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ways of seeing
March 11, 2013

Her Majesty: Inspirations From Alexander McQueen’s Runway Collection

By Veronica Misako Gledhill

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Photo: Steve Vidler/Corbis

Alexander McQueen presented a tiny but lavish redux of British history, weaving decadently between Elizabethan, Victorian, and modern fashions, always with the glory of the British Empire in mind. The collection opened with a fine white broderie anglaise (a patriotic choice in comparison to more extravagant and customary Belgian or French lace) overlaying a tiered white organza dress with leg-of-mutton sleeves, both of which were fashionable in the 1830s when a young Queen Victoria ascended the English throne.

One look, featuring panes of pearl-embellished, pleated leather, recalled the severity of banishment-to-the-tower by King Henry VIII but featured a silhouette that reminded us of the Duchess of Windsor’s devil-may-care scandal and infamous love of clothes. It then rewound to Queen Elizabeth’s reign, with farthingales draped with gold-lattice-embroidered silk chiffon, and a heavily embroidered pearl and gold beaded corset/gorget, topped off with a frothy fraise ruff — again, made with broderie anglaise, edged with white pearls. The last two ostrich feather looks felt like an homage to Kate Moss en route to a party, or something straight out of a Cecil Beaton fashion sitting.

All of these subtle cues to Britain’s thrilling, majestic, and racy past made our head spin with inspiring imagery that we had to put into a mood board. Click on to see all the many majestic moods found on Alexander McQueen’s fall runway.

Click here to see the complete Alexander McQueen fall 2013 collection.

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1 / 16 Photos
X-Ray Skull Photo: Pasieka/Corbis
Kenwood House Concert Bowl, Hampstead, London. Photo: John Gay/English Heritage/Corbis
Alexander McQueen Photo: Armando Grillo/Imaxtree
Searchlights illuminate the sky above Parliament during an air raid. Photo: Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis
Elizabeth by Jenna Rose Wonder Photo: RafkinsWarning
Tilda Swinton in Orlando. Photo: Bureau L.A. Collection/Corbis
Queen Elizabeth I in Coronation Robes English School Painting Photo: The Gallery Collection/Corbis
Alexander McQueen Photo: Armando Grillo/Imaxtree
Spiral Staircase Photo: Fernando Bengoechea/Corbis
Portrait of Queen Elizabeth by Robert Peake, the Elder Photo: Christie’s Images/Corbis
White Peacock Photo: Vadim Ghirda/Corbis
Vaulting of Westminster Abbey Photo: Werner Forman/Corbis
Oyster and Pearl Photo: Bevis Boobacca/Corbis
Alexander McQueen Photo: Armando Grillo/Imaxtree
The Three Graces by Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1535. Photo: Corbis
Tate Britain  Photo: Steve Vidler/Corbis
1 / 16

Tags:

  • sarah burton
  • paris fashion week fall 2013
  • pinterestingly enough
  • fashion
  • mood board
  • alexander mcqueen
  • runway
  • ways of seeing
  • pinterest
  • tumblr
  • More

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