Kate Moss backstage at 'VOSS' shot by Anne Deniau |
The first model to enter the cube was Kate Moss, styled in a beige dress with cascading feathers and fabric wrapped around her head symbolising bandages. McQueen described the dressings as a representation of the aftermath of cosmetic surgery. More models appear in the cube whose heads are also wrapped in bandages. Interestingly the models are unable to see out of the cube. Essentially, the audience are witnessing the models reactions to their own reflections. Some are dancing, some trying to escape, some laughing hysterically at themselves... It becomes clear almost instantly that McQueen is exploring the correlation between vanity and insanity.
The ostrich feather dress that was dyed black and red is the most famous piece from the collection. The bodice is made from 2,000 microscopic slides dyed red to represent blood. This could signify how women are constantly scrutinised under a microscope to define normative beauty. McQueen stated in reference to this dress that "theres blood beneath every layer of skin."
For this collection McQueen took inspiration from many different mediums, including the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock movie The Birds. He used eagles that are seemingly attacking the petrified model.
McQueen once again collaborated with Shaun Leane for this piece modelled by Karen Elson. The violent nature of the thorny neckpiece is a recurrent theme throughout the collection, as McQueen repeatedly portrays nature as dangerous, as also seen with the razor clam dress and the eagles in the dress above.
"One of the single most important moments in fashion that I have witnessed" - Nick Knight
Disclamier: None of the above images are mine, nor do I claim to own them