Alexander McQueen: A Legacy in Fashion.

Alexander McQueen, fashion show king, died from an apparent suicide this year. McQueen (whose real name was Lee Alexander Mcqueen) was known for dressing everyone from Lady Gaga to Rihanna, as well as for his work at Givenchy and on his own Alexander McQueen label. From Alexander McQueen's controversial collections, to his title as 'l'enfant terrible,' his fashion is certainly his legacy. Here's a look back at McQueen's best runway moments. Trust me folks, there's a reason this man was an icon in the gay community, a legend in the fashion community and an inspiration for many.

1.      Bad  Romance.

For his spring 2010 finale, Alexander Mcqueen combined the futuristic with the fantastical, and set the whole thing to "Bad Romance" by his muse Lady Gaga. Between the sky-high, hoof-like platforms, the romantic-meets-robotic tutu-tiered bodices and the over the top theatricality of the presentation, the show was pure fashion magic. And pure McQueen.

  http:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXFhBZ_eHuA

2.      The Future.

For fall/winter 2009, McQueen jumpstarted two major trends of the season, black and white and bright red lips. And, he took fashionistas through a retrospective of the best technical achievements of the past few years in fashion. From exquisite Balenciaga-like feats of gravity-defying volume to tight tailoring and Galliano-like gowns, he interpreted the greatest hits of his peers in a way that was still totally true to himself. And, he did it all with a crazy futuristic vibe that combined a massive, black junk pile with plastic-wrapped models in bonnets. Totally unique, and totally McQueen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BdAugvd5OM

3.      Lady Gaga.

Lately, it seems the fashion world has gone gaga for Lady Gaga's outlandish outfits - many of which came directly from Alexander McQueen. Lady Gaga has worn his creations, and creations inspired by his unique aesthetic, all over the red carpet and the stage. But perhaps, the best example of the pair's collaboration can be seen in the singer's video for her single "Bad Romance," in which she rocks signature McQueen pieces - form-fitting bodysuits, towering platforms and imaginative creations that are both futuristic and retro, technical and romantic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrO4YZeyl0I&ob=av2e

4.      Wierd Science.

Yes, those are robots spraying the paint on that pretty white tube dress. In spring 2009, McQueen capped off a show by having robots spray paint a simple white dress in what was ostensibly a comment on the whole couture scene, and an experiment in the idea that anyone can create the kind of beauty McQueen could. I'm not sure if I wholly buy into the idea, but I certainly buy into the robot paint dress as a gorgeous and fascinating aesthetic experiment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bCShCcD3N0

5.      Kate Moss Hologram.

Way before Wolf Blitzer busted out the hologram trick on CNN, McQueen had a holographic Kate Moss towering over his 2006 show. Moss, dressed in cascading tiers of organza ruffles, floated over the proceedings like a giant sartorial specter. While the show itself went from pre-Raphaelite romance to powerful punk-inspired accessories, it was the Kate Moss hologram that people couldn't stop talking about. Yet another example of McQueen's theatrical flair, and the expert way he combined creative elements from all disciplines of design.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIcsYBZSQ48

6.      Checkmate.

In 2005, McQueen staged a human chess game as his runway show. As a disembodied robotic voice called out the moves, models were moved and sacrificed in what could be construed as a commentary on fashion, on modeling, on art or on any number of other things. Deeper meanings aside, the chess game was the perfect backdrop for McQueen's collection of Alice-In-Space-Odyssey-Wonderland garb. From the gorgeous gowns to the flirty cocktail dresses to the sky-high hair and theatrical score, the show was yet another example of McQueen's unique ability to turn a fashion show into a real show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5gY5DXrb48

7.      Deliverance.

McQueen turned the traditional fashion show narrative on its head with his spring/summer 2004 fashion show, inspired by the film "They Shoot Horses, Don't They." He started the show with evening gowns, and gradually progressed to consciously threadbare day-wear and the homespun elegance of a tarnished evening gown. Never one to do things conventionally, McQueen helped kick-start fashion's move towards the Americana-inspired Western styles we still see on the streets today, and once again, did something completely new and exciting at the same time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YVcsP1M8tk

