LIFE

Alexander McQueen’s Best Creations in the Pages of W Magazine

by W Staff

ALEXANDER McQUEEN'S SILK TULLE DRESS, AT ALEXANDER McQUEEN, NEW YORK, LOS ANGELES AND LAS VEGAS. YVE...
Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott

Alexander McQueen once said that, “People don’t want to see clothes, they want to see something that fuels the imagination.” That ethos was apparent in each collection the British designer created. His genius lied in the fact that his clothing could evoke narrative and fantasy without overpowering the strong women who wore his designs. The McQueen woman was one who had seen the brutality and ugliness in the world, but have survived and overcome it to wear her femininity as a defiant armor. McQueen’s flare for the dramatic was not only evident in the many fashion shows that transgressed the commercial and crossed over into theater, but also in the ways that others utilized his clothes. Whether on friends and muses like Daphne Guinness or Sarah Jessica Parker, or in the imagery of musical artists like Björk and Lady Gaga, McQueen’s garments always told a story. It’s for that reason as well that he was such a favorite among magazine stylists and fashion photographers. Often, McQueen had already done half their work for them when it came to making a transfixing image. On what would have been the designer’s birthday, look back at McQueen’s best work in the pages of W as captured by photographers like Mert & Marcus, Inez & Vinoodh, Camilla Nickerson, Craig McDean and more.

1

Steven Klein

Linda Evangelista in in Alexander McQueen metallic crystal-encrusted silk dress, photographed by Steven Klein, styled by Camilla Nickerson for W Magazine, October 2008.

2

Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott

Coco Rocha, Kinee Dinouf wearing Alexander McQueen’s white silk satin dress, and Snejana Onopka, photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott for W Magazine, March 2007.

3

Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott

Natasha Vodianova wearing Alexander McQueen’s silk lace dress, photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, styled by Alex White, for W Magazine, September 2004.

4

Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin

Model wearing Alexander McQueen silver silk and metal dress, photographed by Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, styled by Camilla Nickerson, for W Magazine, April 2009.

5

Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott

Agyness Deyn wearing Alexander McQueen’s black viscose dress, photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, for W Magazine, January 2007.

6

Craig McDean

Anna Jagodzinska wearing Alexander McQueen silk satin and organza dress, photographed by Craig McDean, for W Magazine, February 2009.

7

Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott

Natalia Vodianova wearing Alexander McQueen headpiece, photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, styled by Alex White, for W Magazine, August 2006.

8

Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott

Devon Aoki wearing Alexander McQueen silk tulle dress, photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, styled by Alex White, for W Magazine, March 2008.

9

Juergen Teller

Lily Cole wearing Alexander McQueen silk tulle and lace gown, photographed by Juergen Teller, styled by Camilla Nickerson, for W Magazine, February 2008.

10

Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott

Malgosia Bela wearing Alexander McQueen’s silk chiffon blouse and headpiece, photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, styled by Alex White, for W Magazine, September 2006.

11

Michael Thompson

America Ferrera wearing Alexander McQueen’s fox fur cape, photographed by Michael Thompson, for W Magazine, May 2007.

12

Craig McDean

Karlie Kloss, Sigrid Agren, and Viktoriya Sasonkina wearing Alexander McQueen, photographed by Craig McDean, for W Magazine, June 2009.

13

Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott

Gisele Bündchen wearing Alexander McQueen white silk tulle dress and red pom-poms, photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, styled by Alex White, for W Magazine, August 2008.

14

David Sims

Denisa Dvorakova wearing Alexander McQueen’s beaded cream and taupe silk tulle and lace dress, photographed by David Sims, for W Magazine, March 2007.

15

Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott

Kate Moss wearing Alexander McQueen silk tulle dress, photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, for W Magazine, September 2008.

16

Juergen Teller

Mariacarla Boscono wearing Alexander McQueen hat, photographed by Juergen Teller, styled by Camilla Nickerson, for W Magazine, February 2007.

17

Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott

Natalia Vodianova wearing Alexander McQueen headpiece, photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, styled by Alex White, for W Magazine, August 2006.

18

Steven Klein

Bruce Willis with wife Emma Heming, wearing Alexander McQueen, photographed by Steven Klein, for W Magazine, July 2009.

19

Steven Klein

Ginnifer Goodwin wearing Alexander McQueen nylon and paper dress with laser-cut leather harness, photographed by Steven Klein, for W Magazine, June 2009.

20

Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott

Christina Ricci wearing Alexander McQueen’s bustier, photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, for W Magazine, September 2006.

21

Steven Klein

Bruce Willis with wife Emma Heming wearing Alexander McQueen boots, photographed by Steven Klein, for W Magazine, July 2009.

22

Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott

Guinevere Van Seenus wearing Alexander McQueen patent-leather and net dress, photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, styled by Alex White, for W Magazine, March 2008.

23

Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott

Snejana Onopka, Coco Rocha, and Denisa Dvorakova wearing Alexander McQueen, photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, for W Magazine, March 2007.

24

Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott

Kate Moss wearing Alexander McQueen’s black beaded silk tulle jumpsuit, photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, styled by Alex White, for W Magazine, October 2007.