Alexander McQueen
Born 1969 · Age 56
British fashion designer and couturier; founded Alexander McQueen label (1992); head designer at Givenchy (1996–2001); famed for theatrical runway shows and innovations; won multiple industry awards; died 2010.
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Life & Career Timeline
Family moved to Stratford (early infancy)
Although often reported he grew up in a council flat, the family moved to a terraced house in Stratford in his first year.
Born in Lewisham, London
Lee Alexander McQueen born at University Hospital Lewisham to Ronald and Joyce McQueen, youngest of six children.
Earliest fashion memory — drew dress on wall
At age three he drew a dress on the wall of the family home — an early sign of interest in clothing.
Left school aged 16
Left Rokeby School at age 16 with one O-level in art and pursued a tailoring course at Newham College.
Tailoring course at Newham College
Took a course in tailoring at Newham College after leaving school.
Apprenticeship at Anderson & Sheppard (Savile Row)
Served a two-year apprenticeship in coat-making with renowned Savile Row tailors Anderson & Sheppard, learning traditional tailoring skills.
Pattern-cutter at Gieves & Hawkes (brief)
Worked briefly as a pattern cutter at Savile Row firm Gieves & Hawkes after Anderson & Sheppard.
Worked for theatrical costumiers Angels & Bermans
Made theatrical costumes (e.g., for Les Misérables), gaining experience in dramatic garment-making.
Worked at Red or Dead under John McKitterick
Gained experience (including fetishwear) at fashion label Red or Dead; McKitterick later recommended further training in Italy.
Hired by designer Koji Tatsuno
Joined experimental Mayfair-based designer Koji Tatsuno as a pattern cutter then moved into clothing production.
Borrowed £4,000 for tuition from aunt
Unable to afford tuition at CSM, he borrowed £4,000 from his aunt Renee to cover costs.
Moved to Milan to work for Romeo Gigli
Traveled to Milan in spring 1990 without a standing job offer and secured a position with Romeo Gigli based on his portfolio and Savile Row experience.
Resigned from Romeo Gigli
Left Gigli's studio in July 1990 and returned to London.
Returned to London and rejoined McKitterick's label
Returned to London and worked again with John McKitterick's label.
Accepted into Central Saint Martins MA course
Despite lack of formal qualifications, Bobby Hillson accepted McQueen into the 18-month MA fashion design course at Central Saint Martins based on his portfolio.
Isabella Blow becomes patron and mentor
Blow purchased his graduation collection and became a long-term patron and mentor, suggesting he use 'Alexander' as his professional name.
Founded Alexander McQueen label
Launched his eponymous label and began building his brand; for a time lived in the basement of Isabella Blow's house.
Graduation collection 'Jack the Ripper Stalks His Victims' presented
Presented MA graduation collection at London Fashion Week (March 1992); collection bought in its entirety by stylist Isabella Blow.
Relocated to Hoxton Square
Moved studio to Hoxton Square (a hub for new designers) in 1993.
First professional runway show: Nihilism (S/S 1994)
Held first professional runway show at the Bluebird Garage in Chelsea; show and early collections established his reputation for shocking, theatrical fashion.
Presented 'Taxi Driver' collection (A/W 1993)
First post-graduation collection inspired by Scorsese's Taxi Driver, shown at London Fashion Week in March 1993; introduced the 'bumster' trouser.
Banshee and The Birds collections; met Katy England
Produced Banshee and then The Birds (inspired by Hitchcock), where he met Katy England who became his longtime creative collaborator.
Presented 'Highland Rape' (A/W 1995) — major controversy
The sixth collection drew international attention and controversy for its slashed, distressed styling inspired by the Highland Clearances; raised his profile.
Designed wardrobe for David Bowie (tour 1997)
Created stage wardrobe (e.g., Union Jack coat) used for David Bowie's Earthling album and 1997 tour.
Won first British Designer of the Year award
Received British Fashion Council's British Designer of the Year award (first of multiple wins).
Appointed head designer at Givenchy
Named chief designer at Givenchy in 1996, succeeding John Galliano; tenure would last until 2001.
Won British Designer of the Year (second time)
Awarded British Designer of the Year again (1997).
No. 13 show with robotic spray-paint finale
Spring/Summer '99 collection No.13 staged in a London warehouse; finale featured Shalom Harlow spray-painted by two robot arms — widely cited as an iconic fashion show moment.
First New York runway show (Eye, S/S 2000)
Staged his first runway presentation in New York in 1999 (Eye, Spring/Summer 2000), expanding his international presence.
Gucci Group acquires 51% of company
Gucci Group purchased a controlling 51% stake in Alexander McQueen's company in 2000 (reported December 2000 in some sources), enabling global expansion and product line growth.
Marriage ceremony with George Forsyth in Ibiza (not legally binding)
Conducted a private marriage ceremony on a yacht with partner George Forsyth; Kate Moss and Annabelle Neilson were bridesmaids. Ceremony was not legally recognized.
Presented Voss (S/S 2001) — celebrated theatrical show
Voss collection featured a glass box tableau with live moths and a central naked model wearing a gas mask; hailed as one of his most dramatic shows.
Left Givenchy (contract ended)
Departed Givenchy in March 2001, citing creative constraints; returned focus to his eponymous label.
Released perfume 'Kingdom' and introduced skull scarf
Label expanded into fragrance with Kingdom; the skull-scarf motif first appeared in Irere (S/S 2003) and became an iconic commercial hit.
