British fashion designer Lee Alexander McQueen, the original creative engine behind the Alexander McQueen label, was beloved for his expert tailoring and theatrical runway shows. After his suicide in 2010, fans left tributes to the man and his talents outside Alexander McQueen boutiques worldwide. Record-breaking crowds visited the posthumous retrospective of the designer’s work at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the Victoria and Albert in London.
The inspirations for vintage Alexander McQueen bags, dresses, jackets and other items came from many quarters — film, music, current events, history, his heritage and fashions of the past. The designer's runway presentations were not just displays of clothing but were personal expressions of the zeitgeist, often touching on our cultural anxieties and concerns. McQueen’s own thoughts and feelings about love, death, gender, genocide, colonialism, global warming and the extinction of species all appear in his pieces.
McQueen certainly shook up fashion; he was a born Rottweiler. His upbringing on a council estate in north London played a part, but his family was close and supportive, not dysfunctional. He was proud of his Scottish heritage: He was a defiant fashion warrior. His historical themes and shows — such as “Highland Rape,” 2002, which was inspired by England’s “rape of Scotland,” as McQueen called it — always invoked powerful reactions from his audience of fashion pros.
“What you see in the work is the person himself. And my heart is in my work,” McQueen told Harper’s Bazaar in 2007.
It is perhaps this heart, and the heart’s exposure, that drew the crowds and made McQueen's creations both popular and emotionally resonant. Because the work was personal and thus layered with feeling, the motifs — decorative embellishments and fabric choices — have meaning. In other words, in McQueen’s oeuvre, plaid is more than simply a pattern.
Find vintage Alexander McQueen fashion and accessories — including the designer's coveted bags and comfortable, stretchy jersey knit dresses and gowns — on 1stDibs.
Shimmering Alexander McQueen Gold Jeweled Evening Dress Gown
By Alexander McQueen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Alexander McQueen entrance maker gold metallic gown. Fashioned of a neutral shimmering gold metallic animal print showered with sparkling crystal ...
Iconic Thierry Mugler Gold Sequin Showstopper Evening Gown
By Thierry Mugler
Located in Berlin, BE
A breathtaking masterpiece. This museum worthy extremely rare Thierry Mugler evening gown is pure liquid glamour: a molten cascade of gold sequins sculpted over the body with the unm...
Oscar De La Renta Champagne Tulle Soft Gold Painted Dress Gown US 8 run smaller
By Oscar De La Renta
Located in Montgomery, TX
New Oscar De La Renta Champagne Tulle Painted Dress Gown P/Fall 2015 Collection Designer size - 8 ( run smaller ) Simply Beautiful and Classy!!! Champagne Color, Plisse Tulle Finished with Soft Gold Painting, Gathered...
Roberto Cavalli Sheer Gold Sequin Evening Gown Spring 2017 Size 40IT
By Roberto Cavalli
Located in Saint Petersburg, FL
Roberto Cavalli - Gold sequin evening gown with feathers. Beautiful deep V neckline, Leather Laces. Zips on the side. Spring/Summer 2017 Size 40IT
Gold sequin evening dress with split in the front and laces in the back
Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
Gold sequin evening dress with split ( lenght = 82 cm) in the front and laces in the back. No fabric composition tag but the fabric and tulle is probably polyester. Hook&eye behind ...
NWT Alexander McQueen Pre Death 2009 Shimmer & Sparkle Nude Beaded Evening Dress
By Alexander McQueen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Alexander Mcqueen 2009 hand beaded evening dress. Form fitting and tastefully fashioned of nude silk showered with clear sequins overlaid in a geometric pattern of silver sequins. Bo...
HAUTE COUTURE INT'L Gold Heavily Beaded Gown with Belt Size Large
By HAUTE COUTURE INT'L
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Haute Couture Int'l gown is composed of a heavily beaded silk in gold. The dress features a classic style with zipper closure and belt. In excellent vintage condition. Made in ...
NWT $14860 Roberto Cavalli Gold Fully Beaded Open Back Dress Gown Italian 40
By Roberto Cavalli
Located in Montgomery, TX
New Roberto Cavalli Gold Fully Beaded Open Back Dress Gown Italian size - 40 Hollywood Glamour. Elegant and Chic - All it's about Roberto Cavalli gold fully beaded gown. Fully embe...
Marc Jacobs Late 90s Sz 8 Gold Metal Link Column Evening Gown Runway Dress Gown
By Marc Jacobs
Located in San Diego, CA
Rare late 1990s–early 2000s Marc Jacobs gold metal-link vintage evening gown featuring a fluid cowl neckline and long, slinky column silhouette that skims the body like liquid metal. Crafted from a true metallic link textile (not standard lamé jersey), the dress catches the light from every angle, evoking iconic late-90s runway and red carpet glamour. Labeled Marc Jacobs, size 8. Unlined and semi-sheer due to the open metal-link construction. There are several areas of separation and loss within the links toward the lower skirt and hem (see close-up photos). Priced accordingly and ideal for collectors, stylists, designers, or anyone comfortable working with specialty textiles. Restoration / Styling Ideas (for buyers): • Have a skilled tailor or costume restorer re-link and stabilize damaged areas using fine wire or matching metallic thread from the reverse. • Shorten or create a high side slit to remove or disguise heavier damage at the hem while keeping the original column line. • Add a nude or tonal slip underneath for coverage and to support the metal links. • Embrace the existing flaws and intentionally distress further for an editorial, deconstructed look—very in line with late-90s / Y2K runway styling. A rare archival-worthy Marc Jacobs piece with incredible stage, red carpet, or editorial potential. ⸻ Size & Measurements Labeled Size: 8 Measurements: 38 inch bust 34 inch waist 42 inch hips 63 inches from top back shoulder seam to hem Key Features • Authentic Marc Jacobs main line, c. 1998–2002 • True gold metal-link textile with diagonal rib effect • Draped cowl neckline; sleek column silhouette • Semi-sheer, lightweight, high-impact shine • Visible link breaks and snags; priced for condition and restoration potential • Exceptional piece for collectors, stylists, or runway-inspired eveningwear ⸻ Marc Jacobs 90s gown, Marc Jacobs metal link dress, vintage Marc Jacobs...
ELIZABETH MASON COUTURE Gold Sequin Gown, Rhinestone Applique & Straps Size 4
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This ELIZABETH MASON COUTURE gown is Originally from the 1960s however I reinterpreted with my design team to give in a sexier, more contemporary flare. It is composed of a gold s...
The designer combined his Savile Row training with his fascination with Victorian jewelry to create a most alluring piece.
A striking tartan ensemble from the late designer’s celebrated (and controversial) Fall/Winter 2006 collection is equal parts tailored and punk.
