Alexander McQueen F/W 2010 ::

the design team at Alexander McQueen kept the designers last presentation small and intimate. minimal press were invited and shown 16 looks, 80% of which were cut and worked on by Lee's own hands before he took his own life in February.

:: the looks all focused on art from the Byzantine Empire :: shown in rich red, gold and ivory all of the hand-crafted pieces had intricate, ornate details. the influential art was entwined through the fabric. the black and metallic detailed pumps and knee high leather boots were an extension of the design of the clothing. the accessories were binding, from the heavy bracelets to the extended metal chokers and each of the different head coverings, including one with a detailed mohawk look that corresponded to the chokers, giving off the brit-punk feel that the designer has been well known for.

:: click on image to view larger. via style.com.

:: Lee will be missed and deeply mourned, but thankfully for his fans he will forever live on through fashion. this collection kept to his aesthetic and his vision and will be a great addition to his genius legacy.

via Style.com-

Sarah Burton, his right hand, described how, in beginning this collection, McQueen had turned away from the world of the Internet, which he had so powerfully harnessed in his last show. "He wanted to get back to the handcraft he loved, and the things that are being lost in the making of fashion," she said. "He was looking at the art of the Dark Ages, but finding light and beauty in it. He was coming in every day, draping and cutting pieces on the stand." The 16 outfits shown had been 80 percent finished at the time of his death.

RIP ::

Alexander McQueen was found dead this morning in London. While no one will confirm the circumstances, his team will confirm that the designer committed suicide and that they are not treating the case as suspicious, according to wwd.

Tim Blanks beautifully writes for the Style file blog ::

" The death of McQueen’s mother last week would have validated his pessimism. It would undoubtedly have taken away his most vital support. It’s awful to imagine him trying—and failing—to cope, and one can only hope that, if he was looking for peace, he found it. For everyone left behind, there will eventually be consolation, however scant right now, in a body of work whose power will never die."

RIP Alexander, you will be missed.