Yesterday I went to the Alexander McQueen exhibition at the V&A. I have to say that I have never been much of a fan of Alexander McQueen's designs. I had always dismissed him as the "Madonna" of the Fashion World. Someone who wanted to shock as a shortcut to fame. Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago when I read an article on his life that put his designs into a whole new perspective. According to the Andrew Wilson's biography: "At the age of nine or 10, McQueen started to be sexually abused by a violent man – Terence Anthony Huyler – who was married to his sister Janet. When he later confided in (Isabella) Blow, he said that this man stole his innocence. The young McQueen also watched powerless on several occasions when Janet was beaten or half-strangled by Huyler. Janet, who had no idea that her husband was abusing her little brother, remained close to McQueen all his life, almost like a second mother. Wilson convincingly argues that Janet became “the blueprint” for his clothes, a woman who was “vulnerable but strong”. Sometimes the women on the runway were McQueen himself, other times they were Janet. This, writes Wilson, “was the woman he wanted to protect and empower through his clothes; the patina of armour that he created for her would shield her from danger”. *
Learning about his background changes completely the way you look at his dresses. Suddenly, it all makes perfect sense.
Sadly, Alexander didn't make it. He committed suicide in 2010 aged 40. I'm a year younger than him, and I didn't find out about Narcissism until 2012. Being thrown into the deep end of the fashion world so young, Alexander did not have the luxury of time as I've had. I can't imagine that being in that environment helped either. The ramifications of abuse, whether verbal, physical or emotional, take a devastating toll. The exhibition made no mention of the abuse in his past, and I think it's shame, because it puts all his work into an entirely different context.
* from The Guardian article: Fierce, feathered and fragile: how Alexander McQueen made fashion an art
I've never been one to follow the fashion industry. I do know it's a brutal business...perhaps that's why I don't like to follow it. I'm curious about his fashions now. Poor soul. Too young. It is a shame they don't mention his reasoning behind his fashions. Thanks for sharing this, Kara.
ReplyDeleteYes, fashion as an industry is really horrible, but I love the craftsmanship side of it. I got into it from visiting the Museum of Costume in Bath. Seeing dresses close up and the history of them is very interesting. I once saw an exhibition of the dresses Queen Elizabeth II wore during the 70s. There was a purpose behind each one, like, for instance, they would be made in the colours of the flag of the country she was visiting as an homage to that country. It was fascinating.
DeleteOh, now I'm envious! I would have loved to go with you! Our writers' group had a woman who worked in costuming in the film industry and walked in dressed, from the inside out, in Victorian cloths. She gave us a history of underwear. We're a romance group. :-) Actually, it was really informative about how fashion evolved. Fascinating.
DeleteWow... I like it.
ReplyDeleteI thought you would. His designs are more than just clothes, they're artistic.
DeleteWow, what an interesting post. As I told you, I knew little of McQueen other than his name (and a vague notion he was in fashion). I found your take on the exhibit to be thought provoking.
ReplyDeleteIt almost makes me sad to think that he felt the only way he could protect himself (oneself) was to be fearsome. I want to be seen as strong, but I don't know if I want to rely on fear protect me. In some ways, it feels like it locks him in a relationship with fear. But, man, with the horror of his childhood, I can see why fear is the emotion he most closely associates.
Yes, I agree with you on the fear. I imagine that as a child, maybe the only people who he knew were respected were those who were feared, and since he was only 15 when he started his apprenticeship at Savile Row, he probably never had much time to do recovery work and realise that there were other ways of protecting oneself.
DeleteWow. Just wow. This is a brilliant re-reading of his body of work, and it puts it into the true context. Like you I never really 'got' what he was doing or why; this post repositions my entire view of him. What I especially love is how what you've learned is turning into compassion in how you read others and their work. Amazing process…xo CS
ReplyDeleteThank you CS xx
DeleteWow, I echo CS's comment. You showed insightfully and intellentingently that our stories, even the little we know of each other, I never really complete. There is more behind what we first see. xxTR
ReplyDeleteThank you TR. So true. xx
DeleteVery interesting, Kara! I spent an interesting hour googling his designs! Thank you (and sending some Spring Hugs, too!) CZ
ReplyDeleteHugs to you too CZ :) xx
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