8.      Michelle Obama.

Yes, even Michelle Obama wore McQueen this past year. Proving that for all of his theatricality and glamour, the man was also a brilliant designer who churned out the kind of figure-flattering, quality pieces that any woman could wear. From the outlandish to the office-appropriate, McQueen leaves behind a legacy of innovation, imagination and pure, unfettered enthusiasm for fashion in all of its gorgeous, glamorous glory.

R.I.P to a complete genius.

Madonna's New Dolce&Gabanna Campaign

Madonna has once again set out to prove she's not letting age change her ways. 
The 52-year-old has posed for yet another racy Dolce&Gabanna advert, this time while wearing an incredibly low-cut black body suit and hold-up stockings.
Accessorised with sunglasses, a crucifix and a red string Kabbalah bracelet, she prowls around an unmade bed with her cleavage threatening to spill out of her lingerie.
In another frame, she reclines on white sheets accompanied by a black and white cat.

Madonna struck up a friendship with Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana while she was filming Dick Tracy in the early Nineties and they were invited to designer her costumes for The Girlie Show tour in 1993.
The Italian designer duo announced their new collaboration with Madonna last year, which came after she spent her birthday with the pair on-board this yacht in Italy last August.
They said at the time: 'To have Madonna in our campaign is a dream come true.'
Madonna has since launched a fashion label of her own with her teen daughter Lourdes called Material Girl.

Hottest Autumn Trend: Over The Knee Socks.

Come November this look will feel far too light, but while we're yet to encounter the colder weather of  Autumn & Winter 2010, fine knits are still very much a wardrobe option.

Hence here's a look that indulges in the coming season's trend, over the knee socks and pairs it with a crescent-cut cardigan.

      Coming Next Week: Military Fashion For Men and Women.

     

Plus Size Models At Fashion Week?

Ever wondered what models might look like if they actually ate?

Fashion lovers got a glimpse at an alternative universe yesterday, as Canadian designer Mark Fast sent 'plus size' models down the runway at London Fashion Week.
While noticeably larger than the average catwalk model, the women were by no means overweight.Instead the models were a size 14 or 16, a healthy dress for their above average height.

The knitwear designer likes to use a mix of different sized models in his shows, to prove that the clinging designs look good on every bodyshape. These include size 16 Crystal Renn, who walked out in a bright red dress yesterday.

But not everyone welcomes Fast breaking the mould.Last year Fast's stylist and creative director walked out three days before his show, apparently in protest at being asked to work with the 'plus size' models.But this year the show went without a hitch. London modelling agency 12+ UK supplied the models.

Founder Sarah Watkinson said 29-year-old Fast was dedicated to using real-looking women.But she added that no other Fashion Week designers had sought models from her.

Call to Legally Label All Post Production Work?

Airbrushed celebrity photos should be labelled to help tackle "damaging and unrealistic pressures" on young women, the UK's biggest girls' group has said.

Liz Burnley, of Girlguiding UK, said "unobtainable ideals" affected young girls "badly", and urged the government to introduce compulsory labelling.
A Girlguiding poll of 1,109 girls found 50% of those aged 16 to 21 consider having surgery to change their looks.Some 42% of 11 to 16-year-olds admitted watching what they ate.

They need to cherish themselves from their heads to their tip-toes, embracing both their beauty and their flaws”

Ms Burnley said: "We know how profoundly they feel the pressure to conform to a particular body image and how badly they can be affected by these unobtainable ideals.

"We are proud to support the calls of our members who believe that it is time that the prime minister addressed their concerns and acted in the interests of girls and young women across the country."
Some 20,000 Guides currently taking part in an annual camp in West Yorkshire are being encouraged to sign a petition calling for David Cameron to introduce a law forcing magazines to inform readers when photographs have been airbrushed.

