Evening gown

This evening gown by Alexander McQueen, densely embellished with a cascade of beaded golden tresses, was part of a collection inspired by witches. This reference underscores the power associated with hair in folklore and mythology. McQueen’s aggressive and sexual fashions polarized audiences and he was often accused of misogyny. But his “perverse” and transgressive aesthetic was probably more about himself than about real women. After a collection inspired by Joan of Arc, McQueen said, “Anyone can be a martyr for their cause. Maybe I was a martyr for homosexuality when I was six.”