Coutorture

Alexander McQueen's Final Collection Presented Today in Paris

coutorture — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:23:04 -0800

The last collection designed by Alexander McQueen before his death was shown this morning in a gilded salon at the headquarters of Francois Pinault. Models walked slowly and solemnly in the sixteen looks to haunting operatic music. Tears welled in the eyes of more than a few spectators, as the audience took in the opulent, detailed McQueen creations with inspirations ranging from Byzantine art and Old Masters paintings to the wood carving and sculpture of Grinling Gibbons.

The show notes ended with the words: "Each piece is unique, as was he." Two days from now, retailers will be invited to purchase a showroom collection consisting of 160 pieces.

Fashion in 50 Seconds 03/08/10 Anna Dello Russo's Favorite Things, Karl Lagerfeld For Pirelli

coutorture — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:50:09 -0800

Tommy Ton is one of Anna Dello Russo's favorite things.

Gareth Pugh denies rumors he has been tapped to succeed Alexander McQueen.

Karl Lagerfled will photograph the next Pirelli calendar in April. “I’ll do it in my studio in Paris. It’s too obvious to have a beach setting," he told WWD.

Lindsay Lohan was not involved in the Emanuel Ungaro fall 2010 collection.

Watch Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren as they undress Kristen McMenamy during the Viktor & Rolf fall 2010 runway show.

Peter Dundas has left his position as creative director at Revillon.

Fashion in 50 Seconds 02/25/10 Freja For Vogue Nippon, Teen Vogue Designs Bedding

coutorture — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 09:40:52 -0800

Freja Beha Erichsen and exotic taxidermy, photographed by Terry Richardson for Vogue Nippon.

Alexander McQueen's funeral took place in London today with Daphne Guinness, Naomi Campbell, Lady Gaga, and Kate Moss in attendance. A more public memorial service is planned for later this year, although no date has been confirmed.

Karl Lagerfeld has designed a limited-edition safe with Dottling, claimed to be the world's most expensive and named "Narcissus." The six-foot tall steel and chrome monolith will retail for $339,000.

Teen Vogue announces a licensing deal to create bedding and room decor based on fashion trends from the magazine.

A closer look at Nicholas Kirkwood's melted wax heels for Rodarte fall 2010.

Alexander McQueen Label Will Survive, Fall 2010 Collection to be Presented During Paris Fashion Week

coutorture — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 08:29:18 -0800

Chief executive officer of Gucci Group, Robert Polet announced this morning that despite the suicide last week of its founder and creative director, the Alexander McQueen business will go on.

"We believe in the future of the brand," said Polet, speaking at PPR’s annual results presentation in Paris. "Lee was very proud of the people working in his company, and so am I." PPR president Francois-Henri Pinault added, "this would be the best tribute that we could offer him."

Sales of Alexander McQueen clothing and accessories have increased 1,400 percent since McQueen's death was reported. The company first broke even in 2007 and made a small profit in 2009 only to return back to losses during the financial crisis of 2009.

PPR confirmed the Alexander McQueen fall 2010 collection, most of which was completed before McQueen's suicide, will show during Paris Fashion Week. According to the current schedule, the runway show will be held on March 9 at 8:30PM.

Source: Getty

Remembering Alexander McQueen: Fall 2008 the Girl Who Lived in the Tree

coutorture — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 08:15:19 -0800

A 600-year-old elm tree in Alexander McQueen's garden and a trip to India inspired this fantasy show from fall 2008. With peacock embroideries made with black lace, jeweled square-toe flats, and ballerina tutus mixing with military tailcoats, second skin pantsuits, velvet jackets and Jem Palace jewels, at the time this show was thought to be his best in 14 years.

Remembering Alexander McQueen: Fall 2006 Scottish Heroines and Kate Moss Hologram

coutorture — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:38:27 -0800

In between our hectic New York Fashion Week schedule, we've been spending perhaps too much time at the computer watching past Alexander McQueen shows to relive his most memorable runway moments. Sharing with you one of our favorites, above is a video of McQueen's fall 2006 collection- all Victorian crinolines, tailored herringbone, antler headdresses, and one mind-blowing Kate Moss hologram. As Sarah Mower wrote at the time, "the experience (was) a memory that will go down as one of fashion's all-time highs."

Fashion World Reacts to Death of Alexander McQueen, Stefano Tonchi Blames Industry Itself

coutorture — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 07:52:51 -0800

As yesterday's devastating news of Alexander McQueen's death reached those in the fashion world, many weighed in on the loss of perhaps the industry's most creative genius. T magazine's Stefano Tonchi suggests that same fashion industry should take the blame for McQueen's death, making his point that its business pressures sent him over the edge:

“We all know that this is a very critical moment in fashion, and that basically he is the first victim of what is a conflict between creativity and business. When McQueen began in fashion, designers worked on two or three collections a year, said Tonchi. “Now you have to be a business manager, a marketer. It’s, what? Eight, ten, fifteen collections a year. Men’s, women’s, couture, diffusion. Then they want accessories. Then they want watches. Then they want jewelry. It’s a machine, and I think that killed him.”

