London Style

Innovative British designer, Alexander McQueen, came to international attention as one of the figures behind the 1990s revival of the 'Cool Britannia' movement, and individually as an ' enfant terrible ' or the 'hooligan' of modern English fashion. Acknowledged also by the institution, McQueen was recipient of the 'British Designer of the Year' title thrice between the years 1996-2003, being one of the youngest designers to have achieved such an accomplishment.

Yet what does this all mean for Alexander McQueen today? Still turning heads, still with his finger on the fashion button, his output of designer dresses , designer handbags and designer jeans is prodigious. With recent cosmetics releases and boutiques in New York, London, Los Angeles, Milan, and Las Vegas, McQueen is on top of the fashion game, which is not bad at all for a boy from London's East End.

A personal favourite piece in his oeuvre is the gorgeous long-pleated feather print dress, a real celebration of summer! I first saw the dress in a mid-mag spread in Madam Figaro worn by French actress Emmanuelle B'art , a veritable rainbow on a horizon of oversaturated hues of a pale blue sky, empty dirt road and tall green crops. This splash of colour came as a contrast to the previous black & white homage to the gender-bending masculine/feminine ultra sophistication of the 1930s and the following gritty sepia-toned children's ballet-themed fashion spread on the following pages .. from that moment on, I was hooked!

Whether it's over the rainbow with Alexander McQueen, feeling right at home with Maison Martin Margiela or cutting a dashing figure with Marc Jacobs , you'll be sure to find it in the boutiques of London .. the capital of fashion!