This spectacular Alexander McQueen dress is from the Pre-fall 2016 collection. The presentation version was far more elaborate but I think I prefer this one. It allows you to really see the pattern on the lace and I think can be worn to more functions with its simpler more versatile feel. Vogue's Sarah Mower said in part of this collection; 'There’s a sensuous glamour emerging through Pre-Fall which seems to be hovering somewhere around the ’30s or ’40s. Sarah Burton has pinned it to a theme she called “thinking about a woman’s obsession with the possessions she treasures, like her jewelry and makeup, and the things she collects.” This Pre-Fall character is a properly elegant woman, with red lipstick and a penchant for feather chubbies and velvet ankle-strap platforms, who might reach into her extensive wardrobe and choose between any number of fragile, dramatic gowns for an evening out.' and the lace butterfly dresses were mentioned specifically; 'Well, it’s a delight when fashion can make you fantasize for a moment. Yet the fact is that Sarah Burton has steered this collection gently away from too much stylization. “It's quite feminine, and unconstructed,” is the way she puts it. The patterns of lipsticks, Fabergé eggs, butterflies, birds, and the McQueen skull motif appear as prints on silk dresses and on coats, as well as on the show-stopping embroidered sheer gowns.'

The dress is almost startling in its beauty. It is made from an inner taupey nude silk that acts as the backdrop for the black net lace that sits over it. This allows you to fully appreciate the pattern that is worked through the lace. From a distance it acts as an illusion that you are bare under the lace. The lace itself has large butterflies worked through it that are beautiful. Every line of the dress is perfection. It falls from the shoulder to follow the curve of your body. Seams worked through the dress create the shape that you see but they have taken great care to line up the pattern of the lace along each seam so that your eye is not broken and the pattern remains true as it trails across the dress. From the waist is falls in one long sheath to the floor widening out gently as it reaches the hem. At the back it has a large curved cut out that leaves you entire back bare and exposed. So when you walk away it has a very sensual and sexy feel. The sleeves are the final touch and they are fantastic. Each is unlined so that you see bare skin through the lace. They are cut high and peaked at the top of the shoulder with a little bit of tulle at the inner edge to hold their shape. It is spectacular and a wonderful example of Sarah's earlier work. It is a wonderful dress now and will be a collectible in the future. Excellent condition

Fully lined in silk as described above and closes with a low set hidden zipper at the back. Three button and loops behind the neck. Each cuff zippers to close. Tagged a modern McQueen 42. I see a slight bit of grubbiness around the inner lining of the neck but otherwise looks to have been worn very little if at all. The hips are slim cut.

Sleeves: 25"
Inset shoulders: 13" with natural shoulders approx 15"
Bust: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 58" from neck to hem
Neck: 14" around

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3964

Reference Photo: Pre-Fall 2016 Alexander McQueen Collection, Look 33.

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

This is a very recognizable Alexander McQueen piece. While there are many of his pieces out there that only die-hard collectors would know at first glance, this is one of the dresses that has that wonderful print that you know is McQueen. The spring 2003 collection was the first collection McQueen showed after joining the Gucci Group. It was hailed as being his most commercial to date. The collection was titled 'Irere', which means transformation in Amazonian. The Met Museum notes that it 'appeared to be poetic renderings of a disaster at sea'. It is sometimes referred to as the Shipwreck collection. In it Lee tells the story of a shipwreck at sea resulting in a landfall in the Amazon. The collection ends with a series of chiffon dresses that were tie-dyed in incredible bright color palettes of blue, red, and yellow. This is the twin of the second dress that walked the runway to start that portion of the show and it is gorgeous.

