Alexander McQueen, known to his friends and family by his given name, Lee, was and is in my opinion one of the greatest designers to have ever lived. A true genius and inspiration to many, he had just achieved commerical fame in the past few years and was at the height of his career.

English fashion design icon Alexnader McQueen.On February 11, 2010, at 40 years of age he took his own life and left the world aghast, and in complete disarray. The news came as a significant shock to the world- but it personally affected me in a very different way. I had been in class all morning, then off to a fashion seminar with Canadian designer Evan Biddell. I was so excited to meet Biddell and hear what advice he had to give to aspiring Canadian designers. However, before he began, the news on McQueen's death was announced to us and the excitement in the air disappeared. I gasped and clutched my heart as tears welled up in my eyes. I constantly try to immerse myself into this industry, familiarizing myself with every designer, model, photographer, writer, editor and fashion mogul, and I can honestly say that there is no one whose death would have upset me as much. He was and is my very favourite designer of all time. I discovered him a few years ago but it has been his past few collections that have really changed me as a designer. He just kept getting better and better, and I have to say that his last collection for spring/summer 2010 was his greatest work yet by far.

McQueen was born in London to a taxi driver and a social science teacher; the youngest of six children. He started making dresses for his three sisters at a young ago. After leaving school at age 16, he went on to apprentice at Savile Row tailors Anderson & Sheppard. It was here that he learned the crucial skills that later helped him earn a reputation in the fashion world for his expertise in impeccably tailored looks. It was after he graduated from the Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design that he met fashion stylist and lifelong friend Isabella Blow, when she purchased his entire graduation collection. His early runway collections built his lasting reputation for shock value, and controversy. His shows were unconventionally fantastic and always impressed beyond belief. McQueen did mature throughout his many years of accomplishments, including a short stint at Givenchy, working as creative director for Gucci, and winning British Designer of the Year four times. In recent years more and more boutiques were opening up, and he was becoming even more famous with help from celebrity exposure; Lady Gaga has often worn Alexander McQueen pieces in her videos and on the runway, most notably being her video for Bad Romance where she is adorned in a glimmering McQueen dress with matching armadillo shoes.

Some say it may have been the increasing fame and money that had gotten to McQueen, which has proved to be the downfall of many other artistic geniuses such as Kurt Cobain, but it was also the recent death of his mother that had really affected him. She died February 2, and posts to his Twitter page had many friends and fans worried about his wellbeing. But, he seemed to be recovering fine, and four days after he posted that he had had an “awful week” but said “friends have been great,” including; “Now i have to some how pull myself together.” Unfortunately it was not enough and he made the decision to end his life just a day before his mother's funeral.


Friends and admirers have been showing their remorse and love for him by lighting candles, and leaving flowers outside of his home and stores around the world. The world is devastated, and my condolences go out to his family and loved ones going through this tough time. He was a genius, an incredible visionary and true artist. He is irreplaceable and I know his legend will live on forever.