A Nod To The McQueen

Today, incredibly, marks one year since the death of one of fashion's most creative, most flamboyant, most controversial designers. A true genius and master of his trade - Lee Alexander McQueen.

The East End boy, born to a Scottish father (we have to claim him SOMEHOW), whose breathtaking fashion creations were adored worldwide, sadly took his own life following the tragic death of his mother, who had been battling cancer, just nine days earlier.

I was in Australia when I heard the news of his death and I can't believe 12 months have passed. I've never been fortunate enough to own a McQueen anything (althought I did treat myself to a 'copycat' version of his skull design scarf when I was about 18 or 19) but I appreciate everything he did in the name of fashion. He was extravagant to the point where he specialised in the ridiculous, but he made it work. Everything he did was completely unique to him. He was lavish, his runway shows were unconventional and I think it was almost as if he aimed to bring drama and shock to the catwalk. I'll never forget the moment I watched Aimee Mullins literally gallop down the runway on those incredible intricately carved wooden legs. McQueen was, quite simply, a sensation who took the fashion world by storm. Things that other designers would never even dream of doing just did not faze him.

For this year's Spring/Summer collection no one would have envied the task that surrounded Sarah Burton - McQueen's first assistant of 15 years - as it was down to her to take to the helm of his fashion empire. But it was a challenge she more than met and while she kept all the usual McQueen themes - nature, beauty, passion and romance - she still managed to establish her own identity as a designer to watch for the future.

At the age of just 34, McQueen had already been awarded the accolade of British Designer of the Year an amazing four times - and in 2003 he was also named the International Designer of the Year by the Council of Fashion Designers.

It saddens me knowing that his incredible talent was stolen from a world where he was worshipped and adored. In saying that however, I hope he is at peace with himself now - given the circumstances surrounding his tragic death one can only hope he is in a place where he is happy and with his mother who was his mentor throughout his life.

His memory will live on in the fashion world forever.

Lee Alexander McQueen - 17 March 1969 - 11 February 2010