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Alexander Mcqueen: Fashion Visionary
A retrospective of McQueen's groundbreaking designs and a salute to his artistry, the book showcases his work from his graduate collection at Central Saint Martins to his latest designs created just days before his untimely death. Celebrating his work and vision, Alexander McQueen: The Life and the Legacy traces the designer's ascent to becoming one of the world's most respected couturiers - a story marked by celebrity friendships, unrestrained creativity, theatrical fashion shows and, ultimately, tragedy. The chronological organization allows the reader to understand McQueen's most seminal collections and the progression and underlying themes of his ideas. This book is dedicated to McQueen's work and talent, and exhibits not simply visually electrifying fashion images, but also reveals the deep reservoir of the designer's imagination.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2012
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August 23, 2014Argh. This was a pretty frustrating book for more than one reason. It was written in a passive, academic voice, i.e. "It was decided that..." YUCK! The very technical writing style was so dry it was difficult for me to stay engaged. While I appreciate the drawn-out descriptions of pieces that aren't included in the book as photographs, for pretty much every single show, we have to stop mid-sentence to look at a double page spread of photos with all-new captions, some of which have been previously described and some of which have not. And when we're done picking through the photos, we turn the page and need to remember where we left off two pages ago, and get back into that rhythm. Frustrating.
There is so much background info that is referenced but not included! McQueen's childhood mental and emotional distress influenced one of his shows, except when you go back to re-read the scant three pages on his life before age 18, you see that you didn't accidentally skip over anything -- the author didn't say one word about it! Same for his close relationship with his mother. She was his rock, and he killed himself 9 days after her death from cancer. Why was she his rock, aside from emphasizing to him to his Scottish heritage? We'll never know from reading this book. Why did he choose to enter menswear, and how did he approach the creative process for menswear vs. womenswear? What were his days like? Who else influenced him, in addition to Isabella Blow?
Editing? Fuhgeddaboutit. There's a childhood drawing of Cinderella in a ball gown on page 10, except it's not on page 10! It's not anywhere in the book that I can find. Not to mention McQueen's infamous armadillo shows. Not "shoes", but "shows". Right.
In my wish list, what would probably have compensated for all this would be full runway shots of every single piece from every single collection. I'm sure that would have been difficult and expensive. My next suggestion would be for Bill Bryson to take a shot at writing this. I think he could have brought some curiosity, passion, and humanity that this book sorely lacks.
There is so much background info that is referenced but not included! McQueen's childhood mental and emotional distress influenced one of his shows, except when you go back to re-read the scant three pages on his life before age 18, you see that you didn't accidentally skip over anything -- the author didn't say one word about it! Same for his close relationship with his mother. She was his rock, and he killed himself 9 days after her death from cancer. Why was she his rock, aside from emphasizing to him to his Scottish heritage? We'll never know from reading this book. Why did he choose to enter menswear, and how did he approach the creative process for menswear vs. womenswear? What were his days like? Who else influenced him, in addition to Isabella Blow?
Editing? Fuhgeddaboutit. There's a childhood drawing of Cinderella in a ball gown on page 10, except it's not on page 10! It's not anywhere in the book that I can find. Not to mention McQueen's infamous armadillo shows. Not "shoes", but "shows". Right.
In my wish list, what would probably have compensated for all this would be full runway shots of every single piece from every single collection. I'm sure that would have been difficult and expensive. My next suggestion would be for Bill Bryson to take a shot at writing this. I think he could have brought some curiosity, passion, and humanity that this book sorely lacks.
December 6, 2012
Recently I was sent this book and requested to take the oppurtunity to review it as a 'first-reader'. Being an author myself I both jumped at the chance, and shuddered at the prospect of perhaps having to demolish a book in review. (I'm nothing if not meticulously honest when it comes to my opinions on the work of other authors.)
What did I think? That is was splendid.
First, every designer should have a copy sitting in their office space. The story of McQueen's life is told here through fashion-his most beloved avenue of expression. The biographical information placed into a relevant narrative becomes visceral. Personal asides about when and how his father snuck into the back of a runway show for instance, made me as the reader aware of a personal connection to these small and oft overlooked moments.
