McQueen in Michigan

It’s not every day you’re back in your birth country, driving down the highway with your parents and your daughter in the car, headed toward your parents’ hometown for your nephew’s wedding, when you happen to glance at a roadside billboard and see an advertisement for–did I read that right?–Alexander McQueen? At the local art museum? What???

Well, in fact it was true. And I had exactly one opportunity during that very quick and busy trip to see the exhibit–that same evening. So off I went! Went into family Uber mode (I don’t drive very often and don’t own a car, so playing Uber is a new game for me!) to do one drop off at the hotel, one pick up at the airport, another drop-off and pick-up at the hotel, and then we headed downtown. A perfect chance for me to slip away for a couple of hours! And what a pleasant surprise it was!

Lee Alexander McQueen at the Grand Rapids Art Museum

Lee Alexander McQueen and Ann Ray: Rendez Vous: A collaboration between one of my very favorite fashion designers (we share a birthday: same day, same year, and McQueen also died on our shared birthday) and the photographer with whom he collaborated from the very beginning, who documented his process and his shows. Anne Ray (formerly Deniau: I have her book of photographs, and it confused me at first that she changed her name) spent many hours following McQueen in exchange for clothing he gave to her. This exhibit was the assemblage of her clothing collection, and quite an impressive collection it is! These were not always his most elaborate or the best known of McQueen’s designs, since most runways and fashion exhibits tend to focus on the flamboyant, the runway, the more outrageous and creative of his designs. These were, instead, mostly very wearable styles (beads and feathers are still wearable, right?), direct from the runway, and an excellent survey of his work over the years, with examples from many (most?) seasons of his career, all hand-selected by Lee himself for his friend and collaborator.

I couldn’t get enough of this show, and I walked it twice. Lots of photos to share with you. Enjoy!

Lee Alexander McQueen at the Grand Rapids Art Museum

Lee Alexander McQueen at the Grand Rapids Art Museum

Lee Alexander McQueen at the Grand Rapids Art Museum

Lee Alexander McQueen at the Grand Rapids Art Museum

Lee Alexander McQueen at the Grand Rapids Art Museum

Lee Alexander McQueen at the Grand Rapids Art Museum

 



 

3 Comments

  1. Kelley Jo Petersen

    I love it! I live in Grand Haven. I kept meaning to get there, and was not able to! Great pics. Glad you were able to see the show.

    1. I love Grand Haven! Went to school at Calvin…

  2. Flora Elliott

    What fabulous outfits. Thanks for posting
    I can’t make your great looking holidays in May
    Hopefully you will do them in autumn. I can’t seem to add myself on the site.

Post a comment