Awarded CBE and CFDA International Designer of the Year
Appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) and named International Designer of the Year by the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 2003.
Won British Designer of the Year (fourth time)
Received British Fashion Council's British Designer of the Year award in 2003 (fourth overall — 1996, 1997, 2001, 2003).
Launched menswear line; named GQ Designer of the Year
Introduced a stand-alone menswear collection (first menswear runway show in Milan) and was named GQ's Designer of the Year 2004.
Collaboration with PUMA
Collaborated with sportswear brand PUMA to create a special line of trainers (2005).
Released perfume 'My Queen'
Launched the fragrance MyQueen, expanding brand into further beauty products.
Launched diffusion line 'McQ'
Introduced McQ, a younger, more affordable line for men and women (2006).
Isabella Blow's suicide (May 2007) — personal loss
Isabella Blow, his long-time patron and friend, died by suicide in May 2007; McQueen later dedicated his Spring 2008 collection to her memory.
MAC cosmetics collaboration released
MAC released a cosmetics collection hand-picked by McQueen (inspired by Elizabeth Taylor's Cleopatra) on 11 October 2007.
Dedicated Spring/Summer 2008 'La Dame Bleue' to Isabella Blow
Spring 2008 collection (La Dame Bleue) dedicated to Isabella Blow; featured bird theme and extensive feather work.
Boutiques present in multiple major cities
By end of 2007/2008 the label had boutiques in London, New York, Los Angeles, Milan and Las Vegas (expansion enabled by Gucci investment).
Spring/Summer 2009 'Natural Dis-tinction' show
Presented a Darwin-inspired collection on a runway filled with taxidermied animals (Spring/Summer 2009).
Designed wardrobe for 'Eonnagata' theatre show
Collaborated with Sylvie Guillem, Robert Lepage and Russell Maliphant designing wardrobe for Eonnagata at Sadler's Wells (2009).
Lady Gaga performs 'Bad Romance' debut at Plato's Atlantis finale
Plato's Atlantis show finale was accompanied by the debut of Lady Gaga's single 'Bad Romance'.
Plato's Atlantis show — first fashion show streamed live
Presented Spring/Summer 2010 'Plato's Atlantis' in Paris on 6 Oct 2009; first fashion show streamed live on the internet (stream crashed after Lady Gaga tweeted about it); featured armadillo shoes and aquatic themes.
Bequests and charitable donations reported
Reports stated McQueen reserved £50,000 for his dogs and bequeathed £100,000 each to four charities including Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and Blue Cross.
Death of McQueen's mother
McQueen's mother died on 3 February 2010 (reported as eight days before his death), a major personal blow that preceded his suicide.
Found dead in Mayfair home — suicide
On the morning of 11 February 2010 his housekeeper found him hanged at his home in Green Street, Mayfair, London. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.
Gucci announces brand will continue
About a week after McQueen's death, Gucci Group confirmed the Alexander McQueen business would continue without its founder.
Funeral at St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge
Funeral service held on 25 February 2010 in West London.
Unfinished Autumn/Winter 2010 collection shown
At death he left 16 pieces ~80% finished; the design team completed them and presented the collection (unofficially 'Angels and Demons') to small invited groups in Paris on 8 March 2010.
Coroner records death as suicide
Westminster Coroner's Court officially recorded McQueen's death as a suicide on 28 April 2010.
Sarah Burton named creative director of Alexander McQueen
Gucci confirmed long-time collaborator Sarah Burton would take over as creative director in May 2010.
Sarah Burton presents first collection
Sarah Burton presented her first womenswear collection for Alexander McQueen in Paris in September 2010.
Memorial service at St Paul's Cathedral
A memorial was held on 20 September 2010 at St Paul's Cathedral attended by around 2,500 invitees including high-profile artists and designers.
Metropolitan Museum 'Savage Beauty' exhibition (NY)
Posthumous retrospective 'Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty' opened at the Met in 2011 and became one of the museum's most popular exhibitions.
Royal Mail commemorative UK postage stamp
A McQueen-designed dress appeared on a commemorative UK stamp issued by the Royal Mail celebrating British fashion (2012).
V&A hosts 'Savage Beauty' retrospective (London)
The V&A mounted the exhibition from 14 March to 2 August 2015; it sold over 480,000 tickets and became the museum's most popular exhibition.
Tina Gorjanc DNA/skin conceptual project sparks family response
Artist Tina Gorjanc created pig leather tanned/tattooed to resemble McQueen's skin and filed related patents; McQueen's family said they did not condone use of his DNA.
Coiled aluminium corset sold at auction
A coiled corset (The Overlook A/W 1999) made with jeweller Shaun Leane sold in 2017 for $807,000 — notable posthumous sale of his couture work.
Documentary film 'McQueen' released
Documentary about his life and career (directed by Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui) was released in 2018, bringing renewed attention to his work.
Brand milestone: 100 stores worldwide (corporate, posthumous)
By the end of 2020 Alexander McQueen brand had expanded to ~100 stores worldwide with estimated revenues of €500m (corporate milestone under Kering).
Exhibition 'Lee Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse' (LACMA & NGV)
A major retrospective juxtaposing his designs with artworks opened at Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the National Gallery of Victoria in 2022.
Quebec exhibition 'Lee Alexander McQueen: l'art rencontre la mode'
A version of the 2022 exhibition was shown at the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec in 2023.
Key Achievement Ages
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