Lee Alexander McQueen (17 March 1969 – 11 February 2010) was a British fashion designer known for founding the Alexander McQueen brand in 1992 and serving as the chief designer at Givenchy from 1996 to 2001. He was the youngest of six children, born to Ronald and Joyce McQueen. His father worked as a taxi driver, while his mother was a social science teacher.
At the age of 16, McQueen left school and started his career as an apprentice at Anderson & Sheppard, a tailor on Savile Row. He worked on sewing men’s suits, including one for Prince Charles. It was rumored that McQueen left an obscene inscription on the lining of the prince’s jacket using a marker.
In 1991, McQueen graduated from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London. His graduation collection, titled “Jack the Ripper Stalks His Victims,” gained immediate attention and became a breakthrough success in the international press.
In a free creative environment, McQueen’s potential blossomed. He created dresses with blood red prints and skulls, Victorian-era clothes, and incorporated unconventional elements like sewing his own locks of hair into the lining of his garments. In a 1995 interview, McQueen revealed that he drew inspiration from Victorian prostitutes who sold their hair as souvenirs.
In the spring of 2001, McQueen presented one of his most famous and dramatic collections called “VOSS.” The runway show featured a large glass cube resembling a ward in a psychiatric clinic. The cube’s walls were not illuminated, reflecting the audience’s own image. After an hour of anticipation, models emerged, wearing feathers, shells, and bandages on their heads. The climax of the show occurred when the light inside the cube turned on, shattering the glass walls to reveal a naked woman lying on a couch wearing a gas mask. Journalists hailed this collection as a masterpiece of fashion theater.
Recognizing the importance of scent, McQueen launched his first female perfume, “Kingdom,” in 2003. He envisioned the fragrance starting with light notes and transitioning into intense, almost masculine scents that ignited a powerful sexual desire. McQueen aimed for the fragrance to become a timeless classic, immune to fashion trends. A year later, a men’s version of the perfume was released.
In 2006, McQueen launched a sub-brand called “McQ,” targeting a young and dynamic generation. The fashion house expanded its offerings to include not only clothing but also shoes, bags, scarves, and sunglasses.
In May 2007, McQueen faced a dark period in his life following the suicide of Isabella Blow, an iconic fashion journalist and his longtime friend. It took him time to recover from the loss. He made a triumphant return to the catwalk in the fall of 2009 during Paris Fashion Week, presenting a new collection. As always, the eccentric collection garnered significant attention, though McQueen faced accusations of misogyny for the strikingly painted red lips on the models, which some believed resembled sex dolls.
McQueen’s final collection, “Plato’s Atlantis,” debuted in 2010, showcasing a post-apocalyptic fantasy. One notable item from this collection was the Armadillo shoes with their 30 cm heels.
McQueen was openly gay and realized his non-traditional sexual orientation at the age of 6. In 2000, he entered into a formal marriage with George Forsyth, a documentary filmmaker. Their wedding took place on a yacht in Ibiza since same-sex marriage was legalized in Spain in 2005.
After the suicide of Isabella Blow, McQueen’s mental health deteriorated, and he was diagnosed with depressive disorder. He also struggled with substance abuse, surviving two overdose incidents in 2009. The loss of his mother, who passed away from cancer on February 2, 2010, became the final blow. On the morning of February 11, Alexander McQueen was found hanged in his London home. He left a heartbreaking note instructing the care of his dogs and expressing love for his close ones. In his will, McQueen allocated £50,000 for his pets’ luxurious life.
Following McQueen’s death, Sarah Burton, who had been his deputy for 14 years, became the creative director for the Alexander McQueen brand. The company continued to expand globally, broadening its product range.
