Gala Evening for Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty

Last night, the Metropolitan Museum of Art held its annual black-tie Costume Institute Benefit. This year, the Institute is celebrating the exhibition Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, on display to the public from May 4-July 31, 2011. The exhibition explores the late Alexander McQueen’s extraordinary contributions to fashion. “From his postgraduate collection of 1992 to his final runway presentation, which took place after his death in February 2010, Mr. McQueen challenged and expanded the understanding of fashion beyond utility to a conceptual expression of culture, politics, and identity. His iconic designs constitute the work of an artist whose medium of expression was fashion.” (MET)
Curated by Andrew Bolton, the exhibit includes 100 ensembles and 70 accessories including the Origami frock coat, as well as late 19th century pieces he fashioned into romantic contemporary designs. A true fashion original from a humble East End upbringing, (Lee) Alexander McQueen is one of my favourite designers of all time. The word genius, carelessly thrown around so much these days, is the most adequate word to describe this shy Central Saint Martins grad who has given the fashion industry so much in just under two decades. Although the MET was nice enough to provide me with a pass to the Media Preview held just before the gala, unfortunately I could not make it.

Tables for last night’s star-studded 790-guest dinner were in the range of $100,000-$250,000 per table and sold out months in advance. The evening included remarks by the MET’s Art Director Thomas P. Campbell, New York City’s Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, benefit Co-Chairs Colin Firth and Stella McCartney, and a performance (three songs) by one of my favourite bands, Florence and The Machine.
Called to dinner by bagpipers dressed in McQueen tartan, celebrity guests entered a magical English garden hidden behind eight-foot tall boxwood hedges under the glow of a projected full moon. A 30-minute video loop of time-lapsed blossoming of roses played as they took their seats at natural wood tables on tree trunk bases adorned with bouquets, crystal, china, and silverware. For dinner? Scottish cuisine including artichokes and poached quail eggs, American caviar, and lemon mousseline to start, followed by highland beef with horseradish sauce, baby spring vegetables, and truffled potato tart. Hungry yet? An assorted of mini desserts and chocolate-dipped strawberries capped off the menu.
If you’re going to be in New York City in the next three months, be sure to check the exhibit out. I know I will. For more information on the ALEXANDER MCQUEEN: Savage Beauty Exhibition please click here. For more collection and celebrity red carpet celebrity photos please visit the It’s All Style To Me Facebook Page.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpXCd-C9BmM]