Product range. See-through ruffle shirts and crop flare jeans, skirts ranging from box pleat mini skirts to sunray pleated midi skirts, leather jackets with large lapels with poppers, leather satchels of elaborated design, and high-heels. McQueen’s signature materials included leather, glass, feathers, metals and exquisite fabrics. The items are replete with fine details and exaggerated throwbacks to the past centuries: jabots, ruched panels and ruffles, pointed shoulders, voluminous collars and hoods, sleeves of irregular forms, and evening gloves. The menswear collection is a way more modest and prosaic and boils down to sweatshirts, cardigans and double-breasted coats decorated with full colour prints and glittering embroidering details, while the footwear is suspiciously reminiscent of Dr. Martens.
Originality. McQueen managed to turn his every runway show into a drama, with surreal, Victorian gothic and cruelty brought in the limelight. Since the time Sarah Burton was appointed the label's Creative Director, the designs grew less vanguardish, but the dramatic element is as pronounced as ever.
Chic. Alexander McQueen items are meant to serve as your collection gems and family treasures. Ubiquitous minimalist craze notwithstanding, Alexander McQueen will surely survive for decades to come and will remain as supreme.
Pricing. Alexander McQueen is expensive even if judged by the luxury segment pricing standards. Some items are not meant for sale at all, and end up in museum display cases. Basic ruffled knitted dresses cost more than €1000 on average.
Corporate history highlights. The company was founded by Alexander McQueen, a graduate of London's Central Saint Martins, who started his career when he was 16 years old. By 1993 he was already experimenting with latex and glitter and cemented his "bad boy" image. He epitomized the spirit of the 90s with their mixture of the logos gone haywire, black comedies, and faux-suffering. British Fashion Council awarded McQueen the title "British Designer of the Year" four times in years 1996-2003. McQueen became notorious for his confrontational and provocative collections and runway shows; he was also keen of controversial political statements in the face of harsh media criticism. Following McQueen's suicide in 2010, Sara Burton, his former personal assistant, replaced him as the brand's Creative Director.
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