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Alexander McQueen F/W 2017

Art / Architecture / Design / Fashion

Sarah Burton’s winter trip to Cornwall, the southernmost county of the United Kingdom, inspired the designer to celebrate the mysterious powers of nature in her fall/winter 2017 collection for Alexander McQueen.


Posted October 9th, 2019 By Colby Mugrabi

Burton cited paganism subcultures, ancient traditions, stone circles, medieval churches, creative communities, and the ‘Cloutie’ or ‘wishing’ trees – onto which people tie rags and ribbons as wishes and mementos – as the initial sources of inspiration for the fall collection. The designer’s ability to mix old-world references and tribal styles with modern silhouettes allowed for endless decorative possibilities and means of couture-level craftsmanship.

Throughout the collection’s 45 mouthwatering looks was a cacophony of highlights – long dresses decorated with colorful needlework and sensual, tailored pantsuits for evening, as well as structured overcoats and asymmetrical belted jackets. Artisanal embroidery and vibrant cross-stitching atop leather garments created tribal intensity while making medieval inspiration appear hopelessly modern. Tailored blazers and tuxedo jackets nipped at the waist were worn over wide-legged trousers, while tulle gowns dripped with delicate forms of embellishment. Burton cited the ‘Cloutie’ tree as the source of inspiration behind the collection’s shoelace detailing, while some designs included woven ribbons that gave the appearance of colorful tweed.

McQueen’s fall/winter 2017 collection was inclusive of the British countryside, female power, and medieval traditions, seen through a contemporary lens. Burton channeled every detail of Cornwall’s rich Celtic history to create a unique collection that both honored and modernized the Middle Ages – one that would have made the house’s late founder tremendously proud.

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References
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Juan O'Gorman

UNAM Library, 1949-52

Juan o gorman  unam library  1949 52

Wassily Kandinsky

Das Bunte Leben, 1907

Kandinsky  wassily  das bunte leben  1907

Florian Schmid

Stitching Concrete, 2009

Stitch02

Athabaskan Beaded Hide Legging

1890

A pair of athabaskan woman s beaded hide leggings. c. 1890

Anni Albers

Under Way, 1963

Anni albers  under way  1963.

Yves Saint Laurent

F/W 1969-1970, France

Yves saint laurent 1969

Crow War Shirt

Crow Beaded Hide War Shirt

American indian crow beaded hide war shirt

Gloria Vanderbilt

Bedroom II, 1975

Gloria vanderbilt bedroom ii

Hector Guimard

Architectural Elements, c. 1900s

Hector guimard architectural elemetn

Hector Guimard

Jardinière, c. 1900s

Hector guimard  jardini  re  c. 1900

Morris Louis

Vega, 1961

Morris louis vega  1961

Juan O'Gorman

O'Gorman House Pedregal de San Ángel, México, 1954

O gorman house pedregal de san   ngel  m  xico d.f. m  xico. 1954 architect  juan o gorman

South Netherlandish

The Unicorn in Captivity, 1495-1505

The unicorn in captivity  from the unicorn tapestries   1495 1505  south netherlandish

Jean Lucrat

Le Chant du Monde, 1961

U 1429 683888225200 lurcat09

William and Mary

Marquetry Cabinet, 1690

William and mary marquetry cabinet  1690

Yup'ik

Finger mask, 19th century

Yup ik artist  finger mask  19th century

Azzedine Alaïa

Fall 2016

Azzedine ala  a fall 2016
References
Juan o gorman  unam library  1949 52

Juan O'Gorman

UNAM Library, 1949-52

1 of 17

Kandinsky  wassily  das bunte leben  1907

Wassily Kandinsky

Das Bunte Leben, 1907

2 of 17

Stitch02

Florian Schmid

Stitching Concrete, 2009

3 of 17

A pair of athabaskan woman s beaded hide leggings. c. 1890

Athabaskan Beaded Hide Legging

1890

4 of 17

Anni albers  under way  1963.

Anni Albers

Under Way, 1963

5 of 17

Yves saint laurent 1969

Yves Saint Laurent

F/W 1969-1970, France

6 of 17

American indian crow beaded hide war shirt

Crow War Shirt

Crow Beaded Hide War Shirt

7 of 17

Gloria vanderbilt bedroom ii

Gloria Vanderbilt

Bedroom II, 1975

8 of 17

Hector guimard architectural elemetn

Hector Guimard

Architectural Elements, c. 1900s

9 of 17

Hector guimard  jardini  re  c. 1900

Hector Guimard

Jardinière, c. 1900s

10 of 17

Morris louis vega  1961

Morris Louis

Vega, 1961

11 of 17

O gorman house pedregal de san   ngel  m  xico d.f. m  xico. 1954 architect  juan o gorman

Juan O'Gorman

O'Gorman House Pedregal de San Ángel, México, 1954

12 of 17

The unicorn in captivity  from the unicorn tapestries   1495 1505  south netherlandish

South Netherlandish

The Unicorn in Captivity, 1495-1505

13 of 17

U 1429 683888225200 lurcat09

Jean Lucrat

Le Chant du Monde, 1961

14 of 17

William and mary marquetry cabinet  1690

William and Mary

Marquetry Cabinet, 1690

15 of 17

Yup ik artist  finger mask  19th century

Yup'ik

Finger mask, 19th century

16 of 17

Azzedine ala  a fall 2016

Azzedine Alaïa

Fall 2016

17 of 17


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