Body Confidence Boost.

Susan Ringwood, of eating disorder charity Beat, said they were committed to working with Girlguiding UK to make "this important call to action a reality".
"Young people with eating disorders tell us that being surrounded everyday by pictures of unnaturally 'perfect' bodies makes their own recovery so much more difficult to achieve," she said.
"We know the difference it would make to all young people's self-esteem and body confidence if they could be sure which of the images they see are natural and true to life."

Singer Javine Hylton backed the campaign, saying girls "needed to learn to be confident with their bodies".
"They need to cherish themselves from their heads to their tip-toes, embracing both their beauty and their flaws," she said.
Last month, Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone said she wanted to see an end to airbrushing, or the introduction of a kitemark to indicate where images have been altered.

But she said she had "no desire to impose regulation or restriction on advertisers or others", and hoped they would make changes to their practices on a voluntary basis.

The Girls' Attitudes survey was carried out online in July 2009 and included both Girlguiding members and non-members.

Male Size Zero

Not only waif-like young women are  starving themselves to get the work they crave.

As they sashay along the catwalks for the beginning of London Fashion Week today, stick-thin models will be the centre of attention. Yet not all will be women: boys are now under pressure to achieve "size zero" figures, too. As fashion experts yesterday added to the row over skinny models, male stars of the shows revealed they are coming under enormous pressure to slim down to dangerously low weights. They say designers no longer want a buffed, toned male body to show off their clothes. Instead, they want waifs who can rival women in slenderness and androgynous looks.

One model, Ron Saxen, has written a book about his ordeal. It details how the pressure to be slim led to a battle with anorexia which, he says, almost killed him as he desperately tried to keep himself in work.

"My routine would be to get up, have a cup of coffee, run five miles, have another cup of coffee, cycle 20 miles, have a break and then swim 20 lengths of the pool," said Mr Saxen. "I put a lot of pressure on my heart. I had come down to 205lb, but I needed to get down to around 175lb to be a model. So I did it, and at 6ft 1in I was mostly skin and bones. But I got a contract."

Dior is one of the fashion houses leading the demand for stick-thin young men. Chris Ulyatt, 19, modelled for Dior last year. At 6ft 2in, he weighs only 10 stone."I was approached in the street by the head of Dior Homme," said Mr Ulyatt. "He was on what's called a boy safari. All the lads on the catwalk were tall and skinny and androgynous-looking. It's what they go for."

Health experts are warning of more men developing eating disorders. Janet Treasure, director of the eating disorders unit and professor of psychiatry at Guy's, King's and St Thomas' medical school in London, said that images of male models had an effect on men that was comparable with the size-zero fad among women.

The London Development Agency, which sponsors London Fashion Week, is to look at the pressure put on models to be thin and will examine whether the promotion of size-zero models leads to eating disorders.

The Slim Line

Increasingly, designers want wafer-thin male counterparts to the female size zero. The hot look is tall and gaunt. Health experts say this sends a bad message to men prone to eating disorders.

David Lindwall

Modelled for: Dior Homme, Moschino, Paul Smith

Height: 6ft 2in

Waist: 29in

Body Mass Index (BMI): around 19

Nicolas Bemberg

Modelled for: Gucci, Lanvin

Height: 6ft 2in

Waist: 32in

BMI: 19.3

Chris Ulyatt

Modelled for: Dior Homme's campaign last year, designed by Hedi Slimane

Height: 6ft 2in

Waist: 29in

BMI: 18

Episode Backstage Blog

Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes in fashion? Behind the highly polished glitz and glam? The chaos, the tranquility, the style and of course the gossip. Episode Backstage will take you to the places you want to access. See the world from our eyes, the good, the bad and the beautiful.

We believe in order to work in fashion, you have to have a passion for fashion. Therefore, we will keep you updated on all aspects of the industry such as: Style / Trends, Photography, Model Management, Events, Celebrities and General Fashion News