Alexander McQueen fashion show: Seán McGirr reinvents the Victorian dandy
What if fashion could stand the test of time? For his third Alexander McQueen show, Seán McGirr plunges us into a nocturnal Victorian London, through the story of an insomniac wandering until dawn. Between literary references and gothic silhouettes, this collection marks a powerful stylistic statement.
A journey through time inspired by Dickens and Wilde
The setting is set as soon as you enter: a mirrored portal set into a wooden staircase, like a temporal rift opening onto the 19th century. McGirr drew his inspiration from Charles Dickens‘ Night Walks, a tale of nocturnal wandering in London. This character, confident and mysterious, becomes the common thread running through the collection.
References to Victorian dandies are omnipresent. Silhouettes evoke Oscar Wilde, thanks in particular to hats designed by Philip Treacy, tilted with that touch of provocation so characteristic of the writer. Ruffled silk dresses adopt the hues of The Portrait of Dorian Gray (1973), underscoring the ambiguity and theatrical elegance of the period.
A wardrobe of rigor and flamboyance
Thestanding ovation from the audience as soon as the first model arrived testifies to the visual impact of the pieces. Pointed boots, structured coats, marked shoulders and lace collars: McGirr plays with gothic codes to reinterpret Victorian sophistication. Strict suits precede spectacular dresses. Evening jackets in shearling, with textures reminiscent of angel wings, add an almost mystical dimension. Gold-thread embroidery, adapted to both men’s jackets and women’s capes, reflects a desire to blur the boundaries of gender.
McGirr imposes her vision at Alexander McQueen
With this collection, Seán McGirr definitively asserts himself at the helm of Alexander McQueen. Building on his recent successes – including Miley Cyrus at the Oscars, dressed in McQueen – he proposes a dialogue between past and present, where fashion becomes a manifesto of audacity and heritage.
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