New York Fashion Week

- February 11th, 2010.
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February 11th

Just as the Fashion Week season was kicking off in New York after digging out after a winter blizzard the shocking news came that Alexander McQueen was found dead in his London home. Although the official cause of death has not been confirmed it is believed he hung himself after being distraught over the death of his mother last week. He recently posted a series of distressed twitter messages.

It was clear that something was not right when Anna Wintour bolted the BCBGMaxAzria show before the model parade just after 10:00am this morning. 40 year–old McQueen was one of the most respected and influential designers of his generation. Known as the “l’enfant terrible” for his uncompromising and aggressively individualist style he was also highly acclaimed as a craftsman and professional. He ran a highly successful worldwide business with boutiques in major cities. Although the mood was sombre after the heartbreaking news the shows were anything but.

As always the best way to cope is to push forward. BCBGMaxAzria husband and wife design team Max and Lubov Azria expanded on their dress-centric mission with even more ways to design beautiful dresses and flowing robes. Richard Chai followed with a much more elaborate offering than his often casual range. Ports 1961 showed a wonderfully creative collection that was a fusion of nostalgia and the future. North African–born, Vancouver-bred designer Tia Cibani came up with a concept that was sort of Flapper meets Star Trek.

The Heart Truth's Red Dress Collection 2010, organized to raise awareness of the fact that heart disease is the leading cause of death for women, put on a star pact event for a fifth year. Celebrities involved this season were Heidi Klum, Joan Collins, Kim Kardashian, Raven-Symoné, Jewel, Kimora Lee Simmons, Kristin Chenoweth, Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Felicity Huffman. Participating designers included Donna Karan, Oscar de la Renta, Michael Kors, Zac Posen, John Galliano, Monique Lhuillier, Badgley Mischka, Marchesa, Tracy Reese and Rebecca Taylor.