The old black McQueen in London for charity

Alexander McQueen, fashion’s enfant terrible turned international success story, staged his first London catwalk show last night since moving his business to Paris three years ago.

Unfortunately for the British fashion industry, however, the show was not under the auspices of London Fashion Week, did not present a new collection, was not open to buyers – and does not mean McQueen intends to return to London permanently. It was part of Black, an event to raise money for the Terence Higgins Trust.

“I wish I was doing an original show in London, and one for more people,” McQueen said before the show. “But from a business point of view there’s really no point showing in London – although from a vibe point of view there’s every point.”

The show contained “the best black pieces of McQueen“, the designer said, and combined outfits and staging from his most famous collections.

The infamous autumn/winter 1995 Highland Rape collection, whose slashed tartans and bloodied lace angered feminists, was mixed with the following year’s Dante collection, famously presented in a disused Hawksmoor church.

Pieces from the Paris La Conciergerie show, in which wolves prowled a spot best known as Marie Antoinette‘s last resting place, were mixed with those from the Asylum collection, which was staged in London with models pacing inside a glass box.

After the show there was a black-themed auction. The lots included a pair of black fishnet tights worn by Madonna on the opening night of her Reinvention tour and black leather trousers donated by Christina Aguilera.

Article by Jess Cartner-Morley, fashion editor
Source:
The Guardian