New York is where all the action was last night, with Alexander McQueen presenting its Fall/Winter 2022 collection—26 years after its first show in the Big Apple, which took place back in 1996. “I am so happy to be back in New York, a city that has always been close to our hearts,” creative director Sarah Burton said post the presentation, which showcased vibrant looks inspired by nature. What made the collection twice as noteworthy was its mindfulness. Crafted using 85% upcycled materials, the latest McQueen offerings were more than just a visual delight; they also took into account fashion’s very real concerns when it comes to sustainability and showing respect for the environment.
Hosted in a discreet warehouse in Brooklyn—the Agger Fish Building, to be precise—Alexander McQueen’s Fall/Winter 2022 line celebrated the sense of community that comes with life in NYC. “We showed the Dante collection here in 1996, and then came again with Eye in the autumn of 1999. It is part of our community, a place that has always welcomed us, and this season I want to honor that,” Burton explained. “So, this collection is inspired by that idea of community, and specifically by mycelium, by the reality of nature as a community that is far, far older than we are. Mycelium connects even the rooftop of the tallest skyscraper to the plants, to the grass, to the ground, to animals and to human beings. Mycelium has the most profound, interconnecting power, relaying messages through a magical underground structure, allowing trees to reach out to each other when either they or their young need help or are sick. The idea is humbling – beautiful – and, of course, a metaphor for interconnection and for community between people, between us all. We exist as single, individual entities on one level, but we are far more powerful connected to each other, to our families, to our friends, to our community. Given everything that has happened over the past two years, that seems more important than ever. As a community we are infinitely more able to restore, reinvent, rejuvenate – heal.”
The thought came to life on the runway via pieces that jumped out in a vibrant palette—think neon green, canary yellow, and show-stopping scarlet—complemented with silver-toed leather harness pumps with mushroom and sequin mycelium embroidery, edgy chokers, stacks of rings, and ear hooks. Below, Vogue Arabia’s picture editor Ankita Chandra shares her top picks from the showcase.
Take your classic red pantsuit and give it a McQueen makeover with a black and white mushroom print.
Burton’s mushroom detailing also found itself making an appearance in fiery shades of orange on a black tulle dress.
Neons were at the forefront of Burton’s latest collection, with highlighter hued pantsuits winning everyone’s vote.
Burton gave this party-ready number a psychedelic spin by accentuating its asymmetric silhouette with multicolored tassel and embroidery detailing.
Styled with intricately buckled silver boots, one of the most exciting looks from Alexander McQueen’s New York show had to be this molten silver dress, which came with an exaggerated 3D bow.
