{Fashion} Highlight: Alexander McQueen Spring/Summer 2012

Fantasy.

Whimsy.

Femininity.

Those are the first words that came to mind as I perused pictures of the Alexander McQueen Spring/Summer 2012 show.  Sarah Burton (ahem Ms. Catherine Middelton's wedding gown designer) continues the tradition of McQueen with exquisite detail, structure celebrating the female form, and unabashed colors and cuts.
The house of Alexander McQueen has always been bold.  Even suit jackets are transformed by sharp shoulders and gold tipped edges (umm I so want that first cream and gold suit).  An asymmetrical ruffle makes an ordinary black jacket extraordinary.  I loved the strength in all of the clothing from gowns to jackets.  I also loved how she realigned my vision of lace from ivory French lace to a dark, modern, lazer cute version.  It's romantic and modern at the same time.

All of these details remind me why some designer pieces are truly worth the price.

I will have a McQueen jacket some day and it will be fabulous.  Oh and can I just dance around in that lace embellished coral gown at home?

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Style at any price:

- Structure and fit is key.  None of these pieces were for anyone that wanted to hide her body.  They are close fitting and really accentuate a woman's curves.  

- Detail on a piece of apparel (gold tipping, lace detail, etc.) really makes clothing unique.  Look for special touches and workmanship in embroidery, lace, and cut.  These are the touches that makes clothing pop.

Fashion/{Art Highlight}: Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Genius.  Madman. Visionary.

Alexander McQueen was called many things, but at the end of the day was a clothing designer that dared to unabashedly use imagery and shapes to evoke emotions in his clothing designs and shows.  He was particularly entranced with the afterlife as well as incorporated touches that were both feminine, yet powerful.

I was lucky enough to visit the Alexander McQueen "Savage Beauty" exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.  This is likely the most popular show at the museum now so be prepared to wait at least one hour, particularly if you go during the weekend.
The exhibit (again if you visit during the weekend) is very crowded so it can take some time to get up close to the clothing.

I loved how the show was designed and curated to reflect Alexander McQueen's style.  He was known for creating dramatic and grandiose runways shows and I could see that in snippets from the actual shows, hear it with the sometimes dark but striking music, and almost feel it as I viewed the texture apparent in so many of his pieces.

Here are some sly shots taken at the exhibit:
The first dress to greet you as you enter:

Supercalafragalisticespialidocious - Autumn/Winter 2002-2003 (parachute silk)

Traditional plaid used in fitted and feminine dresses.

These were pieces from his 2010 Spring/Summer collection called "Plato's Atlantis" - do you feel the underwater, ethereal vibe (also when the famous armadillo shoes debuted)?

More pictures here!  Hope you get to see the exhibit if you are in NYC!