Alexander McQueen, iconoclastic fashion designer

It is with great shock and disappointment that I write this post about he passing of the one man/artist who paved the way for all young British designers, and brought the world’s attention to British fashion more than it had ever happened before. I didn’t post the news the day I heard them because I was waiting to hear if the accurate cause of death would be identified, but it seems that initial speculation of suicide might be true. For those who still don’t know 40 year old Alexander McQueen, the fashion world's reigning provocateur who helped elevate British fashion to the international stage with his unconventional and sometimes macabre designs, was found dead at his home in London on the eve of his mother’s funeral. British tabloid The Sun reported that McQueen was found hanged. Police have stated that the death was not suspicious, but have not confirmed that the death was a suicide. I can’t help thinking this heinous incident was due to his grief over his mother. On 3 February 2010, he wrote on his Twitter page that his mother had died the day before, adding: "RIP mumxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx." Four days later he wrote that he had had an "awful week" but said "friends have been great", adding: "now i have to somehow pull myself together", his death was announced the day before his mom’s funeral was due to take place. It is moist saddening especially because professionally, McQueen was at his peak, and there seemed to have been way more great things waiting to happen, as a designer, Alexander McQueen was not only a technical genius but a creative genius as well. His theatrical runway productions were often controversial, casting models as witches, rape victims and mental patients, challenging the notions of what is beautiful and what is grotesque, "A gifted iconoclast, who could just as easily be creating art as fashion," was how former Times fashion editor Mimi Avins described McQueen upon seeing his clothes for the first time in 1996. He left too soon, he will be missed, may he rest in peace.