Breathtaking Alexander McQueen runway gray sharkskin wool hourglass dress with matching surrealist jacket dating back to his iconic 1997 spring-summer collection. As shown, this gorgeous ensemble is the commercial version of runway look 9. A black version of our spectacular jacket was also exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's 'Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty' in 2011. Alexander McQueen was known for combining superb tailoring with a dramatic aesthetic inspired by various historical periods, British and Celtic tribalism and sexually charged fetish wear. McQueen's thematic shows were as much theater as fashion, with each piece of clothing worked into a dramatic narrative. Alexander McQueen put on a series of landmark shows in the late nineties, each one more extreme than the next. But for sheer provocation, nothing topped spring 1997’s La Poupée, or The Doll. Inspired by the artist Hans Bellmer who had a fetish for rearranged toy dolls, McQueen experimented with proportion and, more disturbingly, trussed the models in various metal restraints. The jacket is a whimsical play on a tail jacket but with the concept cleverly constructed backwards. I adore the sharp lapels and lean, long sleeves. The matching low-cut plunge cocktail dress is a true figure flattering garment that accentuates the bust, skims the hip and flares out below the knee with a dramatic backless back-fishtail construction. This highly stylized set is a perfect example of why the magical of Alexander McQueen is so missed. We added many pictures so you can appreciate this iconic museum quality treasure.
Measurements
(marked a vintage size 42)
Dress
Bust: 34-36 inches
Waist: 28 inches
Hips: 36 inches
Total Length: 41 inches
Jacket
Bust: 35-36 inches
Waist: 28 inches
Sleeve Length:23 inches
Shortest Length: 19 inches
Longest Front Tails: 38 inches
This 1997 Alexander McQueen dress ensemble is in excellent condition with no rips, holes or stains. Perfectly working back dress zipper. All original buttons in place. Highly wearable and an investment piece that will continue to increase in value.