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.
JIMMY CHOO Size 9 Thame Grey Black Glitter Leather Slip On Loafers
By Jimmy Choo
Located in San Francisco, CA
JIMMY CHOO "Thame" loafers in a black leather featuring a grey and black all over glittered and sequined design, patent leather trim, and slip on closure. Shoe trees not included.Goo...
CHANEL silver 20B SEQUIN TWEED Ballet Flats Shoes 39 fit 38.5
By Chanel
Located in Zürich, CH
100% authentic Chanel ballet flats in shimmering black and silver tweed richly embellished with luminous silver sequins and finished with a contrasting black grosgrain cap toe featur...
Chanel CC Logo Bow Detail Gunmetal Black Two Tone Leather Ballerina Flats 36
By Chanel
Located in Mechanicsville, VA
Chanel CC Logo Gunmetal Black Bow Ballet Flats Serial G02819 In original box, with dustbag Color Gunmetal / Black Size 36EU Leather upper Interlocking CC embroidered detail Cap toe ...
PRADA pewter BOW SATIN Ballet Flats Shoes 39
By Prada
Located in Zürich, CH
100% authentic Prada ballet flats in pewter satin. Crafted in a refined, feminine silhouette with a soft, graceful line, these elegant flats feature round toes adorned with delicate ...
$416
Size: 38.5 FRANCE
HERMÈS Silver Metallic Leather Ballerina HERMÈS SAD Palladie Clasp Flats Size 38
By Hermès
Located in London, GB
HERMÈS Silver Metallic Leather Ballerina HERMÈS SAD Palladie Clasp Flats Size 38.5 Hermès ballerina Street in silver with SAD PALLADIE, Hermès Logo Clasp. These flats open peep toe ballerinas are handcrafted with Veau Specchio leather in argent-silver metallic colour with Hermès palladié-palladium clasp trunk lock. Small flat heels, the leather padded insole are in tan colour with Hermès logo stamp...
$144Sale Price|20% Off
ROGER VIVIER silver glitter crystal buckle pointy toe ballerina flats EU37
By Roger Vivier
Located in Hong Kong, NT
ROGER VIVIER silver glitter crystal buckle pointy toe ballerina flats EU37 Reference: GEGG/A00224 Brand: Roger Vivier Material: Fabric Color: Silver Pattern: Solid Closure: Slip On L...
Alexandre Birman Ivory and Gray Python Flats - 36
By Alexandre Birman
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
These Alexandre Birman flats are gray and ivory python. The back is stretchy and the toe is rounded. They are in very good condition with some of the scales being lifted and minor bo...
BRUNELLO CUCINELLI Size 7 Silver Leather Crackled Loafer Flats
By Brunello Cucinelli
Located in San Francisco, CA
BRUNELLO CUCINELLI flats comes in a silver crackled leather featuring a slip on style and a short chunky heel. Includes dustbag. Made in Italy. Very Good Pre-Owned Condition. Marke...
JIMMY CHOO Size 11.5 Black Grey Glitter Velvet Loafers
By Jimmy Choo
Located in San Francisco, CA
JIMMY CHOO loafers in a black velvet and grey glitter featuring a striped mixed material design, patent leather trim, and slip on closure. Comes with dust bag Shoe trees not included...
CHANEL silver leather 2018 MARBLED Slingback Flats Shoes 39.5
By Chanel
Located in Zürich, CH
100% authentic Chanel slingback flats in marbled metallic silver leather with matching polished silver cap toes and subtle CC detail at the heel. Elegant almond-toe silhouette paired...
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.
