Unfortunately, I was not one of those people. But I have watched every video, read every article and grilled all of my friends who were lucky enough to get there.
And I bought the exhibit book which I marvel over. I can't stop looking at it. You can't just look at a McQueen piece once and see everything. Study it and you will see so much. The craftsmanship, the delicacy of the material, the tiny details.
McQueen was inspired by everything around him...the weather, nature, movies, music, anarchy. He also used unusual and different materials in his clothes. One dress that stands out is made of razor clam shells. He also used feathers, stuffed birds, antelope horns and scraps of material from fabric stores.
"Every piece is unique and has emotional content. I want to create pieces that can be handed down like an heirloom."
Alexander McQueen Another Magazine Autumn/Winter 2006
His collections were often very dark. You can see that in some of the exhibit pieces. But you can also see the beauty. He wanted you to see something, feelsomething when you looked at his pieces.
And every collection told a story. About 2008-09 "The Girl Who Lived in the Tree" he said, "In this collection she was a feral creature living in the tree. When she decided to descend to earth, she was transformed into a princess." That collection included a dress of ivory silk tulle embroidered with red glass crystals and was shown with a red silk bolero. Amazing.
Now it's up to the woman who was next to McQueen for 15 years, helping his creations come to life. Sarah Burton has been there since the beginning"There is no way back for me now. I am going to take you on journeys you've never dreamed were possible." Alexander McQueen quoted in WWD, Feb 12, 2010 from the show's program notes
Sarah Burton is the perfect person to head the House of McQueen. Autumn/Winter 2011 was her first collection as the new Creative Director. It received rave reviews and then of course, there is the dress she fit for a future queen.
Burton designed Kate Middleton's royal wedding dress when she wed Prince William in April.
"Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" closes August 7. There's talk about trying to make it a permanent exhibit at the Met. Since McQueen was a British designer there may be some who will want to move it to a museum in London.
Burton said, "Lee (Alexander) was amazingly loyal, with a great belief in people." Clearly he believed in Burton and she in him. I can't think of a better person to continue the amazing journeys Alexander McQueen's collections have taken us on.
Where will she take us next?
Fashion Week is in September and I can hardly wait to find out .
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More about the McQueen exhibit (buy the book!) http://blog.metmuseum.org/alexandermcqueen/
