Alexander McQueen: last collection ever

I've on twitter the whole day waiting for someone to tweet about the presentation/memorial for Alexander McQueen, in which they were going to show his last collection. And finally it's up! I just found it and I'm having mixed feelings, not about the clothes... but it feels weird to know that this is the last designs that we're going to see from him. It's sad and I'm not over it yet.

I don't know the exact location where they presented the collection, but it looks like a palazzo. As far as I know, they presented 16 looks each of them, INCREDIBLE. You can look at each and every one of the pieces and you'll be amazed on the amount of work and detail that they have. Each piece is unique. McQueen's collection was beyond anything ever seen before, as he always did. Pushing boundaries in shape and material and prints.

For Fall 2010-2011, he chose to work with the same textile technology that he used for the last season, but this time worked with a different theme. The prints on the clothes are made out of paintings from Middle Age and Bizantine.

I'll post some of the photos I found, when I get more and also extra information, I'll make an update.

My favorite ♥

I would always have a feeling of uncertainty and sadness. Thinking about all that Lee could has achieve as designer. He was the greatest and he had no limitations and such a bright future ahead. He will always me missed. He left an unfillable space in fashion.

R.I.P Lee.

One look from McQueen

OMG! I almost died when I saw this photo from one of the looks of Alexander McQueen's Fall 2010 collection. Enjoy! I can wait to see all the looks. Just by watching this outfit you can tell is going to be full of great designs, great fabrics, amazing shapes and full of all the things that Lee used to show.

R.I.P L'enfant!

Armadillo Shoes

Everyone knows about the Armadillo Shoes designed by Alexander McQueen. A master piece. Shoes that we will never forget. They created such a great impact (on fashion and also on the models ankles) that I guess it would take a lot of time before we're over them.

I love seeing them on people outside a catwalk, as Daphne Guinness did and today I found this amazing shoot and in one of the photos the model was wearing them. Here it is.

Update on McQueen

There's more news on the upcoming Alexander McQueen Fall 2010 runway... It's not going to happen. The show has been cancelled and instead, the label will stage a presentation/memorial on March 9 and 10.

One of the weird things is that photographers have been banned from the presentation and the level itself will provide shots of the clothes to the media, so I guess we won't be able to see a whole show like the ones McQueen used to do.

It's sad that he killed himself and I really think it should be a great homage to have an amazing final runway for a man that give so much to the fashion world and to all of his followers. He deserved something huge and breath taking, like the show he made for Isabella Blow that was actually one of my favorites.

So we'll just have to wait and see. This is one of his most expected collections, #1 because it will be the last one actually designed by him and #2 because we are all wanting to see more after seing what he did for Spring 2010, Pre-Fall 2010 and also for Menswear.

♥ Balenciaga Fall 2010: WOW!

I'm not a full time blogger, so it would be a little hard to keep updating about each and every single collection presented in all fashion weeks, so what I do is chose which ones I think are highlights and post a little something about them.

Paris, is for me the best of all fashion weeks. Besides all the great designers like Dior, Chanel, Comme des Garçons, etc, they always have the best materials, shapes, finishings and the most avant-garde looks from all.

Now's Balenciaga's turn. Since Nicolas Ghesquière got into Balenciga the house has experience a great evolution. Since his start, he's trying to mix the classic look that Cristóbal propused back in the days with his own personal view in fashion. Ghesquière is, for me, one of the most modern and forward looking designers of this era. You can that in his clothes, in the materials he chooses for his designs. Watching details shots for each piece, makes you feel amazed of the work, detail and techonology present in whatever he makes.

For Fall 2010, he presented a collection full of a space era feeling mixed with the 70's. The materials: synthetic foam and plywood (weird I know!). "I was working on something domestic. Casual things mixed with classic. And a kind of rigidity," he said. On this season pieces, you can see everything from geometric, fur, collages, stiff, matte, shine, cashmere. It's a whole new proposal in the fashion world and of course it came from Ghesquière, a genius.

