Alexander McQueen's oyster dress, Spring/Summer 2003

2 years ago, I stood on the ground floor of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and stared endlessly at Alexander McQueen’s “oyster dress”.  I must have looked through the glass for almost 20 minutes, as it was my first time being so close to one of the label’s designs.  I was mesmerized by the work of art that so nakedly gazed back at me.

The layers of raw cut silk organza so rough and unfinished, was a perfect depiction of the massacre behind the designer’s inspiration – a shipwreck at sea and a consequent landfall in the Amazon.  Looking at that one gown gave me the entire image of broken masts and tattered sails amongst debris abandoned in the sea.  I remember not being able to wrap my head around McQueen’s ability to find the beauty and light from such an ugly, grotesque mess.  The designer’s creativity truly allowed him to produce such amazing pieces like this – wild yet honest and romantic, theatrical yet wearable and sought-after.

It is with this thought that I looked at pictures from his final collection.  A small collection of only 16 looks that McQueen himself draped and cut.  His inspiration took a cue from the work of 15th-century painters like Heironymus Bosch’s “The Garden of Earthly Delights”.  He captured details of the paintings digitally, had them woven into jacquards and engineered to fit his garments.

It was sheer poetry.  McQueen carefully crafted each look to show the heaviness of the old world, from the prints, colour palette and antiques, and directed them towards the new, with the silhouettes, styling and details.  The collection also spoke of serenity with its soft colours and angelic references.  Of course, the designer’s rebellious side was not forgotten with the bandage-bound heads and feathered Mohawk-looking embellishments.

With his love for extreme and avant-garde, McQueen’s work truly goes beyond fashion and into the realm of art.  To have lost him is to have lost a great piece of the fashion industry.  R.I.P. Alexander McQueen.

Image Source: MetMuseum.org, Style.com

One of the biggest trends seen last night was ruffles.  We saw some edgy, roughly cut ruffles…

Zoe Saldana in Louis Vuitton; Jennifer Morrison in Luis Antonia

As well as some soft, cascading ruffles.

Anna Kendrick in Marchesa; Chloe Sevigny in Valentino; Christina Hendricks in Christian Siriano

The bling was on on the red carpet.  Celebrities showed their glamour with beading, jewels, sequins and stones.

Toni Collette in Elie Saab; Olivia Wilde in Gucci; Heather Graham in Elie Saab; Jennifer Garner in Versace

Some created a flattering shape with a jewel-clinched waist.

Courtney Cox in Victoria Beckham; Fergie in Elie Saab; Julie Bowen in Georges Hobeika

Coinciding with a major trend we are seeing in fashion, designers dressed stars in sharp shoulders.

Mariah Carey in Herve Leger by Max Azria; Anna Paquin in Stella McCartney; Cameron Diaz in Alexander McQueen

Lace-details peeked their way into dresses.

Marion Cotillard in Christian Dior; Carey Mulligan in Nina Ricci; Penelope Cruz in Armani Prive

Stars in hues of purple looked royal on the red carpet.

Sandra Bullock in Bottega Veneta; Rose Byrne in Lanvin; Jane Krakowski in J. Mendel; Leona Lewis in Roberto Cavalli

All the blush tones were far from boring.

Nicole Kidman in Nina Ricci; Emily Blunt in Dolce & Gabbana; Elisabetta Canalis in Roberto Cavalli

Maybe it was the rain, but some daring ones chose to keep it short.

Kristen Bell in Jasmine di Milo; Julia Roberts in YSL; Amy Adams in Carolina Herrera; Ginnifer Goodwin in Vionnet

The one-shoulder never fails to deliver an elegant look.

Drew Barrymore in Atelier Versace; Amy Poehler in Jay Godfrey; Jennifer Aniston in Valentino; Maria Menounos in Romona Keveza

One of my favourite trends was the sculptural look that some stars rocked.  Some showed rigidity with their architectural dresses….

Christina Aguilera in Versace; Kate Hudson in Marchesa Bridal

While others took a softer turn with their dresses looking almost like origami.

Sofia Vergara in Carolina Herrera; Maggie Gyllenhaal in RM Roland Mouret

Finally, there are always the few mega risk takers that truly stood out in the crowd.

Tina Fey in Zac Posen

Jayma Mays in Badgley Mischka Couture

And of course, one of my favourite dresses of the night…

Diane Kruger in Christian Lacroix Haute Couture

Image Source: JustJared.com, NeonLimelight.com, Style.com, UsMagazone.com

Back – from left to right: Leather Studded Bowling Bag, Tory Burch; Studded Leather Waller, Miu Miu; Whitney Zip Hobo, Colehaan; Dice Wrap Stud Flat Boot, Topshop

Front – from left to right: Karina Studded Shoe-Boots, Jimmy Choo; Traxx Black Suede High Platform, Steve Madden; Day of the Dead Studded Clutch, Thomas Wylde; Resin Studded Cuff, Alexander McQueen

Image Source: Colehaan.com, Net-A-Porter.com, SteveMadden.com, TopShop.com