Fashion & Gardens at the Garden Museum
The Garden Museum's latest exhibition combines Fashion & Gardens in an exhibit that is aptly named. As part of the fashion aspect, the exhibit features pieces by the likes of Burberry, Alexander McQueen, Valentino, and Vivienne Westwood curated by Nicola Shurman. Rebecca Louise Law added the second half of the exhibit with a meadow of blooms dripping from the ceiling of the former ancient church that is now the museum space. Surely, the bouquet of blooms and intricate creations are the perfect decorations for a space that was in danger of demolition before it was converted to the Garden Museum.
"Irere," Alexander McQueen S/S 2003
When I first think of Alexander McQueen’s “Irere” S/S 2003 collection, I automatically think of Peter Lindbergh’s iconic shot of Natalia Vodianova wearing the Oyster Dress from “Irere” for Harper’s Bazaar March 2003. Though a beautiful shot, the image does not fully captivate the complexity of “Irere” and the inspiration behind the collection. Through “Irere,” McQueen examined the ‘journey of a woman, ship-wrecked on an island where she evolves from pirate to conquistador and finally amazonian goddess.’ Naturally, the Oyster dress forms part of the initial phase of the journey. Other looks follow suit as the models took on the image of sirens, dangerously beautiful femme fatales ready to lure their prey to their death. I first came to understand McQueen when he said “I want to empower women. I want people to be afraid of the women I dress” through these looks. They were delicate, dangerous, captivating, complex, and beautiful all at once, empowering women and fulfilling McQueen’s goal. As the show progressed, one could clearly see that the spirit of the sirens carried on as the women completed their journey and became amazonian goddesses. All at once, the looks casted off any sense of naiveté with a demanding presence that held the power to destroy.
Alexander McQueen F/W 2009, "The Horn of Plenty," photographed by Nick Waplington
Photographer Nick Waplington was commissioned more than six years ago by Alexander McQueen to document his Fall 2009 collection. No big deal, right? From the collection’s inception to the now legendary runway show, ‘The Horn of Plenty’, Waplington was there, photographing McQueen’s complete creative process. That collection became an archive of the designer’s 15-years of work and would be his last before his tragic suicide in 2010. The resulting book grants unprecedented access into the entire process leading up to ‘The Horn of Plenty’ show. McQueen himself personally selected the 120 photographs and their layout, picture by picture. Ready for publication when McQueen died, the book was held until just recently. We asked photographer Waplington what it was like to collaborate with the luminary on what would become his final project. (via)
“Step and Repeat,” Katrin Thormann, Marina Krtinic, Suzanne Diaz, and Maria Flávia Ferrari by Michael Thompson for W magazine December 2013 / January 2014
November 22nd marks the end of the wait for the much anticipated sequel to The Hunger Games film, Catching Fire. While the story revolves around Katniss and Peeta and their struggle as they are forced back into another round of the Hunger Games in the Quarter Quell, fashion plays a big part in the film for those in the capitol and for the contestants themselves. The Capitol citizens are always looking to wow. Imagining what they would wear if they had access to pieces from the recent S/S 2014 and Haute Couture F/W 2013 collections is always fun and no doubt, if given access, even Effie Trinket herself would rock outfits from…
- Alexander McQueen S/S 2014 at PFW
- Comme des Garcons S/S 2014 at PFW
- Gareth Pugh S/S 2014 at PFW
- Giles S/S 2014 at LFW
- Givenchy S/S 2014 at PFW
- Maison Martin Margiela Haute Couture F/W 2013 at PFW
- Louis Vuitton S/S 2014 at PFW
- Iris Van Herpen Haute Couture F/W 2013
- Titania Inglis S/S 2014 at NYFW
Damien Hirst’s much anticipated collaboration with British design house Alexander McQueen has finally been unveiled, and the 30 limited edition designs are celebrated in a short film by photographer Sølve Sundsbø.
The Alexander McQueen skull scarf was first seen in the S/S 2003 "Irere" collection and since its launch has become a signature accessory of the house. The collaboration between the iconic British artist and fashion house will see the production of 30 one-off designs, each adapted from Hirst’s Entomology series.
Originally inspired by Dante’s Inferno, the series forms the basis of the exclusive designs in which butterflies, spiders and other insects form kaleidoscopic geometric shapes, laid out to create the signature McQueen skull motif. The collaboration seamlessly plays on the shared aesthetic vision of Hirst and McQueen, in which an interest in symmetrical design is combined with strong references to the natural world.
The scarves are available in Chiffon, Pongé, Twill and Cashmere. All 30 designs are limited and will be available from November 15th at Alexander McQueen stores worldwide and from the scarf boutique of alexandermcqueen.com. (via)
"Virgin McQueen," Magdalena Jasek (Select) photographed by Richard Burbridge for Dazed & Confused November 2013
"Splice of Life," Sasha Pivovarova in Alexander McQueen photographed by Craig McDean for Vogue November 2013
Kristen McMenamy photographed by Tim Walker for the Sunday Times Style in Norfolk, UK 2013
invitations for Chanel and Alexander McQueen S/S 2014 at PFW
"The Lighthouse," Julia Nobis wearing Alexander McQueen photographed by Ben Toms for AnOther magazine F/W 2013