THE SHOES! "Block-heeled loafers with brogues with the soles encased in chunks of platic", as described by Sarah Mower. In my opinion, mind-blowing shoes! An amazing design, mixing classic (loafers) with a complex heel made of chunks, squares and different patterns and materials. These are the kind of shoes that you either love them or hate them. Me, I LOVE them.

Another interesting thing about the collection was the colors (pale blue, tangerine, brown and aqua) and the machine-perforated fabric trimmed with embroidery. This is part of the creation of a guy that's always pushing boundaries, creating fashion for the 21st century, evolutionazing a house that was created decades ago and putting it it an actual context, succesfully.

I love fur! Sorry whoever might be offended with this statement. Besides that I think that the material mix is great. Look at the detail on the arms of the coat.

Great color selection!

The shape of this top, plus the color and the details of it makes it amazing.

This coat might look simple. But if you check every cut and detail in it is WOW! Great construction, great structure, amazingly detailed.

Machine-perforated fabric ♥

♥♥♥

McQueen's Pre-Fall Collection

I know I keep doing McQueen posts, but this one is from something new. This morning I received an email saying that Alexander McQueen's pre-fall collection was out so I had to check the photos. As always, it's amazing to see his work, his unique tailoring and of course a collection that is full of creativity.

McQueens runways has always being like a story, they have a start and an ending, and the dresses, materials, shapes are different. Usually for pre-fall, designers chose a showroom to present their collection to buyers and press, because the production behind a runway is too expensive and complex. Starting with some great suits, with a traditional tailored cut most of them in tweed or wool, all in tones of gray, white with some lace appliqués and of course amazing shoes (platform, high heeled).

After the gray suits, came some amazing designs with patterns created digitally, all in black and white, giving the impression of plaited cords. Of course there was leather and also the same pattern used for his "Bone Collector" menswear collection. Amazing fur and after this came the black pieces. They were not bold black, the fabric gives the impression of having like a fur-y texture.

Lee, always had an attraction to royal clothes, to Napoleon and he uses for this pre-fall collection details that reminds us the coat that Napoleon used to wear, of course in different colors. Lace-y dresses, assymetric skirts, tulle, layers, chiffon, great patterns, construction, structure...

The McQueen taste always always comes up in his collection, you can always tell it's from him what you're seeing. It will always be a shame that he passed out. I will always make sure to keep him alive. And this collection, plus the one that's going to be presented in Paris Fashion Week are going to be epic and reminded by everyone. His last two collections before killing himself.

Hopefully someday there will be someone who gives me the excitement and all those mixed feelings that only McQueen used to give me. Thanks God for internet and for archives, 'cause I'll never be tired of him, I'll keep checking each and every collection and that will be my memorial for him.

R.I.P McQueen

♥

I guess comments on each photo are not necessary, they speak for themselves.

Karen Elson sings

I've always love Karen Elson, her red hair is so characteristic, she has always had a unique presence on runways and red carpets. She has been away for a while, since she got married with Jack White, White Stripes' singer, but you can always see her at the Met Gala and in some ad campaigns (like St. John, PHI, Yves Saint Laurent, etc).

Now, this british model is becoming a singer. Since she started modeling at age 16 she found interest in music, but her career as a model was on it rise and she has to leave it a little behind. She began with collaborations for Robert Plant and James Iha (from the Smashing Pumpkins). She also collaborated on a tribute to Serge Gainsbourg in which she recorded a song with Cat Power called "I love you (me either)."

She's the creative director and also performer with The Citizens Band, appearing with them and because of this she had a positive critical response, being acclaimed by press and people talking about her striking vocal skills.

She has been working as a solo singer and in her new 12 track album soon to be released. Her debut song is called "The ghost who walks" which was produced by her husband and she shows her amazing skills for singing and also for playing acoustic guitar.

Here are some stills from her debut video and I think you should listen to her, I think she's really good in what she does, and singing is not an exception. Great voice, great look, great hair. Enjoy.

