Alexander McQueen has long been my favorite designer. There is no doubt that his were the designs that really drew me into the fashion world. I loved his creativity, his courage and conviction, his craftmanship, his sense of drama. I loved the way he turned his runway shows into productions. And I am fortunate to be able to say that I love the way I feel in his clothes. As avant-garde and out there as his designs could sometimes appear, it was always clear that he loved the female form and that it served as a wonderful muse for him.

The first full collection that Sarah Burton created for the house of McQueen was something that I just couldn’t look at. I was still so sad at the loss of such a supreme talent and I just couldn’t bear the thought of someone else trying to recreate his work. Fortunately, I finally decided to give Sarah Burton a chance, and I’m so glad I did. Her designs are so elegant and well-crafted and are such a lovely tribute to Lee Alexander McQueen. Her respect for the late designer is evident in both her last 2 collections. While the Spring11 collection seemed to be a parade of greatest McQueen hits, the Fall11 collection is clearly more her while still paying tribute to classic McQueen silhouettes and ideas.

Sarah Burton's belted fur from F11; McQueen's from F09

McQueen's mosaics from S09; Burton's china shards for F11

Sarah Burton for S11; McQueen's blue peacock from S09

Printed chiffon from Burton for S11 and McQueen from S08

A couple of McQueen's golds, from F03 and S08

and a Sarah Burton gold

White with lace and corset detail from McQueen S07 and Burton S11

Feathers in black from S07 and in white from S11

I love that she is still keeping his spirit and legacy alive, while putting her own spin on the house’s designs. Amazing that she’s cranked out 2 truly beautiful collections. No question that she had some gigantic shoes to fill.

Today is March 31st. It is 5 days after what would have been my mother’s 76th birthday. She died unexpectedly just over a year ago. I am very sad and I miss her very much and today I am feeling very melancholy. She was just the most amazing woman — so kind and warm and loving and generous and fun and funny and full of life. I wish that I could give her a tribute. She deserves one. I don’t know what it would be, but I’d love to think that I could actually write a book. 

Anyway, I was sitting here surfing and going through folders of images and editorials I had collected and I came across Steven Meisel’s haunting and beautiful tribute to the late Yves Saint Laurent, Silent. And then I started thinking about Alexander McQueen. What a sad and tragic loss. It just makes it all the sadder because he took his own life.

Why do artists always have to be so tortured? And I mean that as an honest and sincere question. I suppose it’s because the most talented artists put all of themselves into their work. They bleed for their art. They are sensitive and emotional and delicate. I was an actress for a long time and to be really good at it, you have to completely strip away your outer layer and make yourself as vulnerable and open as possible. That’s some scary shit. And fashion is really no different. When you look at McQueen’s clothes, you can see him in it. He certainly left a legacy in the world of fashion that will live on for generations to come, I am sure.

So, since I have no tribute of my own, I will give you Steven Meisel’s. To Yves Saint Laurent, Lee Alexander McQueen, and Betsy Hansen, my Mom. 

from Italian Vogue, August 2008; images from slideshare.net.

Alice in Wonderland fans will know I’m talking about the release of Tim Burton’s take on the classic Carroll story. A while back, I posted about Alice and was eagerly anticipating the unveiling of exclusive Alice designs for Printemps in Paris. Somehow, I completely forgot about it until I started thinking about who I could get to go to see the movie with me tonight. Surprise, surprise, they’ve been up for over 2 weeks now!!! In case you haven’t seen them, here’s a glimpse.

First, Alexander McQueen. {I have been struggling with what to say about his passing. I just adored him and what he brought to the world of fashion and am so, so sad that he is gone. The world of fashion won’t be the same without him.}

Chloe

Nicholas Kirkwood -- "This time, I figured, why not just pile as much as I can on top?”

Ann Demeulemeester

Maison Martin Margiela

images via focusonstyle.com and style.com

The news is out: Rodarte will be designing a collection for Target’s Go International series, scheduled to hit stores on December 20th. There has been an awful lot of discussion about mass-market designer collaborations and how the items never live up to the designers’ higher-priced collections. Well, DUH. In order to make clothes less expensive, the materials have to be less expensive — and less expensive fabrics just don’t drape or hang as well. However, I do believe that there is some great design to be found. I, for one, have a number of pieces in my wardrobe that have come from various designer collaborations. A few of my faves: a Stella McCartney for H & M parka (still in great shape, actually), a Thakoon for The Gap white cotton tunic (that I live in), and my ultimate fave, a ball skirt from Alexander McQueen for Target (with a crinoline — it’s a lot of design for the money).

I don’t expect to walk into Target and find an affordable — and good-looking — version of those sick thigh-high boots from Fall09…

…but I do very much expect to get my hands on a rockin’ pair of knee-highs — shredded the way only the Mulleavy sisters could do it.

Manage your expectations and you just might find some cheap treasures to mix with your pricier ones!

Rodarte runway images from Style.com, Rodarte product image from Opening Ceremony, Stella McCartney parka image from iamfashion, and McQ image from Nitrolicious. 

I am McQueen-OBSESSED and always log on to drool when it hits Gilt Groupe. Tomorrow is my birthday and even though I will be 43 years old, I can still expect a little birthday money. The irony (other than the fact that I’m still getting bday $ at the ripe old age of 43!) is that the money will not come until long after all the discounted Alexander McQueen is but a memory. I think the universe is definitely trying send me a message. I have received said message, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t still drool…

My first choice:

A leather suspender dress??? I would wear that thing all the time! I am pretty sure that I’ll be wearing it later tonight in my dreams

Many other drool-worthy pieces I could easily add to my wardrobe:

A few items still available, but you better hurry!! And if you do score something fab, be sure to tell me all about it!

