Alexander mcqueen biography timeline info
Alexander McQueen was one of the most celebrated fashion designers of his generation, known for his highly original designs that married artistry with exceptional technical ability.
Alexander McQueen (1969 – 2010), known to his friends and family as Lee, was born and educated in London. He left school at 16 to become an apprentice on Mayfair's Savile Row – the historic centre of British menswear tailoring – first at Anderson & Sheppard, and then at Gieves & Hawkes, where he learned traditional tailoring techniques. He later worked as a pattern cutter at the theatrical costumiers Angels & Bermans.
At age 20, McQueen began working as a pattern cutter for the avant-garde, London-based Japanese designer Koji Tatsuno, before moving to Milan to join Romeo Gigli, an Italian designer admired for his understated, romantic designs. McQueen returned to London to complete the prestigious MA in Fashion Design at Central Saint Martins. Already a proficient tailor, here he learned how to be a fashion designer, drawing inspiration from London's history, its world-class museums and emerging BritArt scene. His graduate collection gained him extensive press coverage, and was purchased in its entirety by the influential fashion stylist Isabella Blow.
McQueen launched his own label in 1992. He was appointed head designer at Givenchy in 1996, succeeding John Galliano. In December 2000, the Gucci Group (now Kering) acquired a majority stake in McQueen's company, and he continued to serve as creative director. McQueen's occasionally stormy relationship with Givenchy ended in 2001.
McQueen's work was admired for its highly original blend of subversion and tradition, evident from the outset in his 'Bumster' trousers, sharp frock coats, corroded fabrics, slashed leather and shredded, flesh-revealing lace.
You've got to know the rules to break them. That's what I'm here for, to demolish the rules but to keep the tradition.
Alexander McQueen
McQueen's
Alexander McQueen
(1969-2010)
Who Was Alexander McQueen?
Alexander McQueen became head designer of the Louis Vuitton-owned Givenchy fashion line, and in 2004 he launched his own menswear line. McQueen earned the British Fashion Council's British Designer of the Year award four times, and was named Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He committed suicide in 2010, shortly after the death of his mother.
Quick Facts
FULL NAME: Lee Alexander McQueen
BORN: March 17, 1969
BIRTHPLACE: Lewisham, London, Englad
DEATH: February 11, 2010
Early Years
Lee Alexander McQueen was born on March 17, 1969, into a working-class family living in public housing in London's Lewisham district. His father, Ronald, was a cab driver, and his mother, Joyce, taught social science. On their small incomes, they supported McQueen and his five siblings. McQueen, called "Lee" by his friends for most of his life, recognized his homosexuality at an early age and was teased extensively about it by schoolmates.
At age 16, McQueen dropped out of school. He found work on Savile Row, a street in London's Mayfair district famous for offering made-to-order men's suits. He worked first with the tailor shop Anderson and Shephard, and then moved to nearby Gieves and Hawkes.
Finding His Niche
Deciding to further his clothes-making career, McQueen moved on from Savile Row and began working with theatrical costume designers Angels and Bermans. The dramatic style of the clothing he made there would become a signature of his later independent design work. McQueen then left London for a short stint in Milan, where he worked as a design assistant to Italian fashion designer Romeo Gigli.
Upon his return to London, McQueen enrolled at Central Saint Martin's College of Art & Design, and received his M.A. in fashion design in 1992. The collection he produced as the culminating project of his degree was inspired by Jack the Ripper, and was famously bought in its entirety by the wel
Alexander McQueen Timeline
1969: Lee Alexander McQueen is born, the younger of 6, in London. His father is a cabdriver and the family lives in public housing.
1983: The young Lee joins a bird-watching club: birds, feather and wings will later become a recurrent motif in his designs.
1985: Drops out of school and starts working as an apprentice in Savile Row, at Anderson & Sheppard tailors first and, later, at Gieves & Hawkes.
1989: In Milan, he works with Romeo Gigli, who teaches him everything about self promotion.
1990: McQueen applies for a job at Central Saint Martins, but the director is so impressed by his portfolio he offers him a spot in the school’s master program.
1992: Lee’s graduation collection “Jack the Ripper stalks his victims” catches the attention of Isabella Blow, fashion editor of Tatler Magazine. Blow buys the entire collection for £5000, and becomes a close friend to LMcQ.
1993: First collection, Taxi Driver, is presented at Ritz Hotel: low waisted bumsters make their first appearance.
1994: Birds collection is presented.
1995: Highland Rape collection, presented in March, causes a stir among the fashion press and gains the 26 yo designer his “enfant terrible” reputation. The collection, aimed to honor Mcqueen’s Scottish ancestors, features the signature black and red tartan, along with torn lace blouses and more bumsters.
1996: Wins the first he wins the British Designer of the Year. Sarah Burton begins to intern at the studio. McQueen is tapped by LVMH to design Givenchy.
1997: Wins again the British Designer of the Year, together with John Galliano.
It’s Jungle Out There collection features the famous horned jacket.
1998. in September, during N.13 (SS 1999) catwalk another topic moment: at the end of the show model Shalom Harlow stands on a turntable and is spray-painted by industrial robots. The show features also an outfit with carved prosthetic legs for Aimee Mullinsp pa When Lee Alexander McQueen died tragically in 2010, he was only forty years old. Despite his short life, his impact on fashion and culture was immeasurable. In making McQueen, filmmakers Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui explore the rise of one of the 21 century's most significant cultural figures by looking at the history and artistry of his work. "The most important question we wanted to answer was how this shy, working-class young man with no connections became 'Alexander McQueen,'" explains Ettedgui. To provide a map of his remarkable ascent and wide-ranging influence, we have put together a brief timeline of his life. 1969: Lee Alexander McQueen is born in London, the youngest of six children. His mother Joyce is a homemaker and his father Ronald is a taxi driver. 1985 : McQueen leaves school to apprentice as a tailor on Savile Row, first for Anderson & Sheppard, then for Gieves and Hawkes. 1990: McQueen moves to Milan, getting a job as a design assistant to Italian designer Romeo Gigli. 1992: McQueen earns a Master's Degree at Central Saint. Martins College of Art and Design. His graduation collection, "Jack the Ripper Stalks his Victims," shocked and enthralled its audience. Isabella Blow acquires the entire collection, becoming McQueen's biggest supporter, even convincing him to drop his first name "Lee" to become simply Alexander McQueen. 1993: McQueen shows his first collection in London titled "Taxi Driver," in which he first introduces his "bumster" look. 1994: McQueen introduces his distinctive logo with the "c" inside the "Q." 1995: McQueen's Autumn/Winter collection "Highland Rape" stuns the London fashion world with its models staggering down the runway in torn and tattered outfits. Beyond the outraged headlines, the show's remarkable craft and cutting-edge designs introduced many to an important new designer. 1996: McQueen receives the first of four British Fashion Awards for British Des
An Alexander McQueen Timeline