Others perhaps feeling it too soon to direct blame, provided their condolences to the McQueen family and remembered their incredibly talented friend:

Cathy Horyn: "Alexander McQueen's death is just incredibly sad. That is the only work for it. He was enormously creative and intelligent-and funny and rude and fearless. He said what he thought-a rarity in the fashion establishment-and very often he could wind you up, toy with you, pull a bit of wool over your wide, innocent eyes. But he was the real: a genuinely talented man. Soulful, deeply English and, of course, dark. He did have a dark, romantic side that surfaced in his collections. Depressed at times? I didn’t know him well enough to say so, but I would imagine he had his moments of despair. This is a tough business, and as tough and brash as he often appeared, he a sweet and sensitive person."

Marc Jacobs: “He is such a great guy and such an amazing talent that it is so devastating to know he is gone. I will miss him, and I will certainly miss the beauty that he created, and his vision and his world."

Alexandra Shulman: "McQueen influenced a whole generation of designers. His brilliant imagination knew no bounds as he conjured up collection after collection of extraordinary designs."

Daphne Guinness: "He was the kindest, shiest, funniest person. And when the chips were down, he was there. He wasn’t a flake. You could count on him. I will miss him."

Philip Treacy: "In a world where every man and his dog is a designer, Alexander McQueen was the real deal. His talent was supersonic."

Stella McCartney: "Lee was a fashion genius. I don’t say that lightly, and it is a total shock that I am referring to him in the past tense. He was a real friend. I will miss him as a mate, a peer, and as a true British talent, full of life and energy in everything he ever did.”

Anna Wintour Releases Statement in Response to Death of Alexander McQueen

coutorture — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:26:08 -0800

Responding to the passing of Alexander McQueen early this morning, Vogue's Anna Wintour has released the followiing statement:

"We are devastated to learn of the death of Alexander McQueen, one of the greatest talents of his generation. He brought a uniquely British sense of daring and aesthetic fearlessness to the global stage of fashion. In such a short career, Alexander McQueen’s influence was astonishing - from street style, to music culture and the world’s museums. His passing marks an insurmountable loss."

Fashion World Mourns Loss of Alexander McQueen

coutorture — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:24:13 -0800

New York Fashion Week begins on a somber note as news of Alexander McQueen's death was met with shock and devastation.

"Mr. McQueen has been found dead at his house this morning," his spokeswomen said. The cause was apparently suicide, though a formal statement has not been made. PPR, parent of the McQueen company, is expected to make an announcement shortly. McQueen had been mourning the loss of his mother, who died last Tuesday, and the suicide of Isabella Blow, great friend and supporter, in 2007.

"At this stage it is inappropriate to comment on this tragic news beyond saying that we are devastated," his family said in a statement.

Trained on London's Savile Row, Alexander McQueen sold his company to the Gucci Group in 2001 and began showing in Paris that same year, delighting and often shocking audiences with thought-provoking, controversial, and extravagant collections and always bringing much more than fashion to the runway. He leaves behind a legacy of surreal beauty and two decades of collections-for his namesake line and for Givenchy from 1996-2001. No doubt his influence will be seen and his memory celebrated in the upcoming fashion weeks as the industry mourns the loss of a creative genius.

The McQueen press office has cancelled this afternoon's McQ presentation, which had been scheduled for 3pm at Milk Studios in New York. Nearby, the Alexander McQueen store on West 14th Street has been shuttered with a white shade pulled down over the front windows.

Abbey Lee Kershaw Talks Nudity, Weight Issues, and Runway Injuries to Australian TV

coutorture — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:54:54 -0800

Abbey Lee Kershaw was interviewed for Today Tonight, an Australian current affairs program, while on set for her third Vogue Australia cover by fashion writer Patty Huntington.

In the video segment, which can be seen here, Kershaw discusses her refusal to wear Alexander McQueen's alien shoes for his spring runway show after tearing a ligament during a fall on the runway in New York and fainting in Paris from a too-tight corset. She hopes to do McQueen this season, but says of her distaste for towering runway heels, "health and safety regulations have to come into play at some point."

Abbey Lee, who was discovered on a beach in Australia at 15 and walked in 48 shows last September, weighs in on models' healthy eating issues, likening herself to a professional body builder and making no apologies: "An elite performer is always put under extra pressure that the rest of society can argue and might not quite understand."

Kershaw also talks nudity in fashion photography, saying it's "imperative to the expression of fashion" but that she's very comfortable saying no to a photographer. She adds she's never done anything too outrageous in front of the camera.

Source: Vogue Australia