From Shakespeare to Shelley, the British have always celebrated the macabre and the gothic to some extent. Not really surprising, given our windswept moors, unpredictable weather and ancient historical piles and ruins. So there has been plenty to ignite the imaginations of some of our greatest fashion designers when it comes to adding a dark twist to their creations, and I would like to take this opportune moment to pay homage to 2 of my favourites: Alexander McQueen and Gareth Pugh.
McQueen was well known for his acknowledgement of the sinister in his collections; his historical references included highwaymen and Hitchcock heroines. It was in 2006 that he took part in a Gothic revival and famously sent a ghostly hologram of Kate Moss down the catwalk at the end of his show: a moment that has been cemented in fashion history as truly iconic and to those that were present, both moving and unforgettable.
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McQueen, Autumn Winter 2006
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| McQueen, Autumn Winter 2006 |
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| McQueen, Autumn Winter 2006 |
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| McQueen, Autumn Winter 2006 |
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| The Kate Moss hologram that ended the 2006 show at McQueen |
And where McQueen referenced the past, Gareth Pugh's take on this aesthetic is entirely different: think neo-goth in high-tech fabrics and modernist symmetry.
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Gareth Pugh Autumn WInter 2010
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| Gareth Pugh Autumn Winter 2010 |
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| Gareth Pugh Autumn Winter 2010 |
(OK I promise this is my last Halloween inspired post as I shall be busy planning costumes and trick or treating!)
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