McQueen was and remains one of my favorite designers. I remember the day he died, everyone at the tents (shows were still at the tents! Lincoln Center say what?) was in a state of shock. I don't even remember what shows I attended, just that I felt perpetually scared -- I guess shell shocked, and grappled for my friends arms in the dark on the way back home. In the taxi cab back from Milk Studios with Tavi and Elizabeth we passed by the McQueen store and were quiet since the first time we got into the cab, and I don't remember anything else. Just that moment. A sense of loss.
Since he's died I've spent hours and days poring over fashion books about him to be disappointed in what they've offered; I've guess it's because I'm always trying to understand him in a profound way so I feel more at peace with the fact such a genius ended his life so early. I don't begrudge him and I'm not angry, I'm just constantly wondering where would he would be now. He was so good --
so, so good. And now he's gone, and we'll never know. And more than anything else, I find that frustrating, and when I read fashion books about him, I'm usually left frustrated because they just relist what he's done, without offering any real insight on his relationships or the mood of the seasons he presented, and it all feels so shallow. That's why I'm so appreciative of the
new release by Katherine Gleason.
Gleason sets the mood for each show and provides beautiful description of both the audience reception, the inspiration behind the collection, McQueen's life and relationships at the time and how it all connects. She also doesn't paint him as a perfect person, and takes her time to describe him in all his complexities, and for that he had plenty. I've included some of my favorite parts of the book -- but not all, and not in their entries because duh copyright, but I hope you enjoy them and you buy the book so we can share the experience.
