DADDIO::GOT THE SWAGGER OF A CHAMPION

McQueen is dead.
McQueen committed suicide.
McQueen hung himself.
McQueen hung himself... on the eve of his Mother's funeral.

I find it fascinating and also scary that as each fact slapped me in the face one after another my eyes actually welled up and I had never met him.

People die every day, but this is quite different. Sharon (Fashion Director) almost cried. She was on edge. Tiffanie Darke (Editor) gave a heartfelt interview on Radio 2 this morning, and hundreds of designers, buyers and celebrities' words of condolence have flooded in from around the world. Bizarre, so bizarre.

The property editor who has to sit a few feet away from all us noisy interns didn't get the fuss.
"At least it'll be a well dressed funeral" - His exact words.

It was about 1pm yesterday that we all found out. As me and Flossie made our way down to Main Gate to collect some samples we'd called in we noticed the whole fashion team huddled up in one of their corners. Meeting? Of course.

10 minutes later as we're lugging the stuff from the lifts we're told the news. Shit. Really? No? What? SUICIDE?!

A few 'Alexander McQueen' googles later we began to piece together the news. There are 2 pairs of McQueen shoes, 5 pairs of leggings and 4 scarfs in the fashion cupboard that we immediately biked back to McQueen in-house to help their PRs defend trafficking of McQueen items.
(Although it's a hole in the heart of the fashion world it's also a wad in the fashion pocket)

McQueen AW2009

I don't need to do the whole 'He was innovative. A British design genius. A complete pioneer of a new British look.'. It's been scrawled across thousands of webpages, newspapers and no doubt regurgitated in countless magazines as they flap about trying to edit in new pages; as of last night. His talent spoke to everyone.
It's pretty goddamn shite he's dead.

I mean who else could have the gaul to put 12 inch heels on the catwalk and have the confidence to know they were ridiculous but fabulous?

McQueen AW 2001

Click on this link to read his last interview, given to The Times:
http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/fashion/article7024728.ece

In the words of McQueen himself:

"British fashion is self confident and fearless. It refuses to bow to commerce, thus generating a constant flow of new ideas whilst drawing in British heritage."

I just call 'em like I see 'em.

R.I.P

Alexander McQueen

(March 17th 1969 - February 11th 2010)