XOX,

McQueen Lover

ahhhh…and then there’s Paris.  Nothing makes my heart beat faster then Paris.  Not just for their hyper stylish fashion demographic, PLEASE that I can handle…there’s also Le Marais, the pan chocolats, Maison Martin Margiela, Lecleur…it’s all so deliriously beautiful and delicious.

ANN DEMUELEMEESTER

DRIES VAN NOTEN

MARTIN GRANT

NINA RICCI

SONIA RYKIEL

STELLA MCCARTNEY

VANESSA BRUNO

Many thanks to garance dore and Le Blog de Betty for a good dose of Paris fashion 24/7!

photos courtesy of style.com

McQ for Target ads shot by Gina Garan

I was born in the 1960’s. The late ’60’s, but still. Anyway, back in 2000 when the fabulous Gina Garan published her first Blythe-inspired book of photography (This is Blythe), I had never heard of Blythe. For those of you who don’t know who she is, Blythe is an odd (but utterly FABulous) doll that was produced for only one year — 1972 — and was lovingly resurrected by the brilliant and talented Gina Garan. Blythe has a body the size of a Barbie with a head proportionate to a much larger frame. She didn’t do well — I’m assuming due to her irregular proportions, not to mention the freaky (and awesome!) way that her eyes turn (thanks to a pull string on her back) from blue to green to pink to orange.  

When I discovered this fabulous book and realized that Blythe had been produced during a year when I was at prime doll age, I began to relentlessly interrogate my mother about whether or not I may have had a Blythe doll in my childhood and, if so, where it may be located. You should know that my search and inquiry were in no part related to Blythe’s newly found celebrity status, but instead had everything to do with my wanting to have my very own Blythe doll to dress up and play with (regardless of the fact that I was WAY past doll age).

My incredibly sweet, amazing and unforgettable mother swore she had never heard of, or seen, such a thing. I have to interject here and mention that my mom just passed away. She was my very best friend and my biggest cheerleader and I’m not sure yet how my life is going to work without her. In the days following her funeral, I began to seek solace in some of the normal activities of my day-to-day life. Along these lines, I finally began to look at all of my fashion mags. I opened Vogue and instantly came across an Alexander McQueen for Target ad featuring BLYTHE. I’ll tell you, I just about fell over.

I missed my mother more in that moment than I can possibly express. She would have been thoroughly prepared for, and supportive of, my immediate, unstoppable spiral into Blythe and McQueen obsession. She loved fashion — and loved my love of fashion — and we probably would’ve sat and talked and laughed about the impact that a quirky, misfit doll had on the world of fashion. So, for my mom, and for all you other Blythe fans out there, enjoy the beauty and brilliance of Gina Garan, Alexander McQueen and, of course, Blythe.

Photos courtesy of nitrolicious.com/blog.

Although, I get excited about every new designer collection that comes out for Target’s Go International series, nothing gets me more excited than Alexander McQueen.  Just saw the lookbook on The Cut. I. Can’t. Wait.

See the lookbook here:

McQueen for Target lookbook on the cut

Alexander McQueen in Oct 2008

Hi. I’m Brandon. I’m a girl, but I have a boy’s name. I am one half of TWENTYTHIRTYFORTY.net. I’ll let my partner introduce herself in her own time. Unfortunately, that will probably be never because she is insanely camera-shy. Like, she’s seriously terrified of attention. And the funny thing is that she — hands down — is the most stylish person I know. Anyone who knows her will tell you exactly the same thing. And amazing, effortless style does garner attention. We’ll see what happens.

Anyway, we launched this site back in October of 2008. Our idea took its initial breath a year before, in Paris. Which we love. Our goal is to be able to go to Paris in the fall and bring back some incredible Parisian designers for spring. Think Sonia Rykiel, Vanessa Bruno… 

Sonia Rykiel homepage

Sonia Rykiel’s home page has always been an inspiration to us. It always looks like the cover of a fashion magazine. We love fashion. Obviously. But we are not Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda or Samantha. We are midwestern, middle-aged, family women who work for a living (and live in a place where the ground is covered with dirt-laden icepiles 4-5 months out of the year). So what? Does that mean that we can’t wear a $600 dress with $450 shoes when we’re hanging out at Starbuck’s on a Saturday? I’m not talking about a silk dress with heels. I’m talking about a dress that you wore the night before to a black tie event but now have on over a t-shirt and jeans with riding boots. To us, that is what fashion is about. You always have an excuse to buy something new because you know that you are going to wear it. ALL. THE. TIME.

So, we decided to create a place where we could indulge our love for fashion and make it all accessible to the masses. Fashion just shouldn’t be that hard and it shouldn’t be intimidating and it shouldn’t be confusing. It should be fun. Long live fashion. Long live wearing it just because you love it. Long live the bunny suit.

…and we’re already yearning for Fall.  After perusing Alexander McQueen’s Pre-Fall collection, we want to skip the Spring season altogether and jump straight to Fall.  The fur collars, the jodphurs, the gowns… it’s so beautiful it makes me want to cry.

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN Pre-Fall 09

That last one? My Oscar gown, for sure. If I were the sort of person who went to the Oscars, that is.

All photos courtesy of WWD and Style.com.