I have two favourite designers, always have. Alexander McQueen and Matthew Williamson. This morning I woke to the sad news that one of them had taken their own life. Lee McQueen, founder and designer of Alexander McQueen. Head designer of Givenchy for a time and amazingly influential to the British fashion industry. The news made me instantly think of Isabella Blow, who I always looked up to. Issy Blow was Fashion Director at Tatler, she was who discovered McQueen (and also Sophie Dahl, strangely enough the model I love the most). Sadly Issy took her own life in 2007. It is rumoured that Lee never recovered from her death.
I feel very fortunate to have worked in London as a stylist for four years. I was lucky enough to have seen McQueen’s shows and have been in the same room as Issy on many occassion.
Yet again, the fashion industry loses one of its most brilliant and influencial people. It is a sad day.
Isabella Blow and Lee McQueen shot by David LaChapelle. This is from the book Artists and Prostitutes. I am very lucky to own the 2444’th copy of the 2500 produced. Today it will be open on this page.
RIP xxx