Alexander McQueen - Blood Beneath The Skin

Chapter Two of biographer Andrew Wilson's work "Alexander McQueen: Blood Beneath the Skin" begins with an emblazoned quote from the artful clothing designer. It reads: "I wanted to learn everything, everything, give me everything." This is certainly a mantra that the enigmatic McQueen put to great effect as one of the world's most progressive and inspired personas. It came as a shock to many when at the age of only 40, it was discovered that McQueen had committed suicide.

February 2010 would become marred by his passing, an illustrious career that was still in perpetual motion - no one could stop McQueen. No one, except for the man himself. From very humbled and streetwise beginnings in East London, McQueen persevered on his course to become the fashion icon the world would soon worship. Pop idols, including Lady Gaga, would pattern their stage looks on McQueen's latest designs, but beneath the surface their was a great torment that wouldn't rest.

His gothically empowering design and architecturally stunning pieces revolutionized the runway. Little could anyone imagine how the artist was working to exercise the demons of his fractured psyche, having endured abuses and fearing for his sister, who also was tortured by her first handsome lover. All of this contributed to McQueen's elaborate works, and the bruised and battered models with which he shocked renowned magazine editors simply accepted it as part of McQueen's expression.

As a young boy, Lee McQueen (as he as known) had all the struggles expected upon growing up the youngest child in a family of hard working parents who found ways to support the emerging, young artist who was a "street toughie" by most inclinations, but still a wild spirit! McQueen's fascination with birds of prey - their predatory resilience and freedom - would be something that would play entirely into his most popular fashions. McQueen's desire was always to inspire women and give them strength.

Never suffering issues from his accepting of his sexual identity, McQueen an openly gay public figure, though fearing through the age of AIDS had an insatiable sexual desire, and friends often accused him of "picking up on rough trade" - McQueen had many lovers, but few that lasted; whether it was his unpredictable nature or unendurable instability, McQueen was hardly able to establish relationships. He feared that everyone was out to get him. What did he fear most? What drove him to his end?

With a wildly popular and unending list of celebrity followers, McQueen has left a legacy behind and a mysterious enigma still surrounding him, that is eagerly explored in Wilson's book. The author takes a very detailed and historically complex approach to establish the man, and all that worked to embody the larger than life character he portrayed in public, yet in private he found little shelter. "Alexander McQueen: Blood Beneath the Skin" is dramatic, romantic and is as rapturous as the master's designs.

A life that was worth living, though tempered without measure, darkly envisioned - McQueen's art will live on; his inspiration igniting a fire that will endure every season until the end of time.

"Alexander McQueen: Blood Beneath the Skin"
by Andrew Wilson published by Scribner
$30.00
www.simonandschuster.com