New York City, The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Designer Alexander McQueen

Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty Sign outside
The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Taking the Hunt Valley Motor Coach up from Maryland to New York on Wednesday, my adventurous friend Joan and I were eager to see the Savage Beauty exhibit by British designer, Alexander McQueen. 

Joan and I forgot it was matinee Wednesday and traffic getting up to New York took us another additional hour to arrive into the Big Apple. Navigating through city obstacles, our Hunt Valley Motor coach driver was a really adroit driver and we were delivered safely. Making our way to the subway, we lucked out with great walking weather- warm sunshine coupled with low humidity.  I usually head to New York on the weekends but Joan and I decided that fewer people would be attending the exhibit during the week.

Approaching The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City

We arrived at the steps of The Metropolitan Museum of Art at 1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street and found our way to the ticket counter.  The Met representative told us recommended $20 admission per person.  This included getting into the Savage Beauty exhibit organized by The Costume Institute. We were told it was a 15-minute wait to be allowed into the exhibit hall.  There is an audio guide that can be purchase for $7 per person but we found reading the information posted on the exhibit walls sufficed our need for exhibit knowledge.  Like the Capucci exhibit in Philadelphia, we were not allowed to take pictures of McQueen’s clothes.  I really respect copy law infringement, so the only pictures I can share with my readers were taken outside in front of the Met.

While waiting in line I noticed many people from all over the world visit the Metropolitan Museum.  The wait seemed like a nano second and we were at the front of the line and venturing into the first of many rooms.  But before we entered into the exhibit hall we pass by a one shoulder red dress made with red and black ostrich feathers and glass medical slides painted red and another outfit made with razor clam shells.  At that point I knew we were for a journey that we will be remembering for a long time.

In the earlier years Alexander worked in a tailor shop and this was reflected in the beautifully made grey wool silk suits and black silk satin military jacket embroidered with gold military cord.  At this point we read on the sign that McQueen states, “I spent along time learning how to construct clothes which is important to do before you can deconstruct them.”  I immediately thought of artist Picasso when I read that quote and how he deconstructed his figures that were featured in his later paintings.

Now onto he next room which was dark, appointed with two story antique mirrors adorning every bit of wall space, and that point you could hear an eerie spooky night music playing in the background.  Many of the outfits in this room were romantic and Gothic in nature.  Alexander is quoted that  “something Edgar Allan Poe kind of day melancholy about my collections.”  Looking at a dress made of black duck feathers, I immediately thought of The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe. Many of the outfits were made of leather or were colored black.  I did admire the corset of lilac silk faille appliqued with black lace silk embroidered with jet beads was accompanied with trousers of black fleece and cashmere.

Also displayed was a black cape made out of parachute material that billowed in the air which reminded me of the Headless Horseman from "The Legend of Sleepy Hallow" story. McQueen frequently quotes history and what is written on the exhibit's wall is “I relate that cold austere asceticism of the Flemish Masters and I also love the macabre thing you see in Tudor and Jacobean portraiture.” 

Now, the next space was filled with black built in the wall dividers, which were filled with accessories, clothing, television monitors, and of course shoes.  The menagerie included running of videos of Alexander’s runway shows. I also spied a Philip Treacy La Dame Bleue hat, which was made with synthetic metal with a big Swarovski butterfly.  Equally noteworthy was a hat that was made of painted turkey feathers to look like red Monarch butterflies. I even saw pheasant claw earrings dripping with Tahitian pearls.  More nature inspired design also included a winged bodice of balsa wood and the famous armadillo shaped shoes. This room was chocked full of Alexander McQueen’s creations.  I felt like a kid in a three ring circus, I did not know which item to look at first.

Use of multiple mediums was a great way to describe the Savage Beauty exhibit.  Everyone was crouching around a three sided box that had a small rectangular cut out.  As I peered into the cut out, that was where the hologram of a miniature Kate Moss (fashion model) could be found wearing a white, flowing, ruffled dress.

Throughout his collections, Alexander McQueen weaved in exotic elements and influences from the counties of India, China, Africa and Turkey.  I was particularly captivated by a natural jute dress embroidered with cotton and silk thread that had a gold silk organza undercoat.

I wanted to mention the Romantic Nationalism Collection with Scottish wool tartans.  Apparently this collection was to symbolize the struggle between England and Scotland. McQueen states, "Part of my background comes from people who have been persecuted by something, be it the Jacobites or the Huguenots."  I enjoyed looking at the wool tartan appliqued with black cotton lace undershirt of synthetic tulle piece in addition to all the dresses made of tartans. Alexander also was quoted in saying, "You got to know the rules to beak them.  This is what I am here for to demolish the rules but to keep the tradition."  McQueen does that throughout all his collections. I had a particular fondness of the Romantic Nationalism collection which also included dresses made with red silk satins and ivory silk chiffon embroidered with crystal beads.

Lastly, Alexander is quoted as saying, "I oscillated between life and death, happiness and sadness, good and evil." Just after Alexander's mum passed away, unfortunately we lost Alexander McQueen at the young age of 40 years old on February 11th , 2010 to suicide. McQueen's designs are pure genius and will have a lasting impact for future designers to come. Ending on a upbeat note, the house of McQueen's Sarah Burton, was responsible for brilliantly designing Kate Middleton's dress.  The wedding gown's design was iconic and will always be remembered.  Want to check out Alexander McQueen's Savage Beauty exhibit? The exhibit will be running from May 4th through August 7, 2011.

I have attached a link that allows you to look at the top 10 Alexander McQueen Fashion Shows:
http://stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com/2010/02/11/watch-alexander-mcqueens-10-best-runway-shows/

For More information about the Alexander McQueen, Savage Beauty Exhibit go to:

 http://blog.metmuseum.org/alexandermcqueen/

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street

New York, New York 10028-0198




Hunt Valley Motor Coach: Trips to New York City from Maryland:

http://huntvalleymotorcoach.com/newyorkcity/


Want to buy Alexander McQueen's book Savage Beauty?