Alexander McQueen: Evolution

Alexander McQueen: Evolution is a chronological accounting of Mr. McQueen’s body of work.

Ms. Gleason writes about McQueen’s collections starting in 1994 and concluding in 2010. Each show is given a few pages of dry explanation and a few photographs.

The problem is that Ms. Gleason does not do justice to the glory that was Alexander McQueen. Being an avid admirer or fan of a designer does not necessarily mean that one can write an authoritative volume on that designer’s work. Anyone who has seen these shows, via YouTube, in photo form on Style.com, or been to the Metropolitan Museum of Art can attest to the fact that six photos of any of these collections doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of their content and grandeur—nor can the reader get the fullest sense of what was presented.

There is not much new information offered by Ms. Gleason who earnestly tries to paint a picture of each show. Absent is the sense of wonder and awe as the text reads like a news report rather. No fangirl enthusiasm from this author. Most of all there is a dearth of explanatory photographs. Even the photos selected are not substantial enough to represent accurately what transpired on those catwalks. Finally, this book does not begin to match the quality, thoroughness, and presentation of several previously published books on McQueen.

For instance, the omission of McQueen’s tenure at Givenchy is a grave error in judgment as that period gave him access to some of the greatest and most capable ateliers in the world of haute couture. He was immediately recognized as an extreme talent by those who truly knew what greatness was all about. And he learned that nothing was impossible in fashion with access to collaborative talent like that and McQueen recognized this and reveled in that realization.

The takeaway here is simple: Alexander McQueen: Evolution is a crash course on the life of Alexander McQueen. It is neither the most authoritative nor thorough, giving the uninformed reader an uninspired textual outline rather than a photographic and written feast of what Alexander McQueen was all about.