British fashion designer Lee Alexander McQueen, the original creative engine behind the Alexander McQueen label, was beloved for his expert tailoring and theatrical runway shows. After his suicide in 2010, fans left tributes to the man and his talents outside Alexander McQueen boutiques worldwide. Record-breaking crowds visited the posthumous retrospective of the designer’s work at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the Victoria and Albert in London.
The inspirations for vintage Alexander McQueen bags, dresses, jackets and other items came from many quarters — film, music, current events, history, his heritage and fashions of the past. The designer's runway presentations were not just displays of clothing but were personal expressions of the zeitgeist, often touching on our cultural anxieties and concerns. McQueen’s own thoughts and feelings about love, death, gender, genocide, colonialism, global warming and the extinction of species all appear in his pieces.
McQueen certainly shook up fashion; he was a born Rottweiler. His upbringing on a council estate in north London played a part, but his family was close and supportive, not dysfunctional. He was proud of his Scottish heritage: He was a defiant fashion warrior. His historical themes and shows — such as “Highland Rape,” 2002, which was inspired by England’s “rape of Scotland,” as McQueen called it — always invoked powerful reactions from his audience of fashion pros.
“What you see in the work is the person himself. And my heart is in my work,” McQueen told Harper’s Bazaar in 2007.
It is perhaps this heart, and the heart’s exposure, that drew the crowds and made McQueen's creations both popular and emotionally resonant. Because the work was personal and thus layered with feeling, the motifs — decorative embellishments and fabric choices — have meaning. In other words, in McQueen’s oeuvre, plaid is more than simply a pattern.
Find vintage Alexander McQueen fashion and accessories — including the designer's coveted bags and comfortable, stretchy jersey knit dresses and gowns — on 1stDibs.
Alexander McQueen S/S02 'Dance of the Twisted Bull' Coat & Embroidered Pants
By Alexander McQueen
Located in Manchester, GB
Alexander McQueen Spring/Summer 2002 ‘Dance of the Twisted Bull’ runway ensemble comprising of black wool matador style tailcoat and black wool trousers with floral embroidery. Coa...
1998 Alexander McQueen for Givenchy Haute Couture brocade pant suit
By Alexander McQueen for Givenchy Haute Couture
Located in Montgomery, TX
An extraordinary and exceptionally rare Givenchy Couture Paris two-piece suit dating to 1998, created during Alexander McQueen’s influential tenure as Creative Director of the House ...
Alexander McQueen New S/S 2002 Three Piece Skirt Suit with Intricate Embroidery
By Alexander McQueen
Located in Water Mill, NY
A fabulous silk/linen black skirt suit from Alexander McQueen including an additional matching white skirt. The jacket has peak lapels, a breast pocket, small shoulder padding, side...
Rare Vintage 2003 Alexander McQueen Embroidered Transformable Coat
By Alexander McQueen
Located in Montgomery, TX
A rare and striking coat from McQueen’s Pre-Fall 2003 collection, crafted in black fabric entirely hand-embroidered with flowers. The design features a fur collar and hem that height...
2000s Alexander Mcqueen Fitted Jacket and Pant suit
By Alexander McQueen
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
2002 Alexander Mcqueen Fitted Jacket and pant fit size - fitted jacket marked size 42 - buttons Jacket fit size 4 ( size 42) Pants fit size 2/4 ( size 40
Roberto Cavalli S/S 2003 Runway Leather Embroidered Floral Train Jacket Coat
By Roberto Cavalli
Located in Englishtown, NJ
Roberto Cavalli S/S 2003 Runway Unworn Leather Embroidered Floral Train Long Jacket Coat Look 30 from the Spring 2003 Collection. Size: M Condition: New with tags, however due to ...
$8,228
Size: jacket /S skirt/M
Tulle jacket and skirt ensemble with star sequin embroideries CHRISTIAN DIOR
By MARIA GRAZIA CHIURI, Christian Dior
Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
Tulle jacket and skirt ensemble with star sequin embroideries. Hook&eye closure on the middle front. SIZE 36 (Fr) S
Matsuda Embroidery Jacket and Silk Lace up Pants Set 1990s
By Mitsuhiro Matsuda
Located in Water Mill, NY
A stunning, work intensive, off white silk pant and semi sherr jacket set from Matsuda. The sheer jacket is open style and covered in elaborate corded embroidered lines and circles. The wide ankle length high waist pants have a front zipper, diagonal front pockets, adjustable button tabs at each side waist and a back waist yoke with 7" of vertical adjustable lacing at the center. Lots of couture level...
