London Collections: Alexander McQueen Fall 2013
As the creepy music swept over the audience like the ghost of Christmas past, the first model walked out with a face as slick as wax and as frightening as a bagged victim. Why did Sarah Burton choose this as the face (literally) of the men’s collection as the introduction to London’s scene since the brand was created so many years ago. London hasn’t seen a McQueen show in ages and now it’s faced with plastic wrapped men…
Did the audience complain? Thankfully the clothes and detailed menswear was enough to win over the haunted runway and fight back the goosebumps. The daywear was mostly all dark with intermittent pinstripes and fine details including cut waists and double collars that enticed a closer look.
There was also a strong presence of bold cardinal red, and prints that resembled stain glass windows of say… a church? The intense beauty of the evening wear was not overlooked and a gilded black double breasted overcoat closed the show and left the audience with a taste of decadence that is always present at a McQueen presentation.
Though the runway spectacle was truly odd and a bit disturbing, the collection remains strong… perhaps stronger now than ever. And there is no question that the audience and I am happy to see the collection back in its birth place. There really is no need for the line to show elsewhere any longer and Burton made the executive all and brought the looks home.
I have to admit I am adamant that when I go t my first McQueen show in person it will mean more somehow to be shown at the birthplace of the man behind the labels inception instead of some other fashion capital.
Long live McQueen… even if it is with wax bags on their heads.
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