Theatre of the macabre

Despite the tragic death of British designer Alexander McQueen in 2010, his brilliance still casts a huge shadow over the world of fashion, writes Rachel Marie Walsh

IN FEBRUARY of last year, Lee Alexander McQueen took his own life. His abrupt departure, like his explosive fashion shows, prompted an outpouring of emotion. Letting him go was no resolution, even in a business that reinvents itself biannually.

After 19 years of consuming his challenging creations, few were willing to be cut off. Alexander McQueen the brand continues under the creative directorship of Sarah Burton. This month, the Costume Institute at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art opened an exhibition celebrating his life’s work. Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty will run until July 31. For those unable to attend, curator Andrew Bolton has created a companion book of 250 exquisite images.