ALEXANDER MCQUEEN SS 00 Rare Embroidered Redingote
By Alexander McQueen
Located in Milano, MILANO
Rare Spring Summer 2000 cutout embroidered redingote from "The Eye" collection by Alexander McQueen. Detachable bell sleeves and split at the back. Braided button closure at the fron...
$3,141
Size: Recommended Size; UK 8
S/S 1998 Givenchy Haute Couture by Alexander McQueen Long Jacket & Skirt Suit
By Alexander McQueen for Givenchy Haute Couture
Located in Sheffield, GB
A remarkable Givenchy Haute Couture suit from Spring / Summer 1998, designer by Alexander McQueen. The suit is crafted from an incredibly lightweight Silk & Wool blend plaid cloth. F...
Alexander McQueen embroidered tailored 'Sarabande' jacket, c. 2007
By Alexander McQueen
Located in London, GB
An Alexander McQueen tailored embroidered jacket from the 'SARABANDE' collection, Spring/Summer 2007. The jacket has scalloped edges with pleated trimmings throughout and black floral embroidery. French 40 - UK 12 - Italian 44 - Medium About the collection... "The inspiration is Handel’s Sarabande of the title – a majestic and elegant dance – the portraits of Goya, the turn of the century exotic and socialite Marchesa Luisa Casati and garden flowers. As always, there is a melancholic undertone: faded flowers are trapped in chiffon and lace, ruffled skirts constructed out of tiers of delicate petals and prints are botanical – brightly coloured birds and blooms, scattering swallows and winding stems of leaves. Show pieces include a dress made entirely out of frozen flowers. Tailoring is this time more fluid than it has been and clothing indebted to horsemanship is worn with finely worked, oversized pirate shirts...
Alexander McQueen White Wool Embroidered Coat & Skirt Suit, SS 2000
By Alexander McQueen
Located in London, GB
▪ Brand: Alexander McQueen ▪ Creative Director: Lee Alexander McQueen ▪ Collection: Spring-Summer 2000 ▪ Fabric: Wool ▪ Size: IT42 - FR38 - UK10 - US6 ▪ Made in: Italy ▪ Condition: ...
Christian Dior by John Galliano Embroidered Silk Bolero & Skirt Set, SS 2006
By Christian Dior, John Galliano for Christian Dior
Located in London, GB
Two-piece ensemble in taupe silk satin, comprising a cropped open-front bolero with self-tie neckline, short gathered sleeves and tonal scalloped lace edging, and a mid-length skirt ...
Dolce & Gabbana black embroidered leather pant suit with embellishments, fw 1999
By Dolce & Gabbana
Located in London, GB
▪ Dolce & Gabbana black leather pant suit ▪ 100% Leather ▪ Floral themed silver embellishment and embroidery ▪ Front velcro fastening on vest ▪ Leg sli...
Gianfranco Ferre blue silk jacquard embroidered pant suit, ss 2000
By Gianfranco Ferré
Located in London, GB
▪ Gianfranco Ferre blue silk jacquard pant suit ▪ Scoop neck jacket with double-ended zipper ▪ Armhole cut-outs ▪ three-quarter length sleeves ▪ Straight leg pants with zippers at ...
Alexander McQueen Silk Wide Leg Jumpsuit with Cut Outs, SS 2004
By Alexander McQueen
Located in London, GB
▪ Brand: Alexander McQueen ▪ Creative Director: Lee Alexander McQueen ▪ Collection: Spring-Summer 2004 ▪ Rare Design ▪ Fabric: Silk ▪ Size: IT42 - FR38 - UK10 - US6 ▪ Made in: Italy ...
The designer combined his Savile Row training with his fascination with Victorian jewelry to create a most alluring piece.
A striking tartan ensemble from the late designer’s celebrated (and controversial) Fall/Winter 2006 collection is equal parts tailored and punk.
