On February 11, 2010 the fashion world lost a jewel, Alexander McQueen. With the lost of his mother just days earlier, it can only be inferred that it was hard for him to cope just as it will be for the British fashion world.

The thought of anyone committing suicide is disturbing, and provokes others to question the motive. However, when such a creative individual takes their own life it provokes the question of what was on their mind? Is there such a thing as being so creative and talented that your angels become your demons?

 As a young girl growing up in New York City, I always dreamed of the day I would be able to slip into a McQueen piece. I know I am not alone when I say he has been one of my favorite designers since junior high school and has inspired many of the fashion designs we see everyday and those that have yet to be created.

His innovation and creative thinking built a platform for him to be noticed and globally recognized as a fashion icon. Out of this world collections and daring to go places that others would never fathom treading was McQueen’s trademark.

As the British fashion world did not receive much fan fair before his brand came to life, he was appropriately named the Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II and received British Designer of the Year four times.

He made women’s clothing bold and men’s clothing edgy. A mixture of craftsmanship and performance art made McQueen’s runway shows spectacles that everyone flocked to see. The enfant terrible will be truly missed, but never forgotten.

All hail McQueen!