Alexander McQueen was a popular designer around the globe and his collections remain fascinating today. Although his bizarre designs are sure to intrigue and disgust anyone, are people actually understanding the meaning of his work? McQueen has shared stories through his collections as well as his personal views and spoken about his ancestry. McQueen may not have made it clear at first glance but his designs do communicate what he is trying to convey to those who love his work. This idea is apparent in McQueen’s two collections, Highland Rape (the girl who lived in a tree) and a common theme across his works (strengthening woman). McQueen’s designs are not only beautiful, but also speak to his true beliefs.
Highland Rape – McQueen shares the history, culture and feelings of the Scottish people through his clothes. The collection was first performed with girls that were bloody, semi-naked and standing on their hands. Their clothes were also ripped apart and barely covered the bodies. Some people initially thought the collection was about actualrape. Others viewed McQueen, a Homosexual trying out women’s bodies, as a Homosexual. McQueen responded by saying that he was speaking out against English designers who were making flamboyant Scottish clothing. My father’s Scottish family comes from Isle of Skye. And I had researched the history of Scottish upheavals. Many people thought Highland Rape was about women being raped. However, Highland Rape was about England raping Scotland. The man then described how Scotland was a harsh and cold place, thanks to England’s involvement. England took over Scottish lands and drove the people from their homes by either murdering them or increasing their property prices. The Scots who stood up to the English would most likely perish, leaving thousands upon widowed women. McQueen called it England’s rape against Scotland. England basically made Scotland miserable by forcing itself upon them. Figure one shows a dress in green with a slash across the middle and spikes around collar. Because the neck is sensitive, the spikes represent being guarded. McQueen is trying to show that England eventually began to wear down Scotland’s fabric. McQueen’s Figure 2 shows how stripped Scotland was by England following these mini-wars. Figure three is similar to figure 1. McQueen is trying give his work a worn and damaged look. This was done to show that Scotland was gradually falling apart as England tried to bring Scotland down. In figure four, you can see how the jacket is cut in half and held together. In the next image, the shirt has split open, exposing the chest. The shirt was also ripped down the runway. Therefore, it is easy to see that Scotland barely holds it together. These and other concepts support McQueen’s desire to communicate his feelings to his fans through fashion. McQueen felt that Scotland had suffered an injustice and he wanted to do his best to rectify it. He did this by using fashion to tell Scotland’s story. McQueen’s designs not only allow him to share his personal story, but he also allows others to see his thoughts and feelings about certain subjects. McQueen’s clothing was one example. “I want women to be empowered. McQueen’s woman’s pants made McQueen’s goal to empower women. It elongated women’s legs to make them look taller and more intimidating. McQueen did not like women to be vulnerable or soft, but he kept their femininity intact throughout his designs. Figure 5 shows an example of this concept. It features a matador-type apparel. McQueen was inspired to design this garment because it empowers women. The pants have a high waist and a tight fitting design. This gives the illusion of a woman being taller than her actual height. McQueen places a lot of importance on McQueen’s height.
He believes height is a way to increase power and ability by towering over others. McQueen also uses the notion of a matador to play off his belief that a matador is a male occupation in which men are celebrated for their courage and manliness. McQueen wants to demonstrate that women can still be strong, while also revealing the most feminine aspects of his design. McQueen wants to convey that although women are as strong as men, he understands that each woman is unique and should be acknowledged for that. McQueen stated that McQueen is not a fan of women looking naive. McQueen illustrated this by strengthening women through his designs. Figure six also shows McQueen’s thoughts. The padded hips are a great addition to the piece. It doesn’t look old-fashioned, but it makes it feel more sensual. Like Diana the statue with big breasts. It is more maternal and feminine, yet still maintains the strength of women. Figure six shows the heavily padded hips and shoulders. This creates an hourglass figure. It also makes the dress look more intimidating. Because she appears larger, the woman feels more powerful. This is similar to figure five’s other design. He retains the woman’s feminine nature while elevating it to the same level as men. This is how he communicates his views on women and how they should look through his designs.
McQueen used a variety of designs to help elaborate on an idea and convey stories. Figures 7-11 show how one set of designs can be transformed from a chaotic collection to become a royal piece. Figures seven and eight show the evolution of the designs. Figure nine shows more chaos as the clothes are reverted back to their chaotic original state. Figures ten through eleven show how the design changes to more royal-like appearances. The original material of this chaotic creature, even though it was constantly changing, was maintained throughout the entire collection. McQueen’s designs allow us to interpret this story as “A person can change but never lose who they are.” McQueen said that she was originally a wild creature who lived in the tree. McQueen said that she transformed herself into a princess when she chose to descend to earth. McQueen did not actually make the correct assumption, but it does show how fashion is still a language. Fashion isn’t a universal language. McQueen’s story not only confirms the earlier assumption, but also provides background knowledge. McQueen may have intended to tell the story of a wild woman who falls slowly down the tree. Figure nine shows her slow descent back up the tree. Figure eleven shows her finally becoming a queen after touching the ground. McQueen managed to tell the story through his designs. This only confirms that fashion is a communication tool.
These three examples suggest that Alexander McQueen used his designs to communicate ideas, beliefs, and concepts much like a human language. It could be said that fashion can communicate ideas and stories in much the same way as written languages. McQueen’s clothing can communicate his thoughts about women and the empowerment he hopes to achieve through it. He tells the story his ancestors suffered and also shares his personal thoughts on the subject. A fictional story about the descent by a girl from an oak tree is also possible through just five pieces. McQueen is an example of fashion being a medium for communication.
