Alexander McQueen is a fashion house founded by the British fashion designer, Lee Alexander McQueen (17 March 1969 in Lewisham, London — 11 February 2010 in London). McQueen founded his own eponymous label in 1992, and was chief designer at Givenchy from 1996 to 2001. His achievements in fashion earned him four British Designer of the Year Awards (1996, 1997, 2001, and 2003), as well as the CFDA's International Designer of the Year award in 2003.
Sarah Burton who started working with McQueen in 1997, became Creative Director after his death from May 2010 (starting with Spring/Summer 2011) to September 2023 (Spring/Summer 2014 "Anatomy II"). On October 3rd, 2023, Seán McGirr was announced as the new Creative Director.
Background
Although Lady Gaga and Alexander McQueen had a fairly brief friendship, she has repeatedly mentioned in interviews that the late designer had a major impact on her life, especially in terms of fashion. In a behind-the-scenes video for the 99th issue of V magazine, filmed in November 2015, Lady Gaga said the following:
“ | My relationship with McQueen has been so brief. It was like someone handed me a candle and then blew it out. But at least I get to be around his friends [meaning Daphne Guinness and Steven Klein] and I get to be a part of helping make them feel the impact that they've had on fashion. | ” |
Also, Lady Gaga shared her feelings when she puts on Alexander McQueen's pieces:
“ | Almost every time I put on a great [Alexander] McQueen piece, particularly certain ones that I own, I almost always cry. | ” |
When Lady Gaga was asked in an interview for LADbible TV (recorded on Novermber 12th, 2021) what are top 3 iconic outfits she has worn, she answered:
“ | Two of the tops have to be both Alexander McQueen. One would be the outfit that I wore at the end of "Bad Romance" [music video] from Plato's Atlantis, his crescendo collection. It was the second to last collection. And then, the second would be a garment, a piece that he made for his last collection that wasn't finished, that I wore to the MTV Awards and I went with discharged soldiers from the military. I was trying to make a statement about "Don't ask, don't tell" in America and wanting it to be repealed. | ” |
—Lady Gaga on LADbible TV |
In the video "Life In Looks" for British Vogue, describing her outfit for 2010 MTV Video Music Awards designed and created by McQueeen, Lady Gaga said the following about being inspired by him:
“ | This was the McQueen dress from his last collection that I wore. And we recreated the feathers, but I am wearing the Armadillo heels from Plato's Atlantis, which was the crescendo before we unfortunately lost him. I've always been inspired by Alexander McQueen. I think he's potentially the greatest designer of all time. This dress in particular, it does actually represent a lot of what I love about him, which is that, you know, this is a Bosch print and if you know anything about Bosch art, there's sort of these, this violence and these tiny little odd things that are happening that too many are grotesque and ugly and wrong. And, somehow, he found beauty in these things. And that was a piece of him and he celebrated women and he celebrated all types of women. | ” |
2010 Tribute
The BRIT Awards performance of an acoustic rendition of "Telephone", was a dedication to the fashion designer, who had then-recently died by suicide. Along with this, she also debuted her newest creation, Emma, a keytar (Keyboard/Guitar).
About an hour prior to the starting time of the award ceremony, she commented on her Twitter page about her performance.
“ | Tonight's performance is inspired by our friend. Mask by Philip Treacy, Sculpture by Nick Knight, Music by Lady Gaga. We miss you. | ” |
—Lady Gaga |
"Fashion of His Love" is a song Gaga wrote to him as a tribute. His name "McQueen" is mentioned in the second verse. The song was one of the first song written for her third album, Born This Way.
Visionaire 58 - Spirit: A Tribute to Lee Alexander McQueen
A limited-edition of 1500 numbered copies of Visionaire's tribute to Alexander McQueen. The issue included a collection of images by Nick Knight, Gaga, Steven Klein, Mario Sorrenti and more, each printed on a piece of paper embedded with wildflower seeds that will actually blossom if you plant them and give them enough sun. Plus, the case features a metalized brocade detail from the designer's final collection. All in all, a very romantic collector's piece.
Clothing
Dresses
- Golden sequin embellished dresses.
Jackets
Accessories
Sunglasses
Hand jewels
- Lady Gaga wore a four ring hand jewel encrusted with crystals. Pictured in plain antique silver.
Rings
- Rings, scattered across all of Lady Gaga's fingers, can be found in this one long jewelled stacked middle finger ring.
Collections
Fall/Winter 1995 "Highland Rape" RTW Collection
Fall/Winter 1996 "Dante" RTW Collection
Spring/Summer 1997 "La Poupée" RTW Collection
- Shaun Leane for AM.
Fall/Winter 1998 "Joan" RTW Collection
Spring/Summer 2002 "Dance of the Twisted Bull" RTW Collection
- Hat by Philip Treacy for AM.
Fall/Winter 2002 "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" RTW Collection
- From Daphne Guinness' personal archive.
- Mask headpiece by Philip Treacy for Alexander McQueen.
Spring/Summer 2003 "Irere" RTW Collection
- Jacket.
- Leather harness.
Fall/Winter 2006 "The Widows of Culloden" RTW Collection
Spring/Summer 2007 "Sarabande" RTW Collection
- Hat by Philip Treacy for AM.
Fall/Winter 2007 "In Memory of Elizabeth Howe, Salem, 1692" RTW Collection
- Shaun Leane for AM.
Spring/Summer 2008 "La Dame Bleue" RTW Collection
Fall/Winter 2008 "The Girl Who Lived In The Tree" RTW Collection
- Dress was bought at Daphne Guinness' Auction at Christie's for the Isabella Blow Foundation for £85,250 (approximately $133,000)
Fall/Winter 2009 "Horn of Plenty" RTW Collection
Resort 2010 Collection
Spring/Summer 2010 "Plato's Atlantis" RTW Collection
Plato's Atlantis by Alexander McQueen was the Spring/Summer 2010 show, presented in Paris, and was made available for streaming live on the internet. The live webcast had glitches, reportedly from Lady Gaga sending tweets to her fans in regards to the debut of her single, "Bad Romance". Alexander McQueen brought out the imagination of ancient history and myth in a show, using symbolic animal and alien-like fashion. Plato’s Atlantis reveals a blend of historical and futuristic imagery that depicts the imagination of the Atlantean mythology. Snakes, water, animal prints and moving camera’s that resemble animal-like machines brings the viewer into a world of Atlantean ambiance of the technologically advanced. Some of the clothes used in the show were worn in the music video for "Bad Romance", such as the Dragon Heels (12 inches, iridescent black, white) and the Armadillo Stilettos (12 inches, snake pattern).
There are only 21 pairs of Armadillo shoes, several of which are on display at the Savage Beauty exhibition at London's Victoria and Albert Museum. One of the most recognizable works of the Alexander McQueen, they never went on sale. In early July, 2015, news broke that three pairs of Alexander McQueen’s Armadillo boots were going up for auction in Christie’s. Christie's originally estimated a collective sale of between $10,000 and $15,000. On July 23, 2015 in the morning, Lady Gaga acquired these three pairs of boots for about $295,000 that had been produced and auctioned to benefit Unicef's relief efforts helping earthquake victims in Nepal. The Alexander McQueen fashion house was thrilled with the sale, also taking to Instagram to express excitement at raising so much money for UNICEF and to thank Christie's for its "generous support": "Through the sale of the iconic Armadillo boot designed by Lee Alexander McQueen, and with the generous support of @Christiesinc we are proud to donate $295k to @unicefusa to continue the important work the organization is doing to help the relief efforts in Nepal @christieshandbags #SavageBeauty @ladygaga"
In a very special, deeply personal exclusive memo written for V magazine, Lady Gaga shared her memories, emotions, and gratitude for Alexander McQueen and also revealed her feelings on the acquisition:
“ | There is no diamond, no award, nothing I ever wanted more than a memory of my brief friendship with McQueen. I am sad every day that I enter my closet, knowing he is not here anymore to dazzle the world with his beautiful, dark, limitless, brave mind. These shoes are the only tangible piece I have left of our work together. They came to me this morning, after a dream I had again about him. As the dream goes, I enter my closet and his clothes are no longer there. I'm tortured. The loss is deep. Mourning in my own way constantly, why he is gone, he was so talented. I hate the empty space, not only in fashion, but in the creative consciousness that fizzled when he passed. This morning I got the call I would now be the caregiver to 3 pairs of armadillo platforms, just like the kind I wore in the "Bad Romance" video, the shoes from his crescendo collection "Plato's Atlantis," the ones that made everyone gasp from the front row because they had NEVER seen something like them before. I was reminded this morning that he is still here. He is everywhere. In every store window. In the designs of commercial mainstream retail, fashion, in music, in the heart of every young designer that wishes he could be as free and as fearless as McQueen was. I cried all morning, convinced he was with me. Convinced that I'm loved from somewhere far beyond the eternal body and mind, outside of all the chaos. He wanted me to have them. They made their way back to me. I am here today not just because of my talent, but because he believed in me. My weird brand of art pop manic expression of my emotions was the part of me he knew he taught me. I will be grateful long after I pass and join him wherever it is they put souls like us. Long live McQueen. | ” |
—Lady Gaga for V Magazine |
- Jellyfish ensemble.
