fashion industry has lost a true great, an icon of all time. He made all he touched beautiful and will be desperately missed."

A spokesman for the British Fashion Council said: "We are deeply saddened at the news of Alexander McQueen's untimely death.
"He was a unique talent and one of the world's greatest designers. Our thoughts are with his friends and family at this sad time."

A statement released on behalf of model Kate Moss said: "Kate is shocked and devastated at the tragic loss of her dear friend Lee McQueen. Her thoughts are with his family at this sad time."

Zandra Rhodes, the fashion designer, said: "First of all it's a tremendous shock, and more than anything it reveals to me the terrible pressures that anyone in the fashion world, even if they are spectacularly succesful, are under. The pressure is always there.
"I think I would put him up there with the top group of designers. He produced some extremely succesful shows.
"He had succeeded in creating top collections and had done some amazingly spectacular shows.
"The fashion world will definitely have a shock wave, as happened after the death of his mentor Isabella Blow.
"I don't know what pressures he was under, but there is a constant pressure to come up with designs. And of course, if he was that close to his mother that's another pressure."

McQueen's office confirmed that he was found dead this morning.

Paramedics called to his home pronounced him dead at the scene. Police said his death was not being treated as suspicious.

A statement said his family were "devastated" at the "tragic news", and said that they shared "a sense of shock and grief".

A former British Designer of the Year winner, Mr McQueen started his career as an apprentice in Savile Row, where he learned how to make jackets at Gieves and Hawkes.

In 1996, the man nicknamed "the hooligan of English fashion", with his close-cropped hair and Doc Martens, was named head designer at the Paris couture house of Givenchy.

A statement released by his office - referring to the designer by his given first name, Lee - read: "On behalf of Lee McQueen's family, Alexander McQueen today announces the tragic news that Lee McQueen, the founder and designer of the Alexander McQueen brand has been found dead at his home.

"At this stage it is inappropriate to comment on this tragic news beyond saying that we are devastated and are sharing a sense of shock and grief with Lee's family.

"Lee's family has asked for privacy in order to come to terms with this terrible news and we hope the media will respect this."

telegraph.co.uk