Alexander McQueen - Savage Beauty Exhibition

It's been the most anticipated exhibition of the year. Attracting thousands of people from all over the world including big fashion names such as Erin O'Connor, Naomi Campbell, Victoria Beckham, Kate Moss and many more.  Following on from its debut in New York’s Metropolitan Museum, the Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty Exhibition has been expanded in London’s V&A museum in order to show more of McQueen’s astonishing collections.

Like a dream, you are guided through a magical world of beautifully elaborate rooms, each dedicated to a different stages of McQueens design journey.  While entering visitors are welcomed by McQueen's inviting East London accent explaining, “I am going to take you on journeys you never knew were possible."  Starting at the beginning of his design career at Savile Row where he learnt the art of sewing, before studying at the prestigious Central St Martins in London, to his precious years in Paris at the house of Givenchy, where he had an in-depth experience of haute couture.

The exhibition leaves you falling in love with the collections and the stories behind the designs; even those who are not fanatical about fashion, will not be able to leave without feeling a true sense of admiration for the designer.

Savage Beauty leaves you visually stimulated, from beautiful gold feathers, leather, bones and horns, to a ball gown of flowers, rich Scottish tartan and metal plates - every material and fabric executes the most truly breath taking designs.  The clothing is showcased in elaborate grand rooms, separated by short dark corridors.  From floor to ceiling they are laid out like framed pieces of artwork; some spinning and giving life to the collections, others are displayed in glass cases to be admired, like rare creatures. 

  

Savage Beauty's curator Claire Wilcox, edited an accompanying Alexander McQueen book available at the V&A with photography of all collections shown in the Victoria and Albert Savage Beauty exhibition and other McQueen designs.  The 2008 Autumn/Winter collection, 'Girl who lived in a tree' is truly magnificent!
The whole exhibition is a small glance into the impossible, magical dreams of a British design icon. A testament to the great man himself and his incredible gift he gave to the world. 

 

- Image sourced from Fibre Magazine online review- Image sourced from Suzy Menkes McQueen review: Tim Walker
- Images sourced from Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty Costume Institute Met
- Image sourced from HELLO DEAR Tumblr page
- Image sourced from The Eventide - New York