PART 4 DESIGNERS OF THE SEASON: PARIS - ALEXANDER McQUEEN

This season has had plenty of trend setting catwalks to take inspiration from, for what's to be inevitable trends for the season. This four part series reads my instalment of our four favourite designers representing each of the fashion capitals of the world. Parts one - three below discussed Phillip Lim, Erdem and Moschino; read on for my fourth and final instalment, taking a closer look at Alexander McQueen.

Partly for the drama and flair of it all, Alexander McQueen was by far our Paris Fashion Week Favourite. It all began with bemused front-rowers staring towards a typically huge rubbish tip installation, with recognisable props from his previous collections placed sporadically within the pile. Oooh is Lee having a clear out? Is he growing up and moving on from his enfant terrible tag? We all thought in a collective moment of pensiveness. Luckily for us, the show, entitled Horn of Plenty, was McQueen at his best.

The show began with shapely houndstooth skirt-suits that referenced Dior’s new look silhouette and moved on to chiffon harlequin prints and hard black leather creations. His showpieces were made up of red and black stripes, bird prints and his signature feathers, referencing his own work from seasons passed.

A Coke can and umbrella headpieces and big Leigh Bowery lips were met with slight anticipation, as is expected, but fit the theme of the show and created a much needed sense of fun to rather a dark, punky collection.

He should be congratulated for his unwavering sense of bold showmanship amongst a sea of otherwise safe collections. Alexander McQueen seems to constantly restore faith in the fashion industry just when we need it.

By Shannon Monteith - Catwalk Trend Writer for A-SHU.CO.UK.