On the runway this dress was shown with a white belt and to give you an idea of that I have used a white grosgrain ribbon that I will include with the dress. The dress is not 100% perfect but it is extra interesting because it has its silk chiffon panels that are on the dress that walked the runway. These wrap around to the back where they tie. In the video I have included here you can see them as the model walks away from the camera. Every version I have seen for sale out there does not have these extra panels. If this dress was perfect this detail alone would have increased the price by a couple of thousand dollars from what I have put it here for. In some of the photos I draped them over the shoulder so you can see them better. The dress absolutely exudes joyful exuberance and the colours are amazing. This dress sold out world wide when it was produced and there are very few out there. The dress is strapless with a built in inner corset piece that is stiffened with a flattened front panel. It comes in at the waist and then curves out over the top of the hips. This leaves the skirt unlined as the inner structure ends there at the hips. The sheer amount of fabric in the skirt keeps it from being completely transparent. Over this inner structure lies the feather printed silk chiffon which is attached and draped around and over the top of the bodice. In the photos I took without the ribbon at the waist you can see how it has been hand stitched into place to give some shape. The skirt is then inset all the way around in a series of very structured points. The hem is left unfinished so no extra weight is added. When you have this on and walk in it each panel moves independently and swoop and float around you like some fantastical fairy costume. The colours in the dress are spectacular and the print is meant to suggest the bird of paradise. The blue is a rich saturated shade and then the other colours mixed in are stunning. To see it in person and how it moves is literally like looking at a moving three dimensional piece of art. Excellent overall condition with a note below.

The inner dress is shaped and light boning as described above. Over this is a nude silk chiffon that falls to the top of the thighs. The dress closes with a back hidden set zipper. It is tagged a McQueen size 42. The white ribbon is not original to the dress but will be included. I see a tiny bit of stress to the seam along one of the chiffon panels that attache to the bodice and there is wear to the silk on each side of the bodice. It seems stable and held up to a dry cleaning. Please see the photos after the label shot. It looks unworn otherwise. Priced with these in mind. When the panels are wrapped around and tied at the back those areas are completely covered.

Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam at top of hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips under that seam: open
Inner corset length: the inner corset is 16" from the top of the bodice at the side to the end of the corset at the top of the hips.
Length: 41.5" from the top of the bodice to the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3946

Reference Photos/Video: (1-5) Spring 2003 Alexander McQueen Collection, Look 40 modelled by Daniela Lopes.  /  (6) From the book "Alexander McQueen" edited by Claire Wilcox.

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

It is extremely rare to find the accessories that appeared on the runway from the Alexander McQueen shows. They were often not produced in significant numbers and were often only found at the flagship store in very limited quantities if they were even made available at all. This masterpiece is from the Fall 2004 show entitled 'Pantheon Ad Lecum' or 'Towards the Light'. The twin of this collar walked the runway topping a dress worn by Karen Elson and it was spectacular. In the book Alexander McQueen these feather capes are remarked up in particular as being a nod to the Native American culture. This is a remarkable piece of McQueen's history and I have never seen one for sale before and might never again.

The collar is glorious. It sits on the shoulders and comes up and around the neck in a graceful curve to frame the face. It is completely covered with rows of overlapping feathers done in rows that follow the curving cut of the collar. The feathers cover every square inch of the collar front to back. Worked into  and through the  feathers are hand cut mother of pearl shell discs along with large oval amber coloured glass beads. The shell discs have a raw feel to them and the glass beads catch the light beautifully. Smaller round amber glass beads are mixed in and all of the work has been done by hand. It is backed in an ivory silk satin and closes with a back zipper. It is a true treasure that is a once in a life time find. Excellent condition with a minor note below.

The collar zips to close at the back and is lined in a hand set ivory silk satin. All the work is done by hand. There may be the occasional bead missing but nothing that stands out. The feathers around the very top of the neck show a slight crushing that is impossible to avoid given the way they are set in place. It is otherwise as close to being fresh off the rack as you can get and a remarkable piece of fashion history.

The neck is 15.75" around and the width at its widest point is 21". The collar is 2.25" high and then it is 9" wide from the bottom neck seam to the edge.

