My interest in fashion & architecture started with my university dissertation, my curiosity lead me to really explore this curious yet fascinating relationship.
I’ve often felt that Fashion is rather unfairly disregarded by most as some form shallow or even vain design discipline. Objects made solely for the viewing pleasure of the wealthy. However, the more you explore this intricate & complex world, the more you realise that fashion is a vast exploration of humanity & the human form. These aren’t just the clothes on your back; they’re architecture at its most intimate level.
So for me the best place to start is my most favoured designer, Lee Alexander McQueen. Beginning life as a tailor, McQueen’s work is best recognised for its unrivalled craftsmanship. Every garment was constructed to what can only be described as absolute perfection, creating unthinkable volume & space by simply manipulating a 2-dimensional plane of fabric with his hands.
This for me is where the blur into architecture begins. It’s the simple process of taking the human form & building space around it. In places the form is complimented & comforted and in others, the form is manipulated & contorted to initiate some form of response within in the inhabitant.
The Genius of Alexander McQueen was that he was so much more than a designer of “pretty as a picture” clothing; he was a master architect of mankind, he understood every aspect of our bodies & our reality. He knew how to make us feel safe & empowered and then with a simple change in shape, colour & texture; he could make us feel completely exposed. If that wouldn’t make an outstanding Architect then I don’t know if anything would…
Here’s a selection of Alexander McQueen’s Work (Sourced from www.vogue.com/collections), should you find the time I’d recommend a look at “Savage Beauty”, it’s a wonderful book showcasing the very best of McQueen.
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