The genius of Alexander McQueen on display in Melbourne

[On the cover: a picture from the exhibition “Alexander McQueen. Mind, Mythos, Muse” – source @NGV Melbourne]

Who doesn’t know Alexander McQueen’s Armadillo Shoes? Made for Plato’s Atlantis Spring/Summer 2010 collection, they are 30 centimetres tall and there are only 21 pairs in the world. These models were closely linked to the theme of the specific catwalk, human transformation born from the union between natural and organic forces in a post-apocalyptic future, but are certainly still the most bizarre and well-known accessories by the visionary designer who died in 2010, just a few months after the show. Celebrated for his conceptual and technical creativity, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) in Melbourne pays homage to the acclaimed designer with the exhibition “Alexander McQueen. Mind, Mythos, Muse” (open until the 16^th of April) through 120 pieces of clothing and accessories, including the Armadillo Shoes, made famous by the singer Lady Gaga who wore them in her video and at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. Particular in shape, each shoe was carved out of wood, while the upper is joined by four zips to allow it to be put on. The clothes, too, are the result of an eclectic and nonconformist personality, which denotes the influence of the designer’s training at the Savile Row tailors in London, where he learned to cut men’s clothing. This has influenced the complexity of the construction of some of his clothes and the ability to drape them over the body, subverting and transforming the traditional canons of dressing.