? Alexander McQueen: Evolution, by Katherine Gleason (Race Point Publishing, 215 pages) $39
ALEXANDER McQueen has been called many things by both his fans and his detractors but no one could doubt his commitment to his craft.
This book is a testament to his vision and includes photographs and commentary on his fashion shows - from his graduate collection to the posthumous show in his honour.
The photographs alone tell a remarkable story of outlandish creativity, while the reaction from the fashion world makes for fascinating reading.
From the moment McQueen arrived on the British fashion scene, he created a sensation. Quickly recognized as a flawless creator of meticulous designs, he maintained complete control of his projects.
Guided by an intense vision, he pushed the boundaries of fashion, art and theatre to create shows that sought the pinnacle of all three.
From his first professional catwalk show entitled Nihilism, at the Bluebird Garage in Chelsea, McQueen demanded attention throughout his career.
Inspiration for his shows came from many sources. The Deliverance show in 2004 featured models performing in a dance marathon like the one in the 1969 film They Shoot Horses, Don't They. In his 2006 fall show, Widows of Culloden, McQueen celebrated the Scottish warrior spirit. The Spring 2008 show, La Dame Bleue, paid tribute to Isabella Blow, the eccentric fashion stylist who championed McQueen's work from the beginning and acted as his muse until her death that year.
Bold, breathtaking, theatrical, shocking are all easy adjectives to describe McQueen's work, reminders to lovers of fashion of what is now missing.
