Alexander McQueen was a British fashion designer and couturier. He is known for being the creative director at Givenchy from 1996-2001. He created his own brand, Alexander McQueen, in 1992.
The idea behind Alexander McQueens 2010 Spring/Summer show, “Plato’s Atlantis” comes from “Darwins theory of evolution in reverse… We came from the water and now, with the help of stem cell technology, we must go back to survive.” – A.M
Models are seen wearing the iconic Armadillo Boot from the Plato’s Atlantis collection from Spring/Summer 2010 (McQueens last show before his death in February of 2010).
The source of the inspiration from the Plato’s Atlantis show comes from the idea of evolution. The theory that humans evolved from sea creatures, but flipped in order to make a statement about global warming. This is telling the story of the models evolving to become sea creatures in order to adapt to the new environment (underwater). The image on the left is of the first model to walk down the runway. The second photo is of the last. The legs are covered, scaley looking texture throughout the piece and the model’s physical appearance and hair has become overall much more sea mammal-like.
The first model to go down the runway during the Plato’s Atlantis show. The model is seen wearing very earthy tones that hint at land life.
Here the model shows her own biological adaptation into a sea creature. Her hair is slicked back to resemble fins and the makeup and prosthetics look like scales or gills.
These fabrics were chosen on purpose for very specific reasons. The fabric above has very obvious earthy tones with hints at life on earth. Where the second fabric has a very obvious texture that is meant to resemble some sort of underwater life. The scale look to it definitely makes it obvious what the message is to be intended.
The runway in which the models walked down during the show. The screen in the back helping the viewer understand that an change or adaptation is taking place.
These are different variaties of the Armadillo boot from the collection. They are made of different types of leather. Some with more appliqués like crystals than other versions. Some representing more of the beginning of the adaptation cycle and some with more cooler water-like features.
Original sketch of the Armadillo Boot.This shoe is made by hand; constructed with wood and leather.
The pink represents where the foot fits into the shoe and the green shows the parts of the shoe where the wood structure is.
Armadillo Shoe. Designed by Alexander McQueen, Spring/Summer 2010; Plato’s Atlantis Collection. This picture is of the shoe in the MoMA exhibit “Is Fashion Modern?”.
Here is my sketch of the shoe while looking at the exhibit in the MoMA.