McQueen; 'She is a night creature inhabiting a charmed and Surreal world'

There are three things I thought when I watched Alexander McQueen's Fall 2016 show:

feminine

mystical

transformation  

I actually really liked this collection although it doesn't scream 'dark' McQueen I think it still captures a strand of Gothic, albeit in a lighter, almost hopeful tone.  

Sarah Burton was notably expecting her third child as this collection walked, and I think the themes of birth-rebirth-transformation are really evident here.  The coat (first image below) literally cocoons the model as she walks, and although the texture of her outer-garment drowns her frame, the cascading 'tail' of a much more form-fitting dress reveals a glimpse of what lies beneath.  The coat then becomes almost an enactment of a much darker prompt, not look at, but rather look beneath...

Above are just some a handful of my favourite looks from this collection - in case you want to check it out for yourselves! 

I really like the how skin feels like it has been manipulated throughout this collection, from the wholly sheer looks that overlay the skin with intricate designs and use the model as a true canvas.   The many cut-away patterns expose and conceal the skin in deliberate lines; literally the models are spliced and transformed like their garments.  

The collection also featured embellishments of unicorns, moths, owls, swans, eyes and mirrors.  Darkly feminine, it is not a stretch to feel the 'witchy' nature possessing these clothes; these women are adorned in symbols of nature and beauty.  These images are at times set upon 'powerful' cuts of impeccably tailored suits, corsets, even bondage-inspired adornments, that provide a nice contrast to other softer lingerie looks within the show- whilst also providing notable nods to McQueen's most infamous designs.

Personally if witches, darkness, transformation and the battle between inside/outside (or surface/depth) isn't Gothic enough then you might not have liked this collection, but I personally think that the Gothic as a 'style' in terms of fashion doesn't have to be overtly threatening or uneasy - I think this collection is more 'Gothicised' by its consumption of itself.  This collection draws the eye continually to the surface, to the excessive embellishment, whilst revealing LOTS underneath - unease almost comes from the shape of the fabric, swallowing, draping, cutting, consuming the model.  The fact it's based on ethereal women in the night with moths and the moon (paraphrasing majorly here) is just a dark bonus!

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I found it coincidental that last week I received a copy of the latest ASOS magazine with 'Making Magic' upon the front cover.  Upon closer inspection this edition also provided an article on 'Modern Magic' which detailed how the mystical is becoming more mainstream, and 'crystals are cool'.   Furthermore you could read how to 'max your moon power' and discover the benefits of making a vision bard (which I actually quite liked the idea of being a massive Pinterest fan and a serial mood boarder- I've never really thought to make a 'vision' board!).  

So, you can take this post as celebration of the apparent cosmic alignment of all things Witchy this Spring.  Go forth and wear beautiful clothes and make happy visions - maybe even buy a cat?