Lily Allen leaves music

Lily Allen is ditching music for Fashion. “Fashion is now what I’m doing—it’s a whole new adventure for me,” she said. She's decided to make a career in fashion but thanks gosh she's not gonna try to be a designer like eeeeeveryone else. Instead of doing the same-old-celeb-line she's launching a vintage project called "Lucy in Disguise" with her sister Sarah Owen.

“To me, the idea of music and fashion being separate is just not possible—one can’t exist without the other. Look back to the Sex Pistols and Vivienne Westwood. They’ve always had music, fashion, and design all mixed together,” she said. The project will launch on Vintage at Goodwood festival before moving to a permanent place. This festival hosts vintage dealers, stalls and more. The goal is to re-create "a unique 'retro' atmosphere from the 1940s through to the 80s," according to the Telegraph.

Both Lily and Sarah are getting advice from vintage fashion gurus from England. “The thing I love about vintage is that it’s all incredibly well made, like Chanel—it lasts forever. Hopefully, Lucy in Disguise will be an education as well, teaching customers there’s something other than mass-produced rubbish.”

Knowing that she's not creating another celeb line, with a famous name and no concept and design at all is a BIG relief. There's too many artists just giving their names to shallow collections, really plain and basic. Gwen Stefani for me is an exception, I'm not sure if she's designing the whole line, but at least you know that she's taking care of the whole design process 'cause you can see her signature and style in every piece made for L.A.M.B.

Victoria Beckham is one that I'm not sure if she's really designing the pieces for her collection, she's really close to designer Roland Mouret and you can totally see his style and cut in her pieces. I guess we'll never know.

One of my favorite shoot from her, before she went completely nuts wearing wigs and ridiculous things on stage. Photo by Karl Lagerfeld.

Alexander's McQueen funeral

Yesterday, January 25th, McQueen's private services took place at Knightsbridge, west London. Only family and friends were allowed at his funeral, to pay respect to the one of the greatest designer the world knew. His father and siblings were there, including of course Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Stella McCartney and Daphne Guinness.

Many of McQueen's family wore the tartan from Highland Rape, collection from winter 1995. Everyone wore black and stayed at the church for more than hour, after that coffin was pulled out laden in red, pink and white roses. There was also a hearse with "Lee" made in white flowers on the back.

A spokeswoman for McQueen's said a memorial service open to the designer's friends and supporters will occur this year. "We are focusing right now on the Paris show, which takes place on March 9," she added.

Stella McCartney.

Kate Moss in Alexander McQueen and Louboutin shoes.

Naomi Campbell in Alexander McQueen.

Daphne Guinness in a dramatic cape from McQueen's 2002 collection.

My lil' tribute to Lee Alexander McQueen.

Elle Style Awards 2010

Looking around the web, I found about some Elle Style Awards so I had to look what they were about. Held during London Fashion Week to honour the most stylish people on TV, music and fashion industry. Here's some categories awarded this year:

• TV Star of the year: Dannii Minogue
• Model of the year: Claudia Schiffer
• Musician of the year: Florence and the Machine
• Actress of the year: Carey Mulligan
• Actor of the year: Colin Firth
• Breaktrough Talent: Nicholas Hoult
• Style icons 2010: Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
• Woman of the year: Kristen Stewart
• Editor's Choice: Alexa Chung

Naomi Campbell (she's 40 b.t.w) looking f*cking amazing in an Alexander McQueen dress from S/S 2010.

Just by watching this I get mad! Who da f*ck she thinks she is? Isabella Blow? NOOOOT! Paloma Faith trying to copy my idol.

Corinne Bailey Rae in Diane von Furstenberg.

Leona Lewis in Alexander McQueen.

Ashley in a gorgeous dress by couture genius Christian Lacroix, shoes by Fendi. Mary-Kate in a Lanvin gown and Proenza Schouler clutch.


Ugh! No matter is she's wearing Converses or heel or a great mini dress (like this Emilio Pucci) she always has this shitty face, like she doesn't want to be there.

Alexa Chung dressed in Chanel from head to toes.

Daisy Lowe in Miu Miu.