Part of me wants to hate it just for the mere fact that it isn’t his designs. I still want to scream, shout and pound my fists until he has risen from the dead and designs us a line.

Sarah Burton was announced the new creative director of Alexander McQueen in May. About two weeks ago, previews of Pre-Spring/Cruise 2011 went viral.

Maybe I am being a bit negative, (that’s never happened before) but these designs aren’t what I would call amazing. Expected, yes. Japanese, kimono-styled, with a hint of samurai - didn’t he do this before? I would like to see the whole line and then an actual complete Spring/Summer line before I jump to more definitive and menacing adjectives. But I will predict this, the true lovers of McQueen will never embrace Sarah Burton even if she was his right hand woman. The true lovers will never embrace the Gucci corporation or their push to make him more of a household name from his death, aka a shit load of more money. As I have said before and I will say it again, he was a genius.


But as a woman who loves clothes, I do like the red gown.    

when I promised no more posts on Alexander McQueen.

Even before Lee's passing, I was beyond obsessed with his Fall/Winter 2010 collection. I vowed to make one of his runway pieces mine. After many visits, phone calls, and look books later, I knew it wasn't possible to get the dress I truly wanted with a price tag of 4k and up and with the leather harness the whole look would cost over 6k.

I have since decided to get a couple ready to wear pieces, which have been taking a painful amount of time to arrive at the store. Thanks to my constant contact with Hugh, an amazing salesman at McQueen on Melrose, I have had constant updates on what has arrived.

Before Miami, I was feeling colorful and stopped by to see a couple pieces that had came in. My visit resulted in this:


Very unlike me, yet I can't help the need to buy as many print pieces from this collection, as it and was one of his last. I am anxiously awaiting the Ballet Titanic Pumps and Jellyfish leggings. Is this an unhealthy obsession? Yes, but at least I am not alone. Jo, a Londoner via Los Angeles has also bought the leggings in the snake print and an an amazing jacket among many other pieces that I plan on stealing.

And still, Ill re-quote myself: As I drive past Ed Hardy's block on Melrose, I think to myself what a wonderful world it would be if Christian Audigier had committed suicide not Lee McQueen. Still, the option is always open for C. A. I say, take the leap. Become a douchebag legend.

The past month my entries have been McQueen heavy but I can’t help but post again. His final collection debuted yesterday in Paris sans runway. Sixteen pieces were presented in a somber affair. Inspired by Old Masters of Painting, he created nothing less than expected - dramatic pieces constructed with metallic brocades, embroidery and golden feathers. The menacing presence of passion and darkness shined through his pieces, piercing the cold reality that this was the finale.


"Each piece is unique, as was he.” closed out the presentation and ultimately, this is, was and will forever be the truth.

Find the compete line here.

Dressed in black with a McQueen skull scarf and a McQueen Skeleton carry-on, I am aboard my flight to NY.

Alexander McQueen sales have surged. His samples have been called back. Quoted from Wall Street Journal:

An urgent message from Alexander McQueen’s director of communications was sent out this morning, requesting that all samples from the late designer be sent back to the headquarters. The email read:

Dear friends and colleagues,

I hope you will understand that in regards to the recent demise of Mr. Lee Alexander McQueen, our immediate priority is to secure all items and garments from current and past collections. We are therefore stopping all trafficking of samples.

I therefore ask you to please send back to us all items that are currently in your offices.
Should some items or garments be out on shootings on outside locations, I ask you to pay the most strict attention in terms of securing these items, and to please send them back asap.

It is our responsibility to keep Lee’s legacy safe and protected.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

So many questions: Did he commit suicide? Why? Will his Paris show go on? Will Gucci appoint another Head Designer? Will his prices soar?

McQueen never disappointed in surpassing the offensive. From his nickname the enfant terrible, his fall 1996 Highland Rape Collection which included dazed models walking the runway with ripped clothing and the locations of his fashion shows: Vaults of the Conciergerie in Paris where Marie Antoinette was detained before her beheading. A fashion bad boy who didn't bend to the expected originality. His last season was reported to be his best by many fashion writers.

All Alexander McQueen boutiques will reopen tomorrow at their usual time. Without Lee, there will be no more outrageous prints or offensive runway shows - What happens next?

No one will  be able to fill his shoes - translate his visions into the pieces of art we were invited to wear. As far as I'm concerned without Lee McQueen - the line is over.

In honor of his genius and the Spring/Summer2010 line - here are a few pieces from the Accessory look book.


His collection is going to go fast. I have already decided to put myself in dire financial straits to grab more pieces of this legend, some of his last creations before he parted ways with this world.

The 40 year old was found dead in his London home.

"Police did not directly comment when asked about how McQueen died, but said officers were called by the ambulance service at 10:20 a.m. (1020 GMT) to an address on Green Street, in central London, and found a 40-year-old man dead. They did not name him but said next of kin had been informed."

Other news outlets have reported it was suicide.

I am in shock. I had always made fun of the people who actually felt sadness for celebrities or people they didn't know. But when I saw the headline on CNN, my jaw dropped, my heart sank, and my eyes filled with tears. I had dreamed of shaking this man's hand, to be in the presence of a truly gifted, fashion genius one day. Now I just hope that he is at peace and that is legacy will live on through the art he has given us.

The question always remains: Why couldn't Jack and Rose rotate on and off of that wooden door?

Maybe McQueen thinks the same way I do, maybe we are soul mates, maybe he just understands how to merge weird with a softness that can only be translated into this shoe: