Alexander McQueen

English fashion design wouldn't be the same without Alexander McQueen. Enfant terrible. Fun on the runway.

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Alexander McQueen Fall 2009 Presentation is Feathered, Frightening

Written by Alicia on

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Alexander McQueen: Paris Fashion Week Ready-to-Wear

Experts had predicted a somber season of blacks and grays from Paris Fashion Week, branding the economic downturn an impetus towards safe, classic looks. But it seems the global financial crisis has had little to no effect on the trajectory of modern design this season, as evidenced by the fantastical collection showcased by Alexander McQueen Tuesday.

McQueen has is mind in the clouds - namely, among the birds. Having transformed his catwalk into a trash heap (Zoolander-esque, as Tatiana points out), McQueen created bird-women out of his models, outfitting them in feathers and avian-prints. Others wore umbrellas and hubcaps atop their heads (ultra Derelicte).

The eerie white makeup and exaggerated, clownish mouths painted on the models' faces made them look like post-apocalyptic scavengers. It was frightening, and somewhat confusing. Perhaps, since McQueen showed a lot of self-referrential pieces, he was hoping to illustrate something about the role of the scavenger in modern design. Maybe.

The clothes, however, are incredible, and despite the presentation, many of the pieces are indeed wearable. McQueen made ample use of houndstooth and rusty red, both of which you can expect to be major trends in the coming year.