Savage Beauty at the V&A

Fashion should be a form of escapism, and not a form of imprisonment – so said the late Lee Alexander McQueen.

You don’t have to be a style expert or even a fan of fashion to appreciate the artistic genius behind McQueen’s work. An expertly skilled tailor, he was not simply a fashion designer, but one of the greatest creative talents of our time, and he drew inspiration from unique and obscure places, from history and from art, resulting in the new, novel and often shocking.

His shows were often part-catwalk, part-live art, from runways that rained and ruined couture gowns to robots painting moving models, creating unique pieces in front of the spectators’ eyes.

His work will be displayed in an exhibition called Savage Beauty this month – very fittingly – at the V&A Museum, where McQueen spent many hours seeking inspiration.

From 14 March – 2 August 2015, for more information and to book tickets, go to vam.ac.uk/savagebeauty

Photograph: Butterfly headdress of hand-painted turkey feathers, by Philip Treacy for Alexander McQueen, La Dame Bleue, S/S 2008

Model: Alana Zimmer, Photographer: Anthea Simms