In 1996, the fashion world was stunned when the president of
fashion conglomerate LVMH appointed Alexander McQueen as the creative head of
French fashion house Givenchy. McQueen proceeded to call his boss “irrelevant”
and for the next few years created collections that were best categorized as
rebellious and over-dramatic. And while his first couture collection for
Givenchy in 1997 was panned by critics and even by McQueen himself, it was his
Fall/Winter 1998 couture show that would revive his reputation for couture
spectaculars.
Shown in Paris, the collection was a masterful portrayal of
Ridley Scott's 1982 sci-fi noir classic Blade Runner. Costume designer Michael
Kaplan, who created Sean Young's iconic shoulder-padded outfits for the film,
noted that of all the designers who've been influenced by Blade Runner, only
McQueen got it right. His Givenchy show "was beautifully done and original
in its own right," explained Kaplan.
This rare Givenchy Couture by Alexander McQueen two-piece suit is a museum-quality example of the late Alexander McQueen. This ensemble was part of the Givenchy Fall/Winter 1998 campaign and is featured on the Alexander McQueen Wikipedia page.
Ensemble details:
International buyers please note:
Credit: Photo # 6 courtesy of the Adnan Ege Kutay Collection.