THROUGHOUT Lee Alexander McQueen’s career as a fashion designer there were repetitive motifs that he threaded through each collection. Born to English parents, his ancestry linked his family back to the Isle of Skye on the west coast of Scotland, a country that he felt deeply connected to and one he used as inspiration on multiple occasions. Proud of his heritage, he didn’t just utilise his own family’s tartan cloth, he observed the country’s nature and was inspired to reimagine the flowers into his collections.
Alexander McQueen Menswear PreFall 2020 Collection
The Alexander McQueen menswear AW20 pre-collection explored these two themes by incorporating Scottish wild flowers into the design. A trip to Scotland left Creative Director Sarah Burton and her team in awe of the indigenous flowers that flocked over the highlands and wilderness, giving them the idea to include this ideal mixture of the two ideas prevalent in the original collections by McQueen.
Hailed by critics and clients of the brand for their mastery in embroidery, delicate flowers were woven onto the menswear pieces – across the breast of the suits and interwoven on ties to match. The artisanal skills of the British fashion house was further highlighted with crisp white shirts layered with silver embroidery of the flowers mixing classic masculinity with a hint of femininity.
by Imogen Clark