A look back at the work of McQueen.

You may think that McQueen has made no difference to you. That you don't have the money to buy his stuff, therefore, you haven't felt his influence - wrong.
Have you ever bought a pair of low down hipsters, so low your mother nearly had a heart attack and banned you from leaving the house ? - mcqueen 2007 - His low cut hipsters were inspired by builders bums. No joke.
Have you bought something with a skull on it? - McQueen - He pops skulls on everything - famously his scarves. Lust!
Bought something with a tailored structured shoulder? - McQueen - Famous for his detailed shoulders.


So you see, his influence is everywhere. But the real beauty of his work lay in his catwalk shows. Everything from Kate Moss holograms to models walking on a satanic star etched into the ground. He really did think of everything. Pushing the boat out with his shows and indeed his work.

So since he has been honored today by the British fashion council for outstanding achievement in fashion design.' I have decided to have a look at some of his best pieces. He has also won the British Designer of the year award four times previously.
It is terribly sad that things went the way they did. The designer took his own life last Febuary after the death of his mother the previous week. The fashion mourned in millions. Not to mention McQueen's many fans. Memorials popped up all over the blog-sphere. I remember where I was. Sitting in the newsroom and a tweet popped up. 'Holy shit, McQueen found dead.' At this point, I had two choices - run with it. Even though Yahoo! news and google searches had nothing. The media hadn't had it confirmed yet. Or dismiss it as a hoax. So I ran round to Brown Thomas to see if anyone had any news. The staff were in shock. There were whispers and variations on how the designer had died. Nothing was confirmed. I ran back to the college - and ran the story.

And was one of the first blogs to do so.

But in happier times, some of the best fashion stories are stories about McQueen. I always loved the tale of his tailoring days - when a young McQueen made a suit while working on Saville Row as a tailor- for Prince William. Stitching the words 'I'm a cunt.' Into the lining. I don't know if it's true or not but McQueen gave good rumour and good quote-tage!

"I was sure of myself and my sexuality and I've got nothing to hide. I went straight from my mother's womb onto the gay parade' - being a prime example of his wonderful way with words (and a needle and thread!!!)

The second amazing rumour/story is the one where he sold his entire graduate collection to Isabella Blow. In bin bags because he couldn't afford to get garment bags made. Which is incredibly sweet! Grad shows are expensive for students. Especially fashion shows!!!!!!

Isabella Blow and McQueen had a long term friendship and were extremely close over the years. It must have hit him very hard when after a series of unsuccessful attempts - Blow finally took her own life by ingesting weed killer. I think in 2007?

Oh and I love the story Anna Wintour gave about him, that he didn't turn up for his first photoshoot with Vogue as he was terrified that someone from the dole office would spot him in the pages of Vogue!!!!! Brilliant! Apparently he didn't even call to say he wasn't coming and stood the whole office up. Imagine standing Wintour up?????

"I didn't plan out my life like that, When people recognise and respect what you do, that's nice, but I don't think you ever do this to be famous. Fame should be left to the film stars. We're just offering a service."

"I was the pink sheep of the family!"

I still find beauty in his work to this day. A McQueen collection never looks dated or old. Never fades. His 2007 collection is every bit as beautiful as when it hit the runway then. I can still find inspiration in all his collections. He is sadly missed. But Sarah Burton, his successor and right hand woman for many years has done a wonderful job in helping the McQueen legend to survive and thrive. Her collection for MCQ SS11 was watched by millions, waiting to see how she would interpret the designers work. But apart from softening it up. The only difference was the more peaceful element and loss of the tortured feel to the collection. It was a fitting collection. Felt as if the company had been reborn with something beautiful.

RIP MCQUEEN.