For a very long time (Since it was presented nearly a year ago) I’ve wanted to tackle one of the most visually intense shows I have ever seen. Again, Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, The Spring 2012 Collection was beyond words.
Garments inspired by the sea and crustaceans, I chose these three looks on pure drama and amazing craftsmanship.
The first look is obviously inspired by Coral. The shoulders of the gown almost seem to grow and evolve infront of your eyes. Draped in hand-stitched shells and coral, this dress is utterly breathtaking.
The bodice is covered in 3D embroidery, sprouting from every angle over the models torso and across the minidress. I used layers of different materials to create the visual weight of the dress itself, in contrast to the waterfall embroidered chiffon train.
This really close capture shows the multiple layers of pen, ink, watercolour, metallic pens and fine-liner that I used to get the intensity and abstract spikes that the garment has, as well as building depth into the coral shade.
The second look was hailed as “Old School McQueen”. A head-to-toe covering of lazer-cut Leather layered over nude lace and tulle in a mirrored pattern, This dress is very simple yet incredibly striking.
The kick hem and nude body was created by a thin wash of watercolour, with the lace (Tippex) layered under the thick black intensity of the lazer-cut leather (A material that featured heavily in the collection)
Getting the symmetry in this dress is key. A typical McQueen feature in every collection, as I have mentioned before, The intricacy of the leather, with the small hints of lace visible, combined with the almost haunting ’S&M’ esq mask brings the iconic ‘Romance and Sex’ element that was so prominent in many of McQueen’s Collections.
The final Look is truly outstanding. The level of craftsmanship in the 3D embroideries and metallic sheath that is draped over the models body and fishtail shirt is insane. A full neck and headpiece attached to the dress creates a visually opulent and slightly overwhelming silhouette.
I got quite intricate with the layers, using pencil as a first point of embellishment, which I rarely do, but the silver lead worked really well with the tone of the dress itself. It was the overlaid with silver pen, tippex and fine-liner.
I rarely play around with the head or neck in my illustrations, but as every single loom from this collection included a matching hand-made mask for the model, I wanted to capture the drama and beauty in the statuesque top-to-toe look.
I am so pleased that I got to tackle this collection afterall. There may be some more to come from the collection as I am seriously in love with the entire thing, however I cant wait to see what October Brings for the new Spring 2013 Alexander McQueen Show.
Watch This space.
(All Illustrations Copyright, PLEASE Do not reblog. Runway Images: Style.com)
I wasn’t asked to a single dance in high school and didn’t have a serious romantic relationship until I was 22. And like, yeah that shit hurt when I was younger. I had a lot of fears that I was unlovable and that I didn’t deserve to be happy. And every time I would try to talk to anyone about it, the conversation became, “you’ll find someone”, when it should have been, “you don’t need a relationship or a date, you’re lovable & complete & beautiful on your own”.
So yeah, please normalize young people not dating, and please stop shaming them for it. There’s more to life than romance, despite what the media wants us to think.
Margaux Lavevre: Before coming to Folio, I studied in Paris. Now, since being here, everybody asks me why I left Paris. I think that London is the best place to study fashion, because people take a crazier approach to fashion design. I feel a kind of freedom that can sometimes be lost in Paris.
Shoutout to all my girls who are bigger than, taller than, or weigh more than their boyfriends and feel subconscious about it bc our society puts so much emphasis on girls needing to be Less Than boys in every single way, especially physically.
Never apologize for the space you occupy in this world.