Pre-Fall 2010 Collection
Fall/Winter 2010 "Angels and Demons" RTW Collection
Spring/Summer 2011 RTW Collection
Pre-Fall 2011 Collection
Fall/Winter 2011 RTW Collection
- Pictured in white. Lady Gaga wore a black version of wedges.
- Bought at Daphne Guinness' Auction at Christie's for the Isabella Blow Foundation.
Spring/Summer 2012 RTW Collection
Pre-Fall 2012 Collection
Fall/Winter 2012 RTW Collection
Resort 2013 Collection
Spring/Summer 2013 RTW Collection
Pre-Fall 2013 Collection
Fall/Winter 2013 RTW Collection
Resort 2014 Collection
Spring/Summer 2015 RTW Collection
Pre-Fall 2015 Collection
Fall/Winter 2015 RTW Collection
Fall/Winter 2016 RTW Collection
Fall/Winter 2018 RTW Collection
Fall/Winter 2019 RTW Collection
Spring/Summer 2020 RTW Collection
Fall/Winter 2020 RTW Collection
Resort 2021 Collection
Spring/Summer 2021 RTW Collection
Fall/Winter 2021 RTW Collection
Spring/Summer 2022 RTW Collection
- Embroidery by Linnea Lyndon.
Resort 2022 Collection
Fall/Winter 2022 RTW Collection
- Embroidery by Linnea Lyndon.
Resort 2023 Collection
- Biker jacket was customized by Haus of Gaga by cutting out leather in the armpit area.
- Crystal Shard embroideried long laser-cut harness detailing of a dress was worn separately over Lady Gaga's biker jacket.
Spring/Summer 2023 RTW Collection
- Lady Gaga wore a black legging version of the pictured red jumpsuit since it has exact sheer panels on hips as Gaga's.
Fall/Winter 2023 RTW Collection
Resort 2024 Collection
Custom
- Custom off-the-runway dress with church painting print from the Fall/Winter 2010 “Angels and Demons” RTW collection.
- Pictured in red. Lady Gaga wore a custom black version of the opera coat from the Fall/Winter 2008 “The Girl Who Lived in a Tree” RTW collection.
- Silk bustier dress with black floral lace layer and long train. Based on the Spring/Summer 2007 "Sarabande" RTW collection.
- 3D black-and-white butterfly dress. Based on the Spring/Summer 2011 RTW collection.
- 3D black-and-white butterfly boots. Based on the Spring/Summer 2011 RTW collection.
- Based on the Spring/Summer 2008 "La Dame Bleue" RTW collection. One of four dresses in this style custom created by Alexander McQueen for Daphne Guinness. Lady Gaga bought it at Daphne Guinness' Auction at Christie's for the Isabella Blow Foundation.
- Molten metallic gold moiré tromp l'œil double lapel cropped tailored blazer, sleeveless shirt and wide-legged trousers.
- Dress is courtesy of Daphne Guinness and is a custom creation that Alexander McQueen himself designed and made especially for her.