Even better-this hardback includes blocked excerpts within its pages of introspections from others in the feild of fashion...people who knew McQueen, perspectives that reach beyond the writers point of view.
And oh-oh-the inserts! Beautiful. Anyone can buy a fashion magazine and drool over glossy's...but these photo's are tied directly into the text. The picture's not only showcase a lifetime of an artist's work-they relate to the life he was living at the time. (The Gucci Years chap. was my personal favorite.)
The everyday reader should own this book simply to coffee table display-it's current, relevant, gorgeous, and well done.
The biography enthusiast should jump at it because the formatting, research, and narrative are among the best I've seen.
Anyone who care's a wit about fashion, design, photography, or art itself would be lucky to add a copy to their private shelves. I know I am. J. Watt does an amazing job here. My only critique is that I wish it were thicker and bigger. I adore double page spreads and would be happy to give up more real-estate in my stacks to have this book be twice its original print size...but that was the only flaw I found.
Certainly, get youself a copy. Thrilled to recommend this one...
You can't have mine.
What did I think? That is was splendid.
First, every designer should have a copy sitting in their office space. The story of McQueen's life is told here through fashion-his most beloved avenue of expression. The biographical information placed into a relevant narrative becomes visceral. Personal asides about when and how his father snuck into the back of a runway show for instance, made me as the reader aware of a personal connection to these small and oft overlooked moments.
Even better-this hardback includes blocked excerpts within its pages of introspections from others in the feild of fashion...people who knew McQueen, perspectives that reach beyond the writers point of view.
And oh-oh-the inserts! Beautiful. Anyone can buy a fashion magazine and drool over glossy's...but these photo's are tied directly into the text. The picture's not only showcase a lifetime of an artist's work-they relate to the life he was living at the time. (The Gucci Years chap. was my personal favorite.)
The everyday reader should own this book simply to coffee table display-it's current, relevant, gorgeous, and well done.
The biography enthusiast should jump at it because the formatting, research, and narrative are among the best I've seen.
Anyone who care's a wit about fashion, design, photography, or art itself would be lucky to add a copy to their private shelves. I know I am. J. Watt does an amazing job here. My only critique is that I wish it were thicker and bigger. I adore double page spreads and would be happy to give up more real-estate in my stacks to have this book be twice its original print size...but that was the only flaw I found.
Certainly, get youself a copy. Thrilled to recommend this one...
You can't have mine.
June 10, 2013
thought it would be more insightful. It gave a brief description of the inspirations for each collection. This was really the most interesting part of the book. The descriptions of the clothes really could've used visuals (there were very few) and left me yearning for the pictures. I almost wanted to scroll through style.com of the collections at the same time but decided that was a bit too much work. Unsatisfying on the whole
July 5, 2013
Alexander McQueen: Master of the Fantastic By Judith Watts I won this book through Goodreads. Alexander McQueen was a fashion designer. He strived to make women look strong.His clothes sought truth,they were shocking, sexie, inspiried by art and films,agressive, exageration of the body. His mother was his mentor. He learned clothes construction, before he could destruct. A great coffee table book.
November 12, 2022
Zeros in on Lee’s collections which I loved: his interactions with staff, his brainstorming processes and concepts, the balance between profit and creative choices, what the day of each show was like, and tiny details about McQueen’s garments and their construction.
That being the focus, I was disappointed with the dry academic passive voice describing the looks and lack of photos. With this type of book, I needed images for every garment in each collection! Photos were also weirdly placed, so you needed to flip back and forth from a paragraph to previous or later pictures which was annoying.
But even so, I totally enjoyed this book - it was the deep dive I wanted to get a well rounded understanding of the McQueen brand. I made up for the publishing blunders by taking my time and watching most of the runways on YouTube while reading, and every time a song was mentioned I would play it as I went through the chapter. The peak of that was in the last chapter, where it’s mentioned that Bjork performed a cover of Billie Holiday’s Gloomy Sunday at McQueen’s funeral. Online you can find someone’s recording of that from the pews of the cathedral during the service - truly wild to see.
You really walk away from reading with a true feel for McQueen’s characteristic choices and vision, and it captures his contradictions and frustrations well. The creepy drawings he passed via notes to his team and details of his American Express partnerships are near-satirically funny, and the complexities of his thoughts on women and society are well portrayed.
