| Alexander McQueen doesn't care who he upsets. He once snubbed Her Maj by turning down an invite to a bash at Buckingham Palace, saying: "I just couldn't be bothered." As for Becks: "This man is vainer than the veins running through my dick, and that's vain." He's also committed heresy by slagging-off Madonna. No wonder the press invariably dubs him the "bad boy". Not that he cares. It's all part of the image. In fashion image is everything. |
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The babe of six children, Alexander McQueen was born in the East End of London in 1970. He's described himself as the "pink sheep of the family" and said he sussed he was gay at a young age. He left school - after spending much of the time sketching women's clothes - as soon as he was able, at the age of 16. Once escaped, McQueen blagged an apprenticeship with Saville Row tailors Anderson & Sheppard. He then moved on to Gieves & Hawkes, where, according to fashion folklore, he scrawled 'I am a cunt' in the lining of a jacket intended for the Prince of Wales. After working for theatrical costumiers Angels & Berman and Japanese designer Koji Tatsuno, McQueen landed himself a position as an apprentice to Romeo Gigli in Milan. Back in London, having completed an MA at St Martins School of Art, McQueen's final collection caught the headlines and the influential eye of fashion stylist Isabella Blow. McQueen was soon news again with the low-cut "bumster" trousers. In 1996 McQueen was named Best British Designer and John Galliano's successor as head designer at Givenchy, Paris. In 1997 he won the award again, this time sharing it with Galliano. Whilst creating for Givenchy, McQueen was showing off designs he'd made for his own label.
After a time McQueen began to feel discontented at Givenchy: "Too many cooks". The relationship eventually ended shortly after arch rival, Gucci, announced it was buying a 51 percent stake in McQueen's own company. McQueen said of the bust-up: "It was like having a boyfriend that you know you have to break up with - the only difference with this relationship was that I didn't feel bad doing it." On the subject of men: McQueen's not long been married to his partner George Forsyth. The ceremony took place in Ibiza on a yacht belonging to the Prince of Gambia. Kate Moss was bridesmaid, sweetie. Pretty soon, McQueen's about to become a brand. Gucci intends to open ten stores around the world in the designer's own name and there are plans to launch a McQueen perfume sometime in 2003. Which seems fitting for someone known to cause a stink.
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