SYNOPSYS: Alexander McQueen

Submitted by: Pooja Das Roll no 12 LD 5 RESEARCH METHODS NIFT, Kolkata

BACKGROUND
Lee Alexander Mc queen {17th march 1969-11th feb 2010} was a british designer and couturier best known for his in-depth knowledge of bespoke British tailoring.His father was a taxi driver, Ronald and mother was a social studies teacher, Joyce. He has mastered 6 methods of pattern cutting from the melodramatic 16th Century to the brutally sharp tailoring which has become a McQueen signature.McQueen started running up dresses for his three sisters at a young age and announced his intention of becoming a top designer. His parents begged him to change his mind and find himself a 'normal' job. McQueen went on to leave school at 16, landing himself an apprenticeship with top Savile Row tailors Anderson and Shepherd, then working for Gieves and Hawkes and the famous theatrical costumiers Angels and Bermans. While on Savile Row, McQueen's clients included Mikhail Gorbachev and Charles, Prince of Wales. The rumor is that McQueen graffitied four-letter words into the lining of the Prince's Savile Row jackets. When he was 20, McQueen went on to work for Koji Tatsuno and Romeo Gigli, McQueen applied to London's most prestigious fashion school, Central St Martins College of Art & Design for a Masters Degree. The designer had no formal education, but the director took one look at his portfolio and admitted him on the spot. He graduated from Central St Martins College of Art & Design in 1991.McQueen died on afternoon of 11th Feb 2010. He died before the London Fashion week, and his brand is now taken care by his long term assistant Sarah Burton.

INTRODUCTION:
Alexander McQueen shows are known for their emotional power and raw energy, as well as the romantic but determinedly contemporary nature of the collections. Integral to the McQueen culture is the juxtaposition between contrasting elements: fragility and strength, tradition and modernity, fluidity and severity. An openly emotional and even passionate viewpoint is realised with a profound respect and influence for the arts and crafts tradition. Alexander's collections combine an in-depth working knowledge of bespoke British tailoring, the fine workmanship of the French Haute Couture atelier and the impeccable finish of Italian manufacturing. In less than 10 years McQueen became one of the most respected fashion designers in the world. In October 1996 he was appointed Chief Designer at the French Haute Couture House Givenchy where he worked until March of 2001. In December 2000, 51% of Alexander McQueen was acquired by the Gucci Group, where he remained Creative Director. Collections include womens ready-to-wear, mens ready-towear, accessories, eyewear and fragrance (Kingdom 2003 and MyQueen 2005). Expansion followed and included the opening of flagship stores in New York, London, Milan, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. The following awards have recognized Alexander McQueen's achievement in fashion: British Designer of the year 1996, 1997, 2001, and 2003, International Designer of the Year by The Council of Fashion Designer's of America

(CFDA) in 2003, A Most Excellent Commander of The British Empire (CBE) by her Majesty the Queen in 2003, GQ Menswear Designer of the Year in 2007.

OBJECTIVE:
My objective is to study Alexander Mcqueen and his designs, his though process, idea, influence, creativity, motivation ,history,etc so as to gain ample knowledge about his creation so as to incorporate them in my future design. I believe taking him as my role model will take me long way in my carrier. Study of his silhouette , style, sos, wild imagination is very interesting and one can gain a lot of inspiration from him. His each collection is unique and has a different story, understanding his collection is another agenda.

METHODOLOGY:
Research in common parlance refers to a search for knowledge. One can also define research as a scientific and systematic search for pertinent information on a specific topic.The word research has been derived from French word Researcher means to search. FRANCIES RUMMER defined Research: It is a careful inquiry or examination to discover new information or relationship and to expand or verify existing knowledge. Research is the solution of the problem, whether created or already generated. When research is done, some new out come, so that the problem (created or generated) to be solved. RESEARCH DESIGN:

Research Design is the conceptual structure within which research is conducted. It constitutes the blueprint for collection, measurement and analysis of data. The design used for carrying out this research is Descriptive. DATA TYPE: In this research the type of data collection is Primary data Secondary data

DATA SOURCE: The sources of collection of secondary data are: Questionnaire Books Websites Magazine Brochure

REVIEW OF LITERATURE [latest resort collection]

When Sarah took over at McQueen last year, Sarah Burton quietly promised that shed try to bring a new sense of softness and female-minded wearability to the collection and, despite being just a tad busy these past couple months, shes already delivering. The spotlight trained on Burton now is relentless. Even a resort collection, which might formerly have slipped by without much comment, is now the subject of immense interest, especially as its likely to contain semi-hidden, non-runway gems that might be picked out by the likes of, say, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, or Michelle Obama for tours, day events, photo-calls, state dinners, and the like. Any surface reading of resort is proof that Burton is already brilliant at interpreting clothes for all these modern calibrations of formality. The current collectionbuilt around the centrifugal idea of romantic utilitycontains everything from signature McQueen tailored pants and high-necked white blouses to graceful mid-length skirts with a luxurious ruffled hem before going all the way through to embassy-ready gold-embellished suits and ball-worthy fantasias made out of fairy-fingered embroidery on tulle. Part of her genius is the way shes staying completely faithful to the McQueen templates while also easing the silhouette to present it at its most flattering. Two spectacular dresses with trainsone with white lace, inspired by shells, on pink, and the other with gold bullion cornfield-and-flower embroidery set against nude tulleare cut to the body and beautifully slim from the torso to thigh before trailing out into layered skirts. The raised waists of the coats, jackets, and day-dresses, all cinched with wide-strapped leather belts, are similarly calculated to strike a great proportion. Add the elongating new length, with its swanky, swishing movement, and you have something that exudes a grown-up, modern presence without any hint of stiffness or fashion-for fashion's-sake. Close-up, too, this collection only gets more desirable. Burtons smart analysis of how to break beautiful fashion into wearable parts has lead her to make a fantastic white ribbon dress (which surely has Middletons name on it), but also to offer a pencil skirt and a gorgeous peplum jacket as accessible variants. As for Burton working away in her studio in Clerkenwell? She shows every sign of handling the pressure with the serenity that allowed her to get through the royal wedding with such aplomb and privacy and, even better, the sparkle in her eye says shes enjoying every minute of it.

CONCLUSION

The synopsis research and data collection was a very informative and educative process. It helped mr to gain knowledge on my subject,the great designer, Alexander Mcqueen and his creative designs. Thank you.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
http://www.vogue.com/collections/spring-2011/alexander-mcqueen/review/ http://designmuseum.org/design/alexander-mcqueen http://www.alexandermcqueen.com/int/en/corporate/experience_03.aspx http://www.alexandermcqueen.com/