Insprired By...Savage Beauty

Happy Monday, everyone. Between all the Royal Wedding hoopla, and the sheer joy of a sunny day in Seattle with temperatures finally climbing over 65 degrees, I may have a bit of a weekend hangover this morning. But I'm finding some reserves of energy to get excited about tonight's Met Ball, which kicks off the "Savage Beauty" exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute -- a timely tribute to the late Alexander McQueen.

Image from Vogue.com 

It's hard to believe that just over a year ago, it was questioned whether the House of McQueen could carry on in the wake of the death of Lee Alexander McQueen, the genius showman behind the label. McQueen's right hand, Sarah Burton, took on the weighty task of carrying on the designer's legacy. After completing his final collection she went on send out Spring, Resort and Fall collections that answered that question of with a resounding yes. 

 

A dress from McQueen's Fall 2010 Collection, which was  finished by Sarah Burton (Image from The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

And of course, now that she's designed what is arguably the most famous dress of the century, no question can remain that the name McQueen lives on not just in the fashion world, but in popular culture. 

  Image from Rueters

I'm hoping I can get to New York to see McQueen's creations firsthand.

Images from The Metropolitan Museum of Art

But I'm really interested in seeing what guests wear to the Met Ball tonight. According to organizer Sylvana Ward Durrette, many are shopping their own closets for McQueen-designed pieces from seasons past that they haven't worn in years. 

When Burton took the helm at McQueen, Vogue's Sarah Mower pointed out that while McQueen made incredible showpieces and Sarah Burton helped him, she was the one who was responsible for translating those showstoppers into the wearable clothes that appeared in stores. What she may very well be bringing to the McQueen legacy is preserving the drama in the label's DNA, while bringing her own instinct of what's real, relevant and beautiful in a woman's life. 

 Images from InStyle.com

BTW, is it just me, or are there shades of Pippa's bridesmaid dress in Carmen's from the 2010 Golden Globes?

Images from from Style.com

In a fashion world that seems to get more fraught with drama in each passing season, it's wonderful to see someone with Burton's gifts and fortitude carrying one of the most important houses of the last 20 years firmly into a new decade. The humility in her comments about designing the Royal Wedding Dress(es) speak as much to her character as the gown did to her talents:

"Catherine looked absolutely stunning today, and the team at Alexander McQueen are very proud of what we have created. The dress was just one component of a spectacular day, and I do not think it is appropriate to comment any further beyond saying that I personally am very grateful and honoured to have been given the opportunity to work on this project, and I wish TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge every good wish for the future."

 Image from Style.com

It's good to see the McQeen legacy in such steady hands.