Item# DD3919

Reference Photos/Video: (1-4) Fall 2004 Alexander McQueen Runway Collection. Look 34 worn by Karen Elson. (5) Text from the book Alexander McQueen edited by Claire Wilcox, Abrams

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

This dress is instantly recognizable as an Alexander McQueen piece. And it is an incredibly interesting piece when you fully delve into its history. This was a part of the McQueen wedding dress line for the Spring of 2012. By that date the label was under the direction of Sarah Burton. However this dress is a ivory lace version of the dress that Lee designed for the 2007 runway for Look 20. I have seen the twin of this dress for sale at more then double my price and mislabeled as being a 2007 original. But it is not. It was produced in 2012 as an updated dress made wedding appropriate and was based on the 2007 dress that I have included here. The 2007 collection was titled "Sarabrande" and the Alexander McQueen website stated this of that collection:The inspiration is Handelís Sarabande of the title is a majestic and elegant dance - the portraits of Goya, the turn of the century exotic and socialite Marchesa Luisa Casati and garden flowers. As always, there is a melancholic undertone: faded flowers are trapped in chiffon and lace, ruffled skirts constructed out of tiers of delicate petals and prints are botanical brightly coloured birds and blooms, scattering swallows and winding stems of leaves. Show pieces include a dress made entirely out of frozen flowers. Tailoring is this time more fluid than it has been and clothing indebted to horsemanship is worn with finely worked, oversized pirate shirts. McQueen's idealisation of the feminine form continues with an exaggerated hour-glass silhouette.' So the dress is an original Alexander McQueen design but one that was executed after his death. The connection to Lee makes it very interesting and the dress is exceptionally beautiful.

The dress is stunning and even though it is meant to be a wedding dress I think that his work transcends any box assigned to it. As stunning a piece it would make for a bride it would also be spectacular for the events surrounding a wedding weekend or as a gala / event piece. The dress is very fitted through the bodice and waist with a fully built in corset whose boning acts as a secondary design element. You can just see it peaking though the lace over the bust and bodice and the curves and complex pattern iff the boning makes for an interesting detail in itself. The breasts are formed and cupped and and the skirt falls to about the knee, depending on your height, at the front. The sleeves are to the elbow and made from a single layer of that stunning lace. It is set to sit off the shoulder and the runway version in black really gives you an idea of fit. On the runway I think they added a hip peplum or tulle under the back and sides to create a more bustle effect. On this one the train falls in a more graceful and soft feeling down the sides and then down the back to slightly train behind you. If you loved the look of the runway it would be easy to have something made to support the fabric underneath and recreate that look. It is an incredible dress and though it does look pretty on my dress form it is no where near as gorgeous as it will be on an actual body. Excellent condition with one minor note below. 

The bodice has a full complexly boned corset and cups and closes with a back hidden set zipper. The lace snaps into place over the top portion of the zipper and just above it. The skirt is fully lined in an ivory silk. This was never worn but there is a small yellowing spot on the back of the lace above the zipper that happened during storage. It is on the underside of the lace that snaps to close so once it is snapped into place the lace above it hides it completely. I have added three photos after the label shots to show this. The first is the mark on the lining, the second to show that it peaks out on the lace just slightly and the third shows it snapped close with the other side over it completely hiding the mark. The corset does have some stretch. Tagged a 42

Sleeves: 12.5"
Bust: approx 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam with a B-C cup
Waist: 12-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam at the bottom of the corset/top of the hips: 16-17.5"
Natural hips: open
Bodice: 19" from top of natural shoulder to bottom seam of the corset
Skirt: 38" from top of natural shoulder to front hem, 64" to the longest point of the back 

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3907

Reference Photos: Spring 2007 Alexander McQueen Runway. Look 20 worn by Camila Finn.

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

This suit is instantly recognizable as an Alexander McQueen piece and it is stunning. The spring 2008 collection was called 'La Dame Bleue' and was a tribute to his mentor and friend Isabella Blow who had committed suicide on May of 2007 after a long bout of illness. His statement of the show was this; 'Isabella flew. The collection is exuberant and excessive. It's about her way of thinking and that way of thinking brought light into fashion. Even when she was down she was up with what she wore. I had the best times with Isabella. I remember going to Mauritius with her and I'd come back from scuba diving and it would be 100 degrees and she'd be standing on the beach head to toxin McQueen with a Philip Treacy Hat on. Or we'd be sitting around the pool and she'd still be head to toe in McQueen with a Philip Treacy hat on. I've though a lot about why she would wear things like that and she wore them because it made her feel like a diva. She was a diva in what she wore. She pulled it off. I never blinked at what she wore. It just seemed normal. So this was a collection about Isabella ad about wearing clothes that transform you." The entire show was a beautiful testament to someone he loved dearly. In Vogue's review of the collection they said; 'All terrible emotions apart, McQueen, like every other designer, can only be judged in the unsparing light of the general arena of fashion. To put it bluntly, this collection—after an off season last time—was going to stand or fall based on whether his clothes were any good....It stood. McQueen mustered the clarity to dispense with smoke and mirrors and show his capabilities in cut, drape, and feathered flourish to an audience near enough to inspect every detail. He stepped up to the plate by running through all his archived knowledge—Savile Row tailoring in Prince of Wales menswear check jackets and strict, strong-shouldered suiting, combined with the legacy of his couture experience in fan-pleated chiffon, goddess-y drape, and hand-crafted drama. The theme of birds—particularly symbolic of Blow—held the show together through a reprise of all the highlights of McQueen's career... In all, McQueen honored his mentor by striving to bring out the best in himself.' This was the fifth last collection of his career and these last collections are considered to be some of his most brilliant. 

The suit is identical to the one that walked the show with the addition of the wide black patent belt. Very few of these would have been produced and it is amazing to have such an wonderful piece of his work in the shop and to have the full suit with both its detachable feather collar and belt. This one has the extra added provenance of having been lent by me and worn by Sofia Carson for the Unicef 75th Anniversary Luncheon. Its twin was also worn by none other then Michelle Obama for her Ebony Magazine cover

A piece like this truly showcases McQueen’s strong tailoring background and master cutting abilities. The suit is made from a light black wool suiting fabric and gives a nod to his heritage and strong tailoring roots. The jacket is also cut with sharply tailored lines and then he has added that spectacular feather collar and brought in the waist with the belt to create a more feminine shape. The belt slips through slits on either side of the back. I love that it still feels very refined despite its avant garde details and cut. The shoulders are squared off and padded to hold their shape. Each sleeve is cut on a slight curve in the proper manner of tailoring a sleeve and ends in 4 buttons at each cuff. The body of the jacket is shaped with a female body in mind and is cut in at the waist for shape. It closes with a single button there. I am obsessed with the collar. The neckline is edged in a black patent that curves around the neck and narrows down to a point where it then meets the button at the waist. The feather collar is detachable and is made by a thick overlapping of red dyed feathers with black painted edges. It buttons into place along the inside of the collar and is set to stand up and frame the neck. This gives it a very unusual detailing and plays into the avian theme the show had. Under the waist the jacket skims over the hips and it is slightly cropped. Slant pockets sit on each hip and they still have their original tacking. At the back it is cut to flare out a touch. The skirt has been kept very simple so that it is the jacket that shines. It is cut with a flat front and is fitted into a short pencil silhouette. You really need to watch the runway clip to see just how stunning it in on and moving. I also photoed it in all its variations so you can see it with and without the belt and feather collar. The workmanship is meticulous and it is an absolutely beautiful and a rare piece of his work. Excellent condition with a minor note below. 

Both piece are fully lined in a black silk. The jacket closes with a single button at the front. The skirt closes with a hidden set zipper. The feather collar buttons into place and the belt closes with hidden snaps. The jacket is tagged a size 40, the skirt a 42 and the belt is a 38. Padding on the shoulders and the pockets on the jacket have their original tacking to close them. It looks like the sides of the skirt were taken in a touch at some point and when it was lent to Sofia it was taken in a little more with a temporary alteration and you can see a bit of the stitch lines on the inner lining. A bit of crinkling on the belt but it is where it sits under the jacket when on so is not seen when worn

Jacket
Sleeves: 24.5"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 24" from neck to longest point of hem

Skirt
Waist: to 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 21" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3870

Reference Photos/Video: (1-4) Spring 2008 Alexander McQueen Runway Collection, Look 26. Model: Raquel Zimmermann.  /  (5) Sofia Carson at the Unicef 75th Anniversary Luncheon, Dec 2021.  /  (6) Michelle Obama in Alexander McQueen, Ebony, September 2008.  /  (7) From the book “Alexander McQueen” edited by Claire Wilcox.

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

This spectacular Alexander McQueen dress is from the Pre-fall 2016 collection. The presentation version was far more elaborate but I think I prefer this one. It allows you to really see the pattern on the lace and I think can be worn to more functions with its simpler more versatile feel. Vogue's Sarah Mower said in part of this collection; 'There’s a sensuous glamour emerging through Pre-Fall which seems to be hovering somewhere around the ’30s or ’40s. Sarah Burton has pinned it to a theme she called “thinking about a woman’s obsession with the possessions she treasures, like her jewelry and makeup, and the things she collects.” This Pre-Fall character is a properly elegant woman, with red lipstick and a penchant for feather chubbies and velvet ankle-strap platforms, who might reach into her extensive wardrobe and choose between any number of fragile, dramatic gowns for an evening out.' and the lace butterfly dresses were mentioned specifically; 'Well, it’s a delight when fashion can make you fantasize for a moment. Yet the fact is that Sarah Burton has steered this collection gently away from too much stylization. “It's quite feminine, and unconstructed,” is the way she puts it. The patterns of lipsticks, Fabergé eggs, butterflies, birds, and the McQueen skull motif appear as prints on silk dresses and on coats, as well as on the show-stopping embroidered sheer gowns.'

The dress is almost startling in its beauty. It is made from an inner taupey nude silk that acts as the backdrop for the black net lace that sits over it. This allows you to fully appreciate the pattern that is worked through the lace. From a distance it acts as an illusion that you are bare under the lace. The lace itself has large butterflies worked through it that are beautiful. Every line of the dress is perfection. It falls from the shoulder to follow the curve of your body. Seams worked through the dress create the shape that you see but they have taken great care to line up the pattern of the lace along each seam so that your eye is not broken and the pattern remains true as it trails across the dress. From the waist is falls in one long sheath to the floor widening out gently as it reaches the hem. At the back it has a large curved cut out that leaves you entire back bare and exposed. So when you walk away it has a very sensual and sexy feel. The sleeves are the final touch and they are fantastic. Each is unlined so that you see bare skin through the lace. They are cut high and peaked at the top of the shoulder with a little bit of tulle at the inner edge to hold their shape. It is spectacular and a wonderful example of Sarah's earlier work. It is a wonderful dress now and will be a collectible in the future. Excellent condition

Fully lined in silk as described above and closes with a low set hidden zipper at the back. Three button and loops behind the neck. Each cuff zippers to close. Tagged a modern McQueen 42. I see a slight bit of grubbiness around the inner lining of the neck but otherwise looks to have been worn very little if at all. The hips are slim cut.

Sleeves: 25"
Inset shoulders: 13" with natural shoulders approx 15"
Bust: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 58" from neck to hem
Neck: 14" around

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3964

Reference Photo: Pre-Fall 2016 Alexander McQueen Collection, Look 33.

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

This is a very recognizable Alexander McQueen piece. While there are many of his pieces out there that only die-hard collectors would know at first glance, this is one of the dresses that has that wonderful print that you know is McQueen. The spring 2003 collection was the first collection McQueen showed after joining the Gucci Group. It was hailed as being his most commercial to date. The collection was titled 'Irere', which means transformation in Amazonian. The Met Museum notes that it 'appeared to be poetic renderings of a disaster at sea'. It is sometimes referred to as the Shipwreck collection. In it Lee tells the story of a shipwreck at sea resulting in a landfall in the Amazon. The collection ends with a series of chiffon dresses that were tie-dyed in incredible bright color palettes of blue, red, and yellow. This is the twin of the second dress that walked the runway to start that portion of the show and it is gorgeous.

On the runway this dress was shown with a white belt and to give you an idea of that I have used a white grosgrain ribbon that I will include with the dress. The dress is not 100% perfect but it is extra interesting because it has its silk chiffon panels that are on the dress that walked the runway. These wrap around to the back where they tie. In the video I have included here you can see them as the model walks away from the camera. Every version I have seen for sale out there does not have these extra panels. If this dress was perfect this detail alone would have increased the price by a couple of thousand dollars from what I have put it here for. In some of the photos I draped them over the shoulder so you can see them better. The dress absolutely exudes joyful exuberance and the colours are amazing. This dress sold out world wide when it was produced and there are very few out there. The dress is strapless with a built in inner corset piece that is stiffened with a flattened front panel. It comes in at the waist and then curves out over the top of the hips. This leaves the skirt unlined as the inner structure ends there at the hips. The sheer amount of fabric in the skirt keeps it from being completely transparent. Over this inner structure lies the feather printed silk chiffon which is attached and draped around and over the top of the bodice. In the photos I took without the ribbon at the waist you can see how it has been hand stitched into place to give some shape. The skirt is then inset all the way around in a series of very structured points. The hem is left unfinished so no extra weight is added. When you have this on and walk in it each panel moves independently and swoop and float around you like some fantastical fairy costume. The colours in the dress are spectacular and the print is meant to suggest the bird of paradise. The blue is a rich saturated shade and then the other colours mixed in are stunning. To see it in person and how it moves is literally like looking at a moving three dimensional piece of art. Excellent overall condition with a note below.

The inner dress is shaped and light boning as described above. Over this is a nude silk chiffon that falls to the top of the thighs. The dress closes with a back hidden set zipper. It is tagged a McQueen size 42. The white ribbon is not original to the dress but will be included. I see a tiny bit of stress to the seam along one of the chiffon panels that attache to the bodice and there is wear to the silk on each side of the bodice. It seems stable and held up to a dry cleaning. Please see the photos after the label shot. It looks unworn otherwise. Priced with these in mind. When the panels are wrapped around and tied at the back those areas are completely covered.

Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam at top of hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips under that seam: open
Inner corset length: the inner corset is 16" from the top of the bodice at the side to the end of the corset at the top of the hips.
Length: 41.5" from the top of the bodice to the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3946

Reference Photos/Video: (1-5) Spring 2003 Alexander McQueen Collection, Look 40 modelled by Daniela Lopes.  /  (6) From the book "Alexander McQueen" edited by Claire Wilcox.

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

It is extremely rare to find the accessories that appeared on the runway from the Alexander McQueen shows. They were often not produced in significant numbers and were often only found at the flagship store in very limited quantities if they were even made available at all. This masterpiece is from the Fall 2004 show entitled 'Pantheon Ad Lecum' or 'Towards the Light'. The twin of this collar walked the runway topping a dress worn by Karen Elson and it was spectacular. In the book Alexander McQueen these feather capes are remarked up in particular as being a nod to the Native American culture. This is a remarkable piece of McQueen's history and I have never seen one for sale before and might never again.

The collar is glorious. It sits on the shoulders and comes up and around the neck in a graceful curve to frame the face. It is completely covered with rows of overlapping feathers done in rows that follow the curving cut of the collar. The feathers cover every square inch of the collar front to back. Worked into  and through the  feathers are hand cut mother of pearl shell discs along with large oval amber coloured glass beads. The shell discs have a raw feel to them and the glass beads catch the light beautifully. Smaller round amber glass beads are mixed in and all of the work has been done by hand. It is backed in an ivory silk satin and closes with a back zipper. It is a true treasure that is a once in a life time find. Excellent condition with a minor note below.

The collar zips to close at the back and is lined in a hand set ivory silk satin. All the work is done by hand. There may be the occasional bead missing but nothing that stands out. The feathers around the very top of the neck show a slight crushing that is impossible to avoid given the way they are set in place. It is otherwise as close to being fresh off the rack as you can get and a remarkable piece of fashion history.

The neck is 15.75" around and the width at its widest point is 21". The collar is 2.25" high and then it is 9" wide from the bottom neck seam to the edge.

Item# DD3919

Reference Photos/Video: (1-4) Fall 2004 Alexander McQueen Runway Collection. Look 34 worn by Karen Elson. (5) Text from the book Alexander McQueen edited by Claire Wilcox, Abrams

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

This dress is instantly recognizable as an Alexander McQueen piece. And it is an incredibly interesting piece when you fully delve into its history. This was a part of the McQueen wedding dress line for the Spring of 2012. By that date the label was under the direction of Sarah Burton. However this dress is a ivory lace version of the dress that Lee designed for the 2007 runway for Look 20. I have seen the twin of this dress for sale at more then double my price and mislabeled as being a 2007 original. But it is not. It was produced in 2012 as an updated dress made wedding appropriate and was based on the 2007 dress that I have included here. The 2007 collection was titled "Sarabrande" and the Alexander McQueen website stated this of that collection:The inspiration is Handelís Sarabande of the title is a majestic and elegant dance - the portraits of Goya, the turn of the century exotic and socialite Marchesa Luisa Casati and garden flowers. As always, there is a melancholic undertone: faded flowers are trapped in chiffon and lace, ruffled skirts constructed out of tiers of delicate petals and prints are botanical brightly coloured birds and blooms, scattering swallows and winding stems of leaves. Show pieces include a dress made entirely out of frozen flowers. Tailoring is this time more fluid than it has been and clothing indebted to horsemanship is worn with finely worked, oversized pirate shirts. McQueen's idealisation of the feminine form continues with an exaggerated hour-glass silhouette.' So the dress is an original Alexander McQueen design but one that was executed after his death. The connection to Lee makes it very interesting and the dress is exceptionally beautiful.

The dress is stunning and even though it is meant to be a wedding dress I think that his work transcends any box assigned to it. As stunning a piece it would make for a bride it would also be spectacular for the events surrounding a wedding weekend or as a gala / event piece. The dress is very fitted through the bodice and waist with a fully built in corset whose boning acts as a secondary design element. You can just see it peaking though the lace over the bust and bodice and the curves and complex pattern iff the boning makes for an interesting detail in itself. The breasts are formed and cupped and and the skirt falls to about the knee, depending on your height, at the front. The sleeves are to the elbow and made from a single layer of that stunning lace. It is set to sit off the shoulder and the runway version in black really gives you an idea of fit. On the runway I think they added a hip peplum or tulle under the back and sides to create a more bustle effect. On this one the train falls in a more graceful and soft feeling down the sides and then down the back to slightly train behind you. If you loved the look of the runway it would be easy to have something made to support the fabric underneath and recreate that look. It is an incredible dress and though it does look pretty on my dress form it is no where near as gorgeous as it will be on an actual body. Excellent condition with one minor note below. 

The bodice has a full complexly boned corset and cups and closes with a back hidden set zipper. The lace snaps into place over the top portion of the zipper and just above it. The skirt is fully lined in an ivory silk. This was never worn but there is a small yellowing spot on the back of the lace above the zipper that happened during storage. It is on the underside of the lace that snaps to close so once it is snapped into place the lace above it hides it completely. I have added three photos after the label shots to show this. The first is the mark on the lining, the second to show that it peaks out on the lace just slightly and the third shows it snapped close with the other side over it completely hiding the mark. The corset does have some stretch. Tagged a 42

Sleeves: 12.5"
Bust: approx 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam with a B-C cup
Waist: 12-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam at the bottom of the corset/top of the hips: 16-17.5"
Natural hips: open
Bodice: 19" from top of natural shoulder to bottom seam of the corset
Skirt: 38" from top of natural shoulder to front hem, 64" to the longest point of the back 

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3907

Reference Photos: Spring 2007 Alexander McQueen Runway. Look 20 worn by Camila Finn.

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

This suit is instantly recognizable as an Alexander McQueen piece and it is stunning. The spring 2008 collection was called 'La Dame Bleue' and was a tribute to his mentor and friend Isabella Blow who had committed suicide on May of 2007 after a long bout of illness. His statement of the show was this; 'Isabella flew. The collection is exuberant and excessive. It's about her way of thinking and that way of thinking brought light into fashion. Even when she was down she was up with what she wore. I had the best times with Isabella. I remember going to Mauritius with her and I'd come back from scuba diving and it would be 100 degrees and she'd be standing on the beach head to toxin McQueen with a Philip Treacy Hat on. Or we'd be sitting around the pool and she'd still be head to toe in McQueen with a Philip Treacy hat on. I've though a lot about why she would wear things like that and she wore them because it made her feel like a diva. She was a diva in what she wore. She pulled it off. I never blinked at what she wore. It just seemed normal. So this was a collection about Isabella ad about wearing clothes that transform you." The entire show was a beautiful testament to someone he loved dearly. In Vogue's review of the collection they said; 'All terrible emotions apart, McQueen, like every other designer, can only be judged in the unsparing light of the general arena of fashion. To put it bluntly, this collection—after an off season last time—was going to stand or fall based on whether his clothes were any good....It stood. McQueen mustered the clarity to dispense with smoke and mirrors and show his capabilities in cut, drape, and feathered flourish to an audience near enough to inspect every detail. He stepped up to the plate by running through all his archived knowledge—Savile Row tailoring in Prince of Wales menswear check jackets and strict, strong-shouldered suiting, combined with the legacy of his couture experience in fan-pleated chiffon, goddess-y drape, and hand-crafted drama. The theme of birds—particularly symbolic of Blow—held the show together through a reprise of all the highlights of McQueen's career... In all, McQueen honored his mentor by striving to bring out the best in himself.' This was the fifth last collection of his career and these last collections are considered to be some of his most brilliant. 

The suit is identical to the one that walked the show with the addition of the wide black patent belt. Very few of these would have been produced and it is amazing to have such an wonderful piece of his work in the shop and to have the full suit with both its detachable feather collar and belt. This one has the extra added provenance of having been lent by me and worn by Sofia Carson for the Unicef 75th Anniversary Luncheon. Its twin was also worn by none other then Michelle Obama for her Ebony Magazine cover

A piece like this truly showcases McQueen’s strong tailoring background and master cutting abilities. The suit is made from a light black wool suiting fabric and gives a nod to his heritage and strong tailoring roots. The jacket is also cut with sharply tailored lines and then he has added that spectacular feather collar and brought in the waist with the belt to create a more feminine shape. The belt slips through slits on either side of the back. I love that it still feels very refined despite its avant garde details and cut. The shoulders are squared off and padded to hold their shape. Each sleeve is cut on a slight curve in the proper manner of tailoring a sleeve and ends in 4 buttons at each cuff. The body of the jacket is shaped with a female body in mind and is cut in at the waist for shape. It closes with a single button there. I am obsessed with the collar. The neckline is edged in a black patent that curves around the neck and narrows down to a point where it then meets the button at the waist. The feather collar is detachable and is made by a thick overlapping of red dyed feathers with black painted edges. It buttons into place along the inside of the collar and is set to stand up and frame the neck. This gives it a very unusual detailing and plays into the avian theme the show had. Under the waist the jacket skims over the hips and it is slightly cropped. Slant pockets sit on each hip and they still have their original tacking. At the back it is cut to flare out a touch. The skirt has been kept very simple so that it is the jacket that shines. It is cut with a flat front and is fitted into a short pencil silhouette. You really need to watch the runway clip to see just how stunning it in on and moving. I also photoed it in all its variations so you can see it with and without the belt and feather collar. The workmanship is meticulous and it is an absolutely beautiful and a rare piece of his work. Excellent condition with a minor note below. 

Both piece are fully lined in a black silk. The jacket closes with a single button at the front. The skirt closes with a hidden set zipper. The feather collar buttons into place and the belt closes with hidden snaps. The jacket is tagged a size 40, the skirt a 42 and the belt is a 38. Padding on the shoulders and the pockets on the jacket have their original tacking to close them. It looks like the sides of the skirt were taken in a touch at some point and when it was lent to Sofia it was taken in a little more with a temporary alteration and you can see a bit of the stitch lines on the inner lining. A bit of crinkling on the belt but it is where it sits under the jacket when on so is not seen when worn

Jacket
Sleeves: 24.5"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 24" from neck to longest point of hem

Skirt
Waist: to 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 21" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3870

Reference Photos/Video: (1-4) Spring 2008 Alexander McQueen Runway Collection, Look 26. Model: Raquel Zimmermann.  /  (5) Sofia Carson at the Unicef 75th Anniversary Luncheon, Dec 2021.  /  (6) Michelle Obama in Alexander McQueen, Ebony, September 2008.  /  (7) From the book “Alexander McQueen” edited by Claire Wilcox.

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.