Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall

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A fantastic pre-Fall collection for Alexander McQueen. Via WWD.

Need vs. Want

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Sick.

Alexander McQueen Snowflake Knucklebox Clutch, $3,195. 

Want (aren't they all?).

Best Foot Forward

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Sale edition.

 Pierre Hardy color-block suede ankle boots,  

$545 (originally $1,200)

 Alexander McQueen studded leather sandals, 

$980 (originally $2,295)

And while you're at it:

 Satin-trimmed silk-crepe and wool jumpsuit, 

$659.75 (originally $1,895)

All at theoutnet.com.

Hard Romance

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Backstage at the McQ A/W 2012 show. Film by Sean Frank; styling by Camilla Nickerson.

Need vs. Want

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Ridiculously chic.

Alexander McQueen Military Tuxedo All-In-One,
$1885 at Alexander McQueen.
Want.

Watch the Sound

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She Builds Domes in Air is a 16mm film by Catherine Sullivan featuring Kristen McMenamy in Alexander McQueen (by Sarah Burton) SS2012 for AnOther Magazine. That was a mouthful but totally worth it.

Best Foot Forward

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(Alexander McQueen Fall 2011 edition.)

Navy patent-leather ankle cuff pumps,
$825 at net-a-porter.

While we're on the subject of navy:

Navy suede buckled punk boot,
$1225 at Alexander McQueen.

Instant good times:

Suede ankle boot, in red or fuschia,
$1075 at Alexander McQueen.

Best Foot Forward

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This is definitely the summer of the wedge - so many good choices. (Those of us in the PNW just have to be optimists and believe that we still get that season here.)

[+] Alexander McQueen Gold Iris Platform Sandal,
$3495 at alexandermcqueen.com.

A few other random suggestions, more reasonably priced (more or less) after the jump.

Gold Rush

Alexander McQueen Gold Chrysanthemum ring ($225)

and cuff ($565).

Pair with:

Camel Belted Merino Wool Drape dress, $609
(originally $1,535). All at alexandermcqueen.com.

Image of the Day

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Satin and metallic brocade cover for Visionaire 58 SPIRIT, a tribute to Lee Alexander McQueen, with contributions from Nick Knight, Mario Sorrenti, Steven Meisel, Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, David Sims, and Mario Testino, among others. The paper in the issue is embedded with wildflower seeds.

Info at visionaireworld.com

Alexander McQueen

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I'm sad to forward the news that Lee (Alexander) McQueen has died of an apparent suicide. His close friend and supporter Isabella Blow, who herself committed suicide in 2007, purchased McQueen's entire student collection when he graduated from Central Saint Martins, and since then McQueen's work has been at the forefront of treading the line between avant garde and mainstream. His mother, a former school teacher, passed away a week ago. McQueen always seemed to be a tortured soul but he channeled it into dark beauty, and his loss is an incredibly sad one.

One More Weekend

We didn't have much free time during our quick trip back to New York – mostly running errands and tying up loose ends.

Doesn't really make for great blog posting.

We did however have a chance to stop by the Museum at F.I.T., for a run through its excellent current exhibit, Gothic: Dark Glamour.

Alexander McQueen, Fall 2007. Not surprisingly, there was a bunch of McQueen.

Rodarte, Fall 2008. The Mulleavy sisters were inspired by Japanese horror movies and wanted the red chiffon in this dress to look like blood in water.

There aren't that many images on the web and no photos are allowed in the gallery – but I recommend checking out the show if you can. It's up through early February at F.I.T.

Also on view is Arbiters of Style: Women at the Forefront of Fashion. (Seems like that should go without saying, but no matter.) It's worth a look as well.

Photography Louise Dahl-Wolfe (1895-1989)
Diana Vreeland wearing a suit from Henri Bendel, on a deserted movie lot in Phoenix, Arizona
Harper’s Bazaar, January 1942