A Celestial Apotheosis

After the techno futuristic extravaganza that was the spring blockbuster,it's impossible to guess what new twists Alexander McQueen would come up with for his second show in the medieval palace of the Conciergerie in Paris. Where exactly eight years earlier he had dared bring a pack of real wolves.

Byzantine and medieval ecclesiastical and regal splendor, hints of an afterlife, couture finish with a touch of British provocation. So the latest breathtaking creations by Alexander McQueen appeared posthumously. An unfinished collection presented in private as requiem.Boldly sailing between past and future, with fashion, Alexander McQueen ended up landing in another dimension where the two meet.With the epitaph-like comment of the design studio: "Each piece is unique, as was he". 

Models having winged feet with angels sculpted into the heel

There is an angelic theme with wings and golden feathers that also transform themselves into a anarchic mohican crest on a bandaged head. Winged feet with angels sculpted into the heel in the manner of Grinling Gibbons. Gold splendour from the Empress Theodora and digital processing of paintings by great masters. 

Gold and embroidery and ankle-boots with angel sculpted in the heel. High collars like the stained glass windows of a cathedral.

A new silhouette for the skirt with cartridge folds, silk and brocade bustier with demonic-images digitally extrapolated from works of Bosch. "Angels from hell and prolific demons!", said one of the last messages sent by McQueen on Twitter.

Celestial symbolism for the finale, apotheosis of handwork with feathers covered with gold leaf one by one, and dove-white tulle dotted with embroidery. 

Truly the latest creations of the incomparable image maker, Alexander McQueen has written a page of history combining both Byzantine and medieval ecclesiastical and regal splendor.

Metal Polka Dots

To tiny metal “polka dots” to golden cones, they come in many shapes and sizes and had come a long way from a mere decoration

The Sex Pistols wearing Vivienne Westwood

The stud is a tiny metal, disc or square, used as an ornament on leather accessories, but also suits, shirts and trousers.They add instant flair to everything from jeans to sandals, and lend a slight edginess to even the fussiest of fabrics. They were first used in the seventies and they were associated with the punk movement, which saw the light in the States but thrived in the UK, especially in London, where various elements of the movement were in fact institutionalized.

Alexander Wang's Brass Studs Duffle Bag 

In the 70's and 80's studs were spiky ornaments that defined a deliberately tough look which was meant to shock society. Among the designers that used them  was Versace, who use studs to decorate suits and jackets which then became one of the symbols of his maison; and Alexander McQueen, who used various elements of the punk style in his ’95 and ’96 autumn/winter collections titled "Highland Rape". In the early 2000 other designers added studs to their collections, like the Chanel jacket decorated with small round silver studs, or the black leather belts that resembled a studded fabric. Alexander Wang created the Brass studs duffle, a bag that has become a cult item ever since it came out and it is now produced in various models with studs and different materials. But the real studs explosion was in the 2010/2011 season, when many designers brought on the catwalk not only some studded accessories, but also clothing.

Versace’s woman is a siren, 

with studs replacing the scales” 

The trend continued on the spring 2012 shows, where studs made an appearance on various items: Donatella Versace’s woman is “a siren in neoprene with studs replacing the scales”; and Valentino presented new versions of his famous Rockstud bags. For the studs, Shoes became the accessory where they create the most original effects, which reflect Westwood’s motto: “when in doubt, exaggerate”.