I was expecting to be wowed by the gown of flowers, or something wildy grotesque at the Alexander McQueen exhibit at the Met. But instead what surprised me was the very first room, called “The Romantic Mind,” which featured his graduation work from Central Saint Martins and selects from his early collections, Jack the Ripper Stalks His Victims (1992), and Taxi Driver (1993). Not only do the relatively simple black pieces display his full expertise in the long-standing traditions of fashion, but also his limitless creativity and desire for innovation in form and construction. Proof to the world that he knew what he was doing, and that he had the spirit of an artist.

The “Cabinet of Curiosities” room is stocked with all the shoes, jewelry, masks, and hats that accompanied his various fashion collections. Collaborations with Shaun Leane, Philip Treacy, and others yielded incredible works of sculpture, some of it vaguely wearable. This room also features video footage from the runway shows, which are equally inspirational; the Spring ’99 show that featured 2 robots spray-painting a dress on Shalom Harlow live is still exciting to watch, 12 years later.

One other noteworthy exhibit feature is a small-scale replication of the holographic Kate Moss projection from the Fall 2006 show. Although it is presented here at an extremely uncomfortable viewing height, the imagery of Kate spinning the dress around is magical and worth crouching a few minutes for. The actual dress on display nearby looks like a lifeless blob in comparison; a good reminder that fashion is never complete without the woman (or man) wearing it.

It’s sad to remember that Lee Alexander chose to end his life early. I guess that means fame, fortune, and unlimited creative freedom aren’t enough to make you happy. But I know that when he was in the zone, staying up all night to finish an idea… that he loved being alive. What he accomplished in those moments is incredible, and will always be an inspiration for me. My personal tribute to Alexander McQueen will be this image I photographed in 2004 (below), with Carrie Capaldi (stylist) and Zac Mitchell (set design). The dress is from that year’s Spring/Summer “Deliverance” Collection: