Flesh boots and skin ruffles are some of the recent examples of how fashion continues to stretch the imagination while embracing fantasy. It wasn’t just the clothing that took on otherworldly aspects braided hair gave an illusion of horns, while subtle prosthetic face enhancements added to this futuristic, almost Star Trek quality. If we are going to return to the ocean eventually to survive an environmental catastrophe, then the human body will have to evolve. Pronounced shoulders were inspired by creatures like jellyfish, turning sea creatures into sartorial influencers. Reptiles, moths, and fish lent their likeness to the vivid dress imagery, with McQueen also using different aspects of Mother Nature for silhouettes that featured nipped-in waists and exaggerated hips. Models looked like creatures from another planet fused with a human skeleton the overall collection offered a subtle evolution as each model walked down the runway, with 11 different pairs of this design in a variety of colors from bone white to aqua blue.īold color played a big part in this attention-grabbing collection, as the unique designs were brought to life via digital printing. Giger - the iconic designer of Alien - informed the biomorphic spine of the shoe. ![]() The ‘Alien’ shoe, as featured in this collection, used a 3-D printed resin to resemble the beautiful nightmare of the Xenomorph. 3-D printing has become a staple practice in fashion and costume design, but in 2009, it was still a novelty. For Vogue, in 2009 Sarah Mower wrote after Plato’s Atlantis debuted, “the way he's embracing new computer technologies and the drama of the moving image puts him at the leading edge of change.” We don’t know what McQueen would have done next, but his innovative use goes beyond an online Livestream. "Bad Romance" plays over the stunning final moments, in which the models strut (as best they can) down the runway in the 12-inch 'Armadillo' shoes looking like the most stylish army from another planet or dimension.įashion and technology continue to evolve alongside each other, and Alexander McQueen was at the forefront. There were some bumps along the way as Lady Gaga tweeted just before the transmission that a new song would debut during this show, crashing the website (but you can see the show in all its glory below). Live streams are pretty common in 2019, but 10 years ago this opened up a formerly 'invite-only' experience to everyone. A decade later, robots were used to film the runway show that would be broadcast online, a Fashion Week first. ![]() In the fall of 1999, robots typically used to paint cars were part of a live creation process in a balletic sequence, which saw a white dress spray painted while the model was wearing it. Theatricality and grand showmanship was always part of the McQueen experience - whether a vision of dystopia with cars on fire, separating attendees from the models with a horror-like asylum scenario, or robots incorporated into the performance. An eerie and ethereal hologram of Kate Moss in the Fall '06 Widows of Culloden show preceded the use of AI by Rag & Bone, and the lines between performance and clothing have only continued to blur since. Plato’s Atlantis was a culmination of everything that had come before it in both presentation and design. ![]() It is an apocalyptic vision that results in beautiful new creatures, marrying land, sea, and even figures who look like they have come from outer space. What lies beneath the sea is humanity's last hope. In McQueen's visual exploration of what the world would look like after man ravaged the planet for resources, Atlantis provides a potential haven after the ice caps have melted. In fact, some of McQueen's designs look like they could be worn by Amber Heard and Nicole Kidman, both on the red carpet and under the sea. The mythic technological advancements of this utopian location have featured in many stories since, with Aquaman being one of the latest in a long list. The show took its name from the Greek philosopher, who also wrote about the legendary island that was sunk into the ocean by earthquakes and fire. On October 6, 2009, at the Palais Omnisports de Bercy in Paris, Alexander McQueen unveiled Plato’s Atlantis, which would sadly be his final show (as he passed away the following February) and also one of his most memorable. ![]() Past, present, and future can serve as jumping-off points for fashion inspiration - and one of the most iconic collections of the last 20 years managed aspects of classical philosophy, climate change, science-fiction movies, and technology.
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