If you want a tactile, detailed understanding of McQueen, this is a great jumping point for that.
That being the focus, I was disappointed with the dry academic passive voice describing the looks and lack of photos. With this type of book, I needed images for every garment in each collection! Photos were also weirdly placed, so you needed to flip back and forth from a paragraph to previous or later pictures which was annoying.
But even so, I totally enjoyed this book - it was the deep dive I wanted to get a well rounded understanding of the McQueen brand. I made up for the publishing blunders by taking my time and watching most of the runways on YouTube while reading, and every time a song was mentioned I would play it as I went through the chapter. The peak of that was in the last chapter, where it’s mentioned that Bjork performed a cover of Billie Holiday’s Gloomy Sunday at McQueen’s funeral. Online you can find someone’s recording of that from the pews of the cathedral during the service - truly wild to see.
You really walk away from reading with a true feel for McQueen’s characteristic choices and vision, and it captures his contradictions and frustrations well. The creepy drawings he passed via notes to his team and details of his American Express partnerships are near-satirically funny, and the complexities of his thoughts on women and society are well portrayed.
If you want a tactile, detailed understanding of McQueen, this is a great jumping point for that.
February 2, 2025
I decided to read Alexander McQueen: The Life and the Legacy because I consider Alexander McQueen to be one of the best designers ever.
Alexander McQueen is, to some extent, more informative than the documentary McQueen (2018), but I wish the book had more insight into McQueen’s creative process and how his work affected the fashion industry and world at large. The book is probably better suited as a reference book for McQueen’s shows, although it does exclude McQueen’s shows for Givenchy.
Alexander McQueen makes for a good intro to McQueen and has lovely photographs, yet I’m still searching for a substantial book about McQueen.
March 19, 2024
I was genuinely pleasantly surprised by this. I'm unfamiliar with the author and picked it up more thanks to the topic. It turned out to be a gentle coffee-table book meets academic biography meets fashion history with fierce detail about McQueen shows, his career, and influences. I can't comment as the accuracy as to the detail and indeed, some of the topics felt ... lightly treated, let's say ... but I can comment for how well Watt puts this all across. This is smart and serious and honest and kind of delightful stuff.
It is, however, let down occasionally by some poor choices but several of them aren't really under the author's control. It's little things - a reference to one page turns out to be another, certain captions feel a little repetitive or redundant, but overall, they're easy to ignore because this book is full of a purpose that's hard to resist.
It is, however, let down occasionally by some poor choices but several of them aren't really under the author's control. It's little things - a reference to one page turns out to be another, certain captions feel a little repetitive or redundant, but overall, they're easy to ignore because this book is full of a purpose that's hard to resist.
October 28, 2018
Inspiring tribute to a life lived well.
It was wonderful to read an impartial and subtle book on a fashion designer whose flamboyant designs captured the public's imagination like no one else could at the time. I think every struggling creative person would feel inspired to read what heights could be reached with a combination of exceptional talent along with hard work. His memory lives on, in his designs and the people who loved him.What more could one really wish for?
It was wonderful to read an impartial and subtle book on a fashion designer whose flamboyant designs captured the public's imagination like no one else could at the time. I think every struggling creative person would feel inspired to read what heights could be reached with a combination of exceptional talent along with hard work. His memory lives on, in his designs and the people who loved him.What more could one really wish for?
October 27, 2021
It was definitely written by a big big fan of Alexander McQueen. I was expecting more pictures but the descriptions of his various collections are highly detailed. While there was some background on him and his life before he became famous the majority of the book was focused on his various collections.
May 24, 2023
It was an amazing introduction to the work and persona of Alexander McQueen, but didn’t develop enough of a biography beyond describing his collections throughout his career. It hinted at some major influences and motivations in his life, such as Isabella Blow and his mother, but needed to congeal together a bit more for me to really like this book.
October 17, 2017
i want to read it.
May 22, 2021
I love this human being. Its was an educational and informative book. Rest In Peace Lee.
September 22, 2024
he was truly one and only
May 31, 2013
anyone who knows me knows that mcqueen is my all time favourite fashion designer. he the designer as well as his impeccable tailoring and gorgeous designs is what made me fall deeply in love with high fashion.
i enjoyed this book. it had a lot of information on each of his collections, although i would have liked to have more. it's understandable that each show had about 60 pieces so it's impossible to go through and describe each piece from each collection in detail but ultimately that's what i'd love someone to do. however it gave an incredibly good overview of each of his collections; what inspired it, how it came together etc.
i also loved that it gave a small background into his life pre-designer and mcqueen's business - working with LVHM and Gucci Group etc. i'd love for there to be a detailed biography one day that goes into his business relations more as well as his beginnings in the fashion industry pre beginning his own label.
i wouldn't read this if you weren't heavily into mcqueen as a designer. three quarters of this book looks at his collections and if you aren't interested in the detail of that then you'll find it hard to enjoy.
i enjoyed this book. it had a lot of information on each of his collections, although i would have liked to have more. it's understandable that each show had about 60 pieces so it's impossible to go through and describe each piece from each collection in detail but ultimately that's what i'd love someone to do. however it gave an incredibly good overview of each of his collections; what inspired it, how it came together etc.
i also loved that it gave a small background into his life pre-designer and mcqueen's business - working with LVHM and Gucci Group etc. i'd love for there to be a detailed biography one day that goes into his business relations more as well as his beginnings in the fashion industry pre beginning his own label.
i wouldn't read this if you weren't heavily into mcqueen as a designer. three quarters of this book looks at his collections and if you aren't interested in the detail of that then you'll find it hard to enjoy.
January 16, 2013
This biography is fascinating; it was exciting to discover the creative genius that Lee McQueen became in the world of fashion. His designs were bold and promoted his vision of the powerful woman. Each of his shows are described here; along with the historical and film inspired themes that drove these spectacular events. Savage Beauty is a great companion book to have while reading his bio. It is a large format art book released by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY. It has page after page of beautifully photographed images of McQueen's creations; which are described in The Life and the Legacy.
May 5, 2013
Collection y collection this book chronicles the life of Alenxader "Lee" McQueen from his days tailoring on Saville Row to the tragedy of his death in 2010. Since McQueen's collections are largely biographical, organizing the book in this way presents a logical plotting device and allows readers to easily connect the collections to the real-life inspirations. The only downfall is that the author often describes clothing in detail, but does not give the reader an accompanying visual so the reader is often left wondering. At least there are a multitude of photos that give us a god idea of the clothing created by McQueen during his life.
July 31, 2016
The writer of this book obviously assumed that we were intimately familiar with all the collections. For me when pictures of something exists I would rather see the pictures and just have them referenced instead of having to use my imagination to recall them from someone else's description. I also like to have the picture of something being described on the same page but in this book they were always on the page after so I would have to turn back and reread what the author was describing. Also as an editing note it was frustrating that cut aways were placed in mid sentences so that you would sometimes have to go a couple pages just to finish a sentence.
November 2, 2013
What an amazing book. Very well written. Went through every aspect of Alexander McQueen's life and fashion shows. He was an amazing designer with an enticing imagination. He had achieved what others have not. He was fueled with nature, water, birds and death. Will be using this book to write my final paper for my Bachelor's degree. It was an exceptional book with plenty of details to write about.
July 19, 2013
Although there are few problems with the editing throughout, and the tone is rather academic and a little cold at times, I thoroughly recommend this volume to anyone who's a McQueen enthusiast. This will give a lot of details about his career and inspirations. McQueen is one of those individuals who I wished I had a chance to meet...such creativity and vibrancy.
March 9, 2014
I love this book. It shows how this young fashion designer with big dreams came true. A rags to riches. Judith Watt explains McQueen's events, designs, experiences, etc. so vividly. I recommend this book for fashion lovers and people that love a little non-fiction with a sparkle that makes you want to stay up all night flipping these pages.
February 22, 2013
glorious
January 1, 2014
I have a new appreciation of McQueen's work thanks to Judith Watt, but I wanted more in terms of description of the collections.
July 12, 2014
Very interesting book. More a biography of McQueen as a designer than as a man, and therefore could have benefitted from more more more pictures.
Want to read
September 29, 2017* 9 Inspiring Biographies Every Fashion Girl Should Read
December 8, 2016
I would have loved more pictures!!!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews