From The Art of the Handbag:

Alexander McQueen was celebrated for his meticulous craftsmanship and extraordinary creativity despite the controversy generated by some of his early ready-to-wear shows When McQueen died in 2010, he was mourned both by the fashion world and his millions of fans The label, however, has continued to thrive under the direction of his protégé, Sarah Burton, who brings her own sensibility to bear on her designs while maintaining McQueen’s exquisite workmanship

From Jack the Ripper Stalks His Victims, his 1992 graduate collection, to Plato’s Atlantis, the last show before his death in 2010, Lee Alexander McQueen was as celebrated for the exquisite tailoring, meticulous craftsmanship, and stunning originality of his designs as he was notorious for his theatrical—and often controversial—runway shows. McQueen found inspiration for his avant-garde collections everywhere: his Scottish ancestry, Alfred Hitchcock movies, Yoruba mythology, the destruction of the environment—even the fashion industry itself. More info: http://bit.ly/QSX4OM

Whatever his inspiration, however, McQueen’s concept for his runway show came first and was crucial to the development of the collection. Every show had a narrative and was staged with his characteristic dramatic flair. Highland Rape featured disheveled models smeared with “blood” staggering down the runway in town clothes. In Scanners, two robots sprayed paint on a model trapped on a spinning platform. In Widows of Culloden, a hologram of supermodel Kate Moss held center stage. Other McQueen shows staged models walking through water, drifting snowflakes, rain, and wind tunnels; pole-dancing in garish makeup at a carnival, playing living pieces in a bizarre chess game, and performing with trained dancers in a Depression-era-style marathon. Illustrated throughout with stunning photography and liberally sprinkled with quotations from McQueen and those who knew him best, Alexander McQueen: Evolution is the story of the designer’s thirty-five runway shows and the genius behind them.

Spreads and pages from Alexander McQueen: Evolution. More on the book: http://bit.ly/QSX4OM

One of our awesome Amazon reviews: “This book is an absolute treasure, and I don’t use that word lightly. I remember being a young teen in the mid-90s, glancing through my mother’s Vogue until my eyes caught on an Alexander McQueen couture gown; I still have the faded page of the gown, torn from the magazine. I was captivated that day and remained so until his death. Alexander McQueen was truly a remarkable talent in the fashion world, and his ability to incorporate theatrics and performance art within his shows was revolutionary. Part retrospective and part tribute, this book encompasses all of his major shows, giving us glimpses of standout fashion and the mind of an amazing talent. Gleason gives a bit of an introduction to McQueen’s life and career, but goes into depth regarding his shows, right down to how each runway was styled. Full page photos are spread throughout each section, eye-catching color juxtaposed against black paper at the beginning of each “chapter.” Quotes from McQueen are scattered throughout the pages of his collections, musings and insight that pair perfectly with his fashion. I am so glad I purchased this book. Any true McQueen fan will be delighted.”