British fashion designer Lee Alexander McQueen, the original creative engine behind the Alexander McQueen label, was beloved for his expert tailoring and theatrical runway shows. After his suicide in 2010, fans left tributes to the man and his talents outside Alexander McQueen boutiques worldwide. Record-breaking crowds visited the posthumous retrospective of the designer’s work at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the Victoria and Albert in London.
The inspirations for vintage Alexander McQueen bags, dresses, jackets and other items came from many quarters — film, music, current events, history, his heritage and fashions of the past. The designer's runway presentations were not just displays of clothing but were personal expressions of the zeitgeist, often touching on our cultural anxieties and concerns. McQueen’s own thoughts and feelings about love, death, gender, genocide, colonialism, global warming and the extinction of species all appear in his pieces.
McQueen certainly shook up fashion; he was a born Rottweiler. His upbringing on a council estate in north London played a part, but his family was close and supportive, not dysfunctional. He was proud of his Scottish heritage: He was a defiant fashion warrior. His historical themes and shows — such as “Highland Rape,” 2002, which was inspired by England’s “rape of Scotland,” as McQueen called it — always invoked powerful reactions from his audience of fashion pros.
“What you see in the work is the person himself. And my heart is in my work,” McQueen told Harper’s Bazaar in 2007.
It is perhaps this heart, and the heart’s exposure, that drew the crowds and made McQueen's creations both popular and emotionally resonant. Because the work was personal and thus layered with feeling, the motifs — decorative embellishments and fabric choices — have meaning. In other words, in McQueen’s oeuvre, plaid is more than simply a pattern.
Find vintage Alexander McQueen fashion and accessories — including the designer's coveted bags and comfortable, stretchy jersey knit dresses and gowns — on 1stDibs.
Alexander McQueen Black Suede Chic Rear Detail Pumps Sz.39
By Alexander McQueen
Located in Krakow, PL
Alexander McQueen Suede Pumps with Rear Decoration Condition: Good (signs of wear on soles, insoles, and suede; maintenance recommended) Description: Elegant black suede pumps with a...
ALEXANDER MCQUEEN Vintage black scaled leather pump heels EU39
By Alexander McQueen
Located in Hong Kong, NT
ALEXANDER MCQUEEN Vintage black scaled leather pump heels EU39 Reference: TGAS/E00300 Brand: Alexander McQueen Designer: Lee Alexander McQueen Material: Leather Color: Black Pattern:...
Celine Sandales Talons EU40 Studded Black Leather Heels Pumps UK6.5 US9 Céline
By Hedi Slimane, Celine
Located in PARIS, FR
Celine pumps by Hedi Slimane high sandals in thin black leather straps, those on the upper part of the leather decorated with mini gold studs, fastening on the ankle with a gold meta...
Alexander McQueen Black Calf Suede Peep Toe Lace Up Stiletto High Heels
By Alexander McQueen
Located in Sheffield, GB
Alexander McQueen Black Calf Suede Peep Toe Lace Up Stiletto High Heels Size; UK 6 / EU 39 Heel Height; 4.5” (1” Tall at the front of shoe providing a 3.5” Platform). Condition; 8/10...
auth Alexander McQueen Studded Biker Booties Black IT 38 US 8 Stiletto Lace Zip
By Alexander McQueen
Located in San Diego, CA
McQueen Studded Biker Ankle Booties in Black Size: IT 38 (Fits like a US 8) Crafted in Italy, these high-fashion boots blend a gritty "bikercore" aesthetic with the refined luxury...
Giuseppe Zanotti, black leather peeptoe platform pumps with silver studs
By Giuseppe Zanotti
Located in AMSTERDAM, NL
Giuseppe Zanotti, black leather peeptoe platform pumps with silver studs on the heel and strap around the ankle in size 39. This product has been worn only once and is in mint condit...
New Alexander McQueen S/S 2012 Leather Studded Horn Heel Platform Sandals 38.5
By Alexander McQueen
Located in Montgomery, TX
Alexander McQueen Black Leather Studded Cage Platform Sandals S/S 2012 Collection Italian size - 38.5 ( US 8.5) The perfect amount of luxury, elegance, strength and severity. Adorned...
Valentino Garavani Black Mesh Rockstud Pumps - EU 38.5
By Valentino Garavani
Located in Amman, JO
Valentino Garavani Black Mesh Rockstud Pumps Elegant with a modern edge, these Valentino Garavani pumps feature a sleek pointed-toe silhouette crafted from sheer black mesh with lea...
Saint Laurent Black Leather Peep-Toe Platform Heels - EU 38.5
By Saint Laurent
Located in Amman, JO
Saint Laurent Black Leather Peep-Toe Platform Heels Saint Laurent black leather heels featuring a peep-toe design and elevated platform sole. Crafted with a smooth leather upper and...
Alaïa Classic Black Leather Peep Toe Heel Pumps size EU 38 Platform Stiletto
By Azzedine Alaïa
Located in San Diego, CA
Elevate your evening look with these iconic Alaïa Black Leather Peep Toe Platform Pumps Size: EU 38 approx US 8 Crafted from premium sleek black leather, these stiletto heels embod...
The designer combined his Savile Row training with his fascination with Victorian jewelry to create a most alluring piece.
A striking tartan ensemble from the late designer’s celebrated (and controversial) Fall/Winter 2006 collection is